Tasting of Weingut Hermann Donhoff Wines

Taberna
Tasted Wednesday, January 18, 2012 by ikileo with 952 views

Introduction

A delightful tutored tasting by Herr Donnhoff himself. Very eye opening as he shared his 'children' with us from various site and vintages we don't normally see.

Flight 1 - QBA & Kabinetts (3 Notes)

The Kreuznacher was the wine of this flight for me. Love the smokey wild notes.

  • 2010 Dönnhoff Riesling

    Germany, Nahe

    A little spritzy on the appearance but could just be the pouring

    Nose: Started off limey, chunks of stones with an almost 'cream-esque' nose. The tail end of the nose had a rubbery type of note. The nose opened up to reveal a chalky aspect with a surprising level of spiced fruit.

    Taste: Definitely some residual sugar here, an off dry style. But the finish is leaning more towards the dry aspect. Compared with the line-up of kabinetts, it was the most weighty but enough acid to keep it on its feet. Notes of pears and 7-up with a mineral finist. Good riesling and introduction to the Donnhoff range at a great price. I am sure it will only get better over the next few years but incredibly delicious and addictive now!

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  • 2010 Dönnhoff Kreuznacher Krötenpfuhl Riesling Kabinett

    Germany, Nahe

    Among the flight it was the lightest in colour, almost transparent.

    Nose: Nice smokey musky nose with a hint of the sea. Over time floral aspects creeped in as well. Most intense nose of the flight

    Taste: Definitely zippier than the QBA, fresher but more intense in overall flavours. Off dry style as well but really good acid. Has a good future ahead of it.

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  • 2010 Dönnhoff Oberhäuser Leistenberg Riesling Kabinett

    Germany, Nahe

    Nose: Within the flight, it had the most rounded nose with 'warm' soft white fruits and pears.

    Taste: Similar level of intensity as the other kabinett with the zip of acid. Bright fruit notes, tad more residual sugar than the other kabinett with a bready note. Only detraction was a short-ish finish. Otherwise a very delicious kabinett

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Flight 2 - Spatlese (4 Notes)

The '97 took the flight and WOTN while the '94 was interesting but not very appealing for me.

  • 2008 Dönnhoff Oberhäuser Brücke Riesling Spätlese

    Germany, Nahe

    Nose: I took a sniff and said 'woah'. Unique interesting but attractive notes. The smokiness and flinty notes really comes out here with a shot of pesticide without the toxic aspect of it. Very wild.

    Taste: Honeyed notes, intense with a dry mid-palate. Many level of complexities that I enjoyed very much along with a slightly creamy mouthfeel. A riesling that brings wild notes with elegance.

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  • 2008 Dönnhoff Niederhäuser Hermannshöhle Riesling Spätlese

    Germany, Nahe

    Nose: At this point the nose was rather subtle and tight without revealing much.

    Taste: A classic kabinett style of riesling. Straddling between the just starting to shed the fruits of a young riesling but just haven't started developing the secondary notes in older rieslings. Long finish with notes of figs and flowers. Very good riesling.One of my fave for the evening.

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  • 1997 Dönnhoff Niederhäuser Hermannshöhle Riesling Spätlese

    Germany, Nahe

    Nose: I wrote down 'velvet & silk' in my notes. If the texture of velvet and silk had a smell it would smell like this. Almost ethereal: hollow yet textured with heaps of haunting old perfumed notes. Incredible.

    Taste: This wine had everything I wanted fruits, acid, body, finish. Creamy and textured, yet had an amazing level of clarity giving me a seamless transition of flavour to flavour. a complex mountain flowers 'ricola'-esque mid palate. Had a nice dry aspect within the sweetness of the spatlese fruit. What a wine.

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  • 1994 Dönnhoff Oberhäuser Brücke Riesling Spätlese

    Germany, Nahe

    Still looks surprisingly youthful with only a hint of the orangey hue

    Nose: An interesting nose of pesticide, caramel, wood and camphor. Nothing wrong with the wine but it has developed into a riesling I've never experienced before

    Taste: The woody note comes in with a strepsils type of fruit/sweetness. Complex and I was glad to have tried such a wine but not something I would purchase for personal consumption

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Flight 3 - Auslese (2 Notes)

Good show of differences in vintages for this vineyard and the vast differnce the vintage makes.
I liked both equally.

  • 2010 Dönnhoff Oberhäuser Brücke Riesling Auslese Goldkapsel

    Germany, Nahe

    Nose: Very floral and light and fresh on the nose. Nothing heavy or overly intense. Lots of elderflowers, mountain flowers; lots of perfume and fragrance.

    Taste: Compared to the 2003 auslese, this had more acid and was fresher with a touch of green notes at the back end (which was nice). Very classy and textured; can only get better.

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  • 2003 Dönnhoff Oberhäuser Brücke Riesling Auslese Goldkapsel

    Germany, Nahe

    Nose: Obviously from a warmer vintage. Notes of butterscotch with bold clean fruit. Intense from the get go.

    Taste: honey, a touch of viscosity, bold flavours. Hints of spiced warm fruit. Drinking very nicely now. A warm vintage but still exudes balance and class.

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Closing

The '97 Niederhauser Spatlese was the WOTN for me with the other 2 '08 Spatlese following close behind.

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