For most of the last 20 years, this probably would have been called Spätlese by many producers, but it is an absolute classic Auslese that has immense depth yet never overpowers the drinker or well chosen food. Sleek like a cheetah, the acidity charges the wine, while the fruit dances like sprites around a magical fire. It’s still moderately sweet, but nothing the acidity can’t tame. It’s still not really mature, and won’t be for five or ten more years, with decades of life beyond that.
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Medium yellow. Medium to lighter weight, but creamy feel. Yellow apple, vanilla bean, and spice, discrete sweetness (low for a current day Auslese), solid acidity, and a scooch of honey. Really delicious, little secondary development.
Even after being opened overnight, the lightness, freshness, and purity of fruit are still astounding, and I get more stone than I did last night. These 2001's are immortal wines. This is amazing now but hasn't reached its peak.
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Delicious 01 auslese in a great place now... nose of ripe orchard fruit, orange rind, palate of orchard fruit, subdued spices, excellent acidity... nothing dominates, nothing is out of place, everything seems harmonious.
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Brilliant gold, luxurious texture, sweet orchard fruit; seamless and balanced. Should have plenty of room to develop further, to see the overt sweetness recede and the texture come more to the fore. Ten years, maybe more, by my estimation.
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#08-02, 8% abv. I can't believe I've never had the "basic" Auslese from this vintage. Well, this is a stunner just like the other wines from the 2001 Christoffel stable. This is a very subdued wine, with everything sotto voce -- the sweetness, the fruit, the acidity. However, the requisite complexity is absolutely present, and there are still very fresh and vibrant fruit flavours throughout. All too easy to drink thanks to its lightness and refreshing acidity. Hans-Leo is a genius.
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2/16/2024 - Rieslingfan wrote:
For most of the last 20 years, this probably would have been called Spätlese by many producers, but it is an absolute classic Auslese that has immense depth yet never overpowers the drinker or well chosen food. Sleek like a cheetah, the acidity charges the wine, while the fruit dances like sprites around a magical fire. It’s still moderately sweet, but nothing the acidity can’t tame. It’s still not really mature, and won’t be for five or ten more years, with decades of life beyond that.
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12/23/2022 - drwine2001 wrote:
Medium yellow. Medium to lighter weight, but creamy feel. Yellow apple, vanilla bean, and spice, discrete sweetness (low for a current day Auslese), solid acidity, and a scooch of honey. Really delicious, little secondary development.
Even after being opened overnight, the lightness, freshness, and purity of fruit are still astounding, and I get more stone than I did last night. These 2001's are immortal wines. This is amazing now but hasn't reached its peak.
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10/4/2022 - jmht wrote: 93 Points
Delicious 01 auslese in a great place now... nose of ripe orchard fruit, orange rind, palate of orchard fruit, subdued spices, excellent acidity... nothing dominates, nothing is out of place, everything seems harmonious.
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9/4/2022 - bhouk wrote:
Brilliant gold, luxurious texture, sweet orchard fruit; seamless and balanced. Should have plenty of room to develop further, to see the overt sweetness recede and the texture come more to the fore. Ten years, maybe more, by my estimation.
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12/25/2021 - acyso wrote: 95 Points
#08-02, 8% abv. I can't believe I've never had the "basic" Auslese from this vintage. Well, this is a stunner just like the other wines from the 2001 Christoffel stable. This is a very subdued wine, with everything sotto voce -- the sweetness, the fruit, the acidity. However, the requisite complexity is absolutely present, and there are still very fresh and vibrant fruit flavours throughout. All too easy to drink thanks to its lightness and refreshing acidity. Hans-Leo is a genius.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment