May 5, 2023 - Only been twelve years since I last tried this. Seems prudent to check in. Glad I did, as it’s in a nice place - fully mature, but in no danger of going around the bend. It actually improved quite a lot over the three hours it was open. I might even decant my next bottle. Certainly not for acid freaks, it was more about serenity and depth of flavor. Interestingly the color became lighter the longer it was open, and towards the end it showed a bit more spark. Still pretty typical for the 1999 vintage, which outside of the Saar gave broader wines than typical for German Riesling.
August 24, 2017 - Wow. Just wow. Deep yellow colored with a nose of yellow fruits (pear, peach, yellow apple). The nose is OMFG intoxicating...as in "why don't they make an Eau de Toilette of this so I can bathe in it every morning?" I could sniff this all evening...and I darn near did. The flavors on the palate followed the nose, with a beautiful balance of sweetness and acid, appropriate for the pradikat. Superior concentration while still light on the palate. It could perhaps use a touch more acid, but that would be a quibble. This is everything that I want in an aged Spätlese and then some. Near perfect.
July 7, 2014 - This was a very pleasant bottle but I expect more from Dönnhoff. There was peachy white fruit, attractive herbal and spicy notes, minerals and touches of the usual hydrocarbons, which were all good. However, there was less acidity and backbone than I like in Riesling which made the wine subjectively quite sweet and therefore a difficult pairing.
March 4, 2014 - Peach, pear, developed smoky and creamy flavours, and sweeter honeyed elements all coming together seamlessly on the nose and palate. There's plenty of development to the flavours but still great freshness to the fruit, and it's at that point where everything's coming together into a whole that's greater than the sum of all parts. Fantastic.
January 16, 2014 - Straw yellow color. Medium intensity aroma, of lemon, kerosene, pear and geraniums. On arrival, an acidic lift helps propel this wine into a balanced, moderately intense experience. Some warmth suggesting smoke of a wood fire. Complex, mid-life, neither fully developed not primarily fruit-driven. Medium finish. Bottle #5 of six.
December 24, 2012 - Still pretty fruity . White flowers, diesel and later some lime. No hurry on this.
November 29, 2011 - I suppose 12 years in a bottle would make me grumpy too, but it took much longer than I would have expected for this wine to come out of its shell. For a good 90 minutes plus it was really soft and lacking in any palate presence or definition. Then some magic happened, and the fruit came out to play with a finishing tactile acidity (slightly disconnected though - like the sting of too tart lemonade) that gave it more than sufficient life to accompany my fish dinner. On its own it really shone though, as its delicate expression was not competing with other elements for the spotlight. Cherry fruit, honeyed peach and warm, washed stones all come together near an old wood fire. Very fine, if not the most attention grabbing wine in the world - that's 1999 for you.
October 20, 2011 - Not quite on the level of a bottle I had a couple of years ago at Grand Sich, but really impressive nonetheless. There's bright fruit, minerality, developed smokiness and creaminess with faint touches of spice and florality; very complex and layered with a round, polished mouthfeel - just a touch soft without the acidity or vibrancy of a top vintage, but still very well balanced and lovely to drink.
January 9, 2011 - Light nose of green and yellow apple, apricot... in the mouth, yellow apple, a bit too sweet, a bit green
March 3, 2010 - A terrific Hermannshöhle Spätlese - transcends the vintage. Rainier cherries, white currants, soil notes. the works. This is the real deal and drinking fantastically now but with potential to reveal more in seven or more years.