The beauty of 2001 includes an incredibly high degree of consistency. I had a bottle in March, and this one is just as profound. The intensity is the same. The fruit and honey are in perfect balance. It’s about as good as mature German Riesling Spätlese can be. Magic in a bottle yet again.
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Yeah, that’s a 2001. It has all the intensity, all the vibrance, the mid-palate density, and then this expanding, mushroom cloud finish that hangs in the air for longer than is logically possible. The best wines of the vintage were that way when they were released, and most are still that way, just with added complexity, and a patina of honey. On this bottle, the color is still light gold. The expected fruit is still all there - peach, apple and lemon. The minerality and acidity grip through the mid-palate, leaving a tingle long after each sip. This is a bottle ordered during the direct import period in June 2002, and carefully cellared since that time. It’s magic in a glass - 2001 magic. There has not been a better vintage since then.
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#22-02, 8.5% abv. Quite a bit of bitter minerality on the nose here, and in fact the minerality overall on this wine is really, really intense, to the extent that you almost get a bit of chewiness. The fruit is somewhat drying and there's a slightly hint of smoke. Maybe a little more advanced than I would expect for a 2001, but this is nonetheless drinking fantastically.
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Still quite young. Yellow colour, minerally lemon nose. Lost some sweetness and showing a touch of acidity but good level of richness in a very fruit forward wine.
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First from a case bought recently. Approaching maturity with cool lemon scents and flavours. Good acidity, apple fresh flavours and lost some of its initial sweetness. Good, restrained Riesling.
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Acquired I believe at the first tasting event I ever attended with Terry Theise (just good luck to get introduced to his portfolio with the '01 vintage!). Purchased on release was a pleasure to open with a couple other rielsing lovers. This was resolved and golden. Definitely out of the baby phase and getting the secondary goodies. Deep hue, golden apple aroma, sparkling sheen to the wine. Acidity is there but the fruit was leading the charge this showing. Almost an apple pie note, with some baker's yeast/crust giving complexity. Very light on the palate, not cloying. I think this wine will go deep/dark from here so if you like that let 'er ride, if not drink now.
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Fantastic Riesling that's absolutely ideal on a hot, humid summer day. Fresh citrus, nectarine and apple fruit tinged with slate and the start of developing creaminess. It's still very youthful, but so fun to drink now with just moderate sweetness balanced by bright acidity, a sense of incredible purity and freshness to the flavours and a sheer drinkability that makes it disappear quickly. My last bottle, but no complaints about drinking it this young as I would not want to miss what it has to show right now.
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2001 Selbach-Oster Riesling Spatlese Zeltinger Sonnenuhr At home with Hiroko. Good viscosity. Golden yellow. Has that haunting petroleum-like perfume all great Spatlese wines develop with time in bottle. Lovely palate-coating fruit lasts and lasts with pure, powerful yet gentle fruit. Lengthy finish. 5-14-17-8: 94/100
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A perfect balance between sweetnees, minerals and acidity. Absolutely lovely passion fruit, small sweet berries and citrus/lime. Just a whiff of petrol. So refreshing, so light-weight and yet so powerful in its expression. With Susanne's baked salmon and wild rice the first night. As an aperitif the second. Many years of joy left here.
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Somewhat of an inbetween stage for this wine. Not quite grapey anymore but just beginning to gain complexity. This may be about as dumb as this wine ever gets. The 2001s have always been great. Not quite the deliniation that I crave at this point , however, and comes across as a little bit simple and sweet. I would expext this to gain complexity and meld together again with time. Still a nice drink though.
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Just starting to gain some color with tinges of gold. A beautiful nose of fruit salad. Still a bit grapey but this as some pineapple and cantalope too. This has come out of its hibernation if it every was asleep. This still retains some baby fat. Just the beginning of mature petrol notes. This is exquisitely balanced with many years ahead of it. Irresistable now. Excellent weight and mouth feel with complex flavors. Perfectly perportioned spatlese with enough acidity to maintain a long sumptuous finish. German spatlese doesn't get much better. Should be fascinating to follow its aging progress. Excellent!
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Wow was this ever firing! The star white at a dinner party. Paired to perfection with duck and ginger wonton soup and red Thai curry risotto. Gorgeous ripe stonefruit, nice sweetness, sparkling acidity. I'm surprised and happy this hasn't closed down.
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11/21/03 at home on Friday night. So clean and bright it nearly squeaks. Nose smells like fresh flowers. Lovely on the palate, delicate and pretty, but with plenty of flavor. Utterly dances across the palate. Fine long finish. Impressive. And absolutely delicious. 5-11-16-8-90/100. Hiroko says 90.
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Light gold in color with some viscosity. The nose is a fruit basket of ultraripe fruit. Peaches melons red delicious apples mineral and hints of honey. Rich and syrupy shows masses up fruit with a lovely slightly efervescent finish of more fuit and some honey. Has a decent amount of acidity bringing all of that wonderful sweetness into balance. Will experiment with one of these to age. Absolutely delicious!!
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8/8/2023 - Rieslingfan wrote:
The beauty of 2001 includes an incredibly high degree of consistency. I had a bottle in March, and this one is just as profound. The intensity is the same. The fruit and honey are in perfect balance. It’s about as good as mature German Riesling Spätlese can be. Magic in a bottle yet again.
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3/25/2023 - Rieslingfan wrote:
Yeah, that’s a 2001. It has all the intensity, all the vibrance, the mid-palate density, and then this expanding, mushroom cloud finish that hangs in the air for longer than is logically possible. The best wines of the vintage were that way when they were released, and most are still that way, just with added complexity, and a patina of honey. On this bottle, the color is still light gold. The expected fruit is still all there - peach, apple and lemon. The minerality and acidity grip through the mid-palate, leaving a tingle long after each sip. This is a bottle ordered during the direct import period in June 2002, and carefully cellared since that time. It’s magic in a glass - 2001 magic. There has not been a better vintage since then.
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5/19/2022 - acyso wrote: 93 Points
#22-02, 8.5% abv. Quite a bit of bitter minerality on the nose here, and in fact the minerality overall on this wine is really, really intense, to the extent that you almost get a bit of chewiness. The fruit is somewhat drying and there's a slightly hint of smoke. Maybe a little more advanced than I would expect for a 2001, but this is nonetheless drinking fantastically.
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4/11/2020 - kevin h wrote: 91 Points
Still quite young. Yellow colour, minerally lemon nose. Lost some sweetness and showing a touch of acidity but good level of richness in a very fruit forward wine.
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7/13/2018 - kevin h wrote: 91 Points
As before.
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5/21/2018 - kevin h wrote: 91 Points
Classic Spatlese in every way. Very nice citrus and apple. Not complex but ready to drink.
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8/23/2016 - kevin h wrote: 92 Points
Beautifylly resolved. Saline, mineral, rounded fruit, lots of lemon and lemon oil. excellent.
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2/14/2015 - kevin h wrote: 91 Points
First from a case bought recently. Approaching maturity with cool lemon scents and flavours. Good acidity, apple fresh flavours and lost some of its initial sweetness. Good, restrained Riesling.
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12/23/2013 - btock Likes this wine: 92 Points
Acquired I believe at the first tasting event I ever attended with Terry Theise (just good luck to get introduced to his portfolio with the '01 vintage!). Purchased on release was a pleasure to open with a couple other rielsing lovers. This was resolved and golden. Definitely out of the baby phase and getting the secondary goodies. Deep hue, golden apple aroma, sparkling sheen to the wine. Acidity is there but the fruit was leading the charge this showing. Almost an apple pie note, with some baker's yeast/crust giving complexity. Very light on the palate, not cloying. I think this wine will go deep/dark from here so if you like that let 'er ride, if not drink now.
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5/28/2012 - salil wrote: 92 Points
Fantastic Riesling that's absolutely ideal on a hot, humid summer day. Fresh citrus, nectarine and apple fruit tinged with slate and the start of developing creaminess. It's still very youthful, but so fun to drink now with just moderate sweetness balanced by bright acidity, a sense of incredible purity and freshness to the flavours and a sheer drinkability that makes it disappear quickly. My last bottle, but no complaints about drinking it this young as I would not want to miss what it has to show right now.
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3/24/2012 - salil wrote: flawed
Another victim of a bad cork.
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1/8/2011 - MicklethePickle Likes this wine: 94 Points
2001 Selbach-Oster Riesling Spatlese Zeltinger Sonnenuhr
At home with Hiroko. Good viscosity. Golden yellow. Has that haunting petroleum-like perfume all great Spatlese wines develop with time in bottle. Lovely palate-coating fruit lasts and lasts with pure, powerful yet gentle fruit. Lengthy finish. 5-14-17-8: 94/100
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1/7/2011 - pbaek wrote:
A perfect balance between sweetnees, minerals and acidity. Absolutely lovely passion fruit, small sweet berries and citrus/lime. Just a whiff of petrol. So refreshing, so light-weight and yet so powerful in its expression. With Susanne's baked salmon and wild rice the first night. As an aperitif the second. Many years of joy left here.
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3/6/2009 - jwolf99 wrote: 92 Points
still a bit closed down; pear, pineapple, apple and melon; slight, odd menthol note; long finish; had with tuna steaks
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3/1/2008 - Chateaunewf wrote: 92 Points
Somewhat of an inbetween stage for this wine. Not quite grapey anymore but just beginning to gain complexity. This may be about as dumb as this wine ever gets. The 2001s have always been great. Not quite the deliniation that I crave at this point , however, and comes across as a little bit simple and sweet. I would expext this to gain complexity and meld together again with time. Still a nice drink though.
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6/17/2007 - Chateaunewf wrote: 94 Points
Just starting to gain some color with tinges of gold. A beautiful nose of fruit salad. Still a bit grapey but this as some pineapple and cantalope too. This has come out of its hibernation if it every was asleep. This still retains some baby fat. Just the beginning of mature petrol notes. This is exquisitely balanced with many years ahead of it. Irresistable now. Excellent weight and mouth feel with complex flavors. Perfectly perportioned spatlese with enough acidity to maintain a long sumptuous finish. German spatlese doesn't get much better. Should be fascinating to follow its aging progress. Excellent!
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6/14/2004 - Blair Curtis wrote: 94 Points
Wow was this ever firing! The star white at a dinner party. Paired to perfection with duck and ginger wonton soup and red Thai curry risotto. Gorgeous ripe stonefruit, nice sweetness, sparkling acidity. I'm surprised and happy this hasn't closed down.
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11/21/2003 - MicklethePickle Likes this wine: 90 Points
2001 Selbach-Oster Zeltinger Sonnenuhr Spatlese
11/21/03 at home on Friday night. So clean and bright it nearly squeaks. Nose smells like fresh flowers. Lovely on the palate, delicate and pretty, but with plenty of flavor. Utterly dances across the palate. Fine long finish. Impressive. And absolutely delicious. 5-11-16-8-90/100. Hiroko says 90.
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9/1/2003 - MicklethePickle Likes this wine: 90 Points
2001 Selbach-Oster Zeltinger Sonnenuhr Spatlese
9/1/03 at home. Very bright. Luscious wine. Just the right combination of sweetness and acidity. 5-11-16-8: 90/100
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4/20/2003 - jwolf99 wrote:
lime, peach, melon, slate; mineral finish; very clear; vibrant acidity
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12/31/2002 - JP wrote: 91 Points
Light gold in color with some viscosity. The nose is a fruit basket of ultraripe fruit. Peaches melons red delicious apples mineral and hints of honey. Rich and syrupy shows masses up fruit with a lovely slightly efervescent finish of more fuit and some honey. Has a decent amount of acidity bringing all of that wonderful sweetness into balance. Will experiment with one of these to age. Absolutely delicious!!
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