June 14, 2023 - Going strong, terrifically light for an Auslese. Nose is still mostly about freshness, all limes and florals and a dapple of honey, belying its nearly 22 years. Great citric drive and intensity, tangy but not shrill in the least with layers of fruit and density to counterbalance all the acid. Shows an incipient touch of bitterness on the finish. Perhaps lacks a little elegance and nuance, but so tasty. Drink now, this will hold but no reason to wait. 92-93 pts.
April 24, 2019 - Opened my first bottle of 6. Judging by how the largest amount was consumed compared to 5 other wines tasted, this 2001 was the home run hit of the evening. Despite being an Auslese with a high residual sugar level, the combination of vivid high acidity and powerful lemon and lime fruit more than balanced the residual sugar, making the taste only lightly sweet. Overall, that vivid, lively, and delicious taste is the norm for Kinheimer Rosenberg vineyard made by Merkelbach, which also is one of the best bargains among German Rieslings.
December 15, 2018 - HDH Dec auction trip/dinners at SKY and RPM Italian; 12/13/2018-12/15/2018: Oh hell yes. This is in such an incredible spot right now. The fruit’s still very fresh and youthful, there’s a gentle maturing smokiness starting to emerge around the youthful fruit/mineral/floral flavours, and it manages to convey both the gentle, understated touch of the Merkelbachs and the sheer intensity and power of the ’01 vintage. This is a great wine, and drinking so well right now I’ll have a hard time keeping my hands off my other ’01 Merkelbachs.
December 15, 2018 - HDH December auction; 12/13/2018-12/15/2018 (Chicago, IL): #01-02, 8% abv. Wow, this is cool and lean, with a really light, ethereal quality. I love the fruit here, it's so gentle and demure, with some really delicious herbal notes. Very gentle and quiet, this is a wine that speaks in hushed tones. So elegant and beautiful.
October 16, 2018 - Drinking beautifully. Slightly sweet with acidic edge. nice nose. Seems like it could drink well for many more years. I purchased this in 2003 and then my wife advised me that she did not like riesling. She started drinking it again last year but not the sweet stuff. That has kept this bottle around for 15 years. Wish I had another bottle or 2!
December 20, 2017 - A bit shy bouquet which shows honey, lime, green apple, and a whiff of petrol. Beautifully integrated palate, long and intense with a wonderfully full mouthfeel of sweet cherries and zippy, tart limeade. Drinks effortlessly, at point. Better on Day 2. Merkelbach and 2001, a match made in heaven. 92+ pts.
May 2, 2015 - Classically styled showing less residual sugar than a spatlese we drank earlier in the day. Good acidity and minerality. Again, relatively dry for an auslese. Drink now.
November 17, 2012 - An underappreciated producer. These are classic Mosel wines with great fruit for extremely reasonable prices. Happy to have popped this '01. Bright, golden color and very approachable. Well structured, not at all heavy. Aged but not old, the acidity was mouth watering and supporting the more tropical fruit profile. Not really petrol, more slate and quartz..the smell of wet rock. My kind of Riesling. Could last, but approachable now.