A very (mostly) German 4th of July

Bill had sent out a text to mark, tim, and I asking if we were available to open some rieslings on the 4th. All of us were free, so it made perfect sense to celebrate the 4th with rieslings.

• 1969 Franz Karl Schmitt Niersteiner Rehbach Riesling Auslese 89 Points

  Germany, Rheinhessen

  Nose: The nose is mature and balanced with honey, caramel, peaches, and some lanolin tones. While there is a layering to the tones, there is only medium depth to them.
  
  Taste: Medium bodied with medium acidity. The feel is on the plusher and silkier side with honey, caramel, peaches, and some apples. There is excellent balance to the feel with a sense of class that comes from age.
  
  Overall: This was an excellent starter. While it wasn't a mind blowing or profound riesling, it did a great job showing off a more mature side.

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• 1998 Domaine Ernest Burn Riesling Goldert Clos Saint Imer La Chapelle 90 Points

  France, Alsace, Alsace Grand Cru

  Nose: There is a lushness to the nose, but it is very balanced too with white flowers, peaches, caramel, and candied apples. There is a very succulent side to the nose with some age being shown off too.
  
  Taste: Medium/full bodied with medium acidity. The feel is plush and silky with white flowers, peaches, nectarines, caramel apples, and some honey.
  
  Overall: The color was more light gold. This was drinking beautifully with a real plushness and refinement to it.

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• 2004 Michel Genet Champagne Grand Cru Prestige de la Cave Blanc de Blancs 92 Points

  France, Champagne, Champagne Grand Cru

  Nose: The nose is classy and deep with white fruits, pears, red and green apples, floral tones, with a crisp mineral base. There is very good depth with excellent poise.
  
  Taste: Medium bodied with noticeable medium/high acidity. The structure is certainly youthful, but it isn't too overpowering with white fruits, red and green apples, minerals, and some brioche too.
  
  Overall: This is an attractive 04 Champagne. There is a really nice underlying minerality to it with real poise and balance.

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• 2006 Dönnhoff Schloßböckelheimer Felsenberg Riesling Felsentürmchen Spätlese 92 Points

  Germany, Nahe

  Nose: The nose is wide open and rearing to go from the outset with peaches, candied apples, pears, quince, and some tropical citrus notes. There is very good depth with the tones showing an in-between phase from youth to something more mature.
  
  Taste: Medium bodied with crisp and noticeable medium+ acidity. There is a fatness to the feel and mid-palate with peaches, candied apples, pears, and quince tones.
  
  Overall: This is a real fun donnhoff. This is certainly moving into a more mature riesling, but it isn't fully there yet. Instead there is a real nice balance to it with all of the tones melding very well together.

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• 1999 Dönnhoff Niederhäuser Hermannshöhle Riesling Auslese Goldkapsel 93 Points

  Germany, Nahe

  Nose: The nose is extremely well balanced with green apples, quince, sweet peaches, nectarines, and some bits of honey. There is a layering to the tones with excellent definition too.
  
  Taste: Full bodied with medium acidity. The feel is plush and sexy with green apples, sweet peaches, nectarines, and pears and quince. There is a lot of depth to this with a fatness at the same time.
  
  Overall: This was fantastic stuff. I wished there was more than a half bottle to drink from, but that's what makes the fleeting moments more fun. This was beautiful and a real treat.

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Yea, sure, some big ass cabs and BBQ would've been more American. But, this worked perfectly fine and it was a great way to spend the afternoon. Eat a bunch of Vietnamese food and drink some riesling.