Mugnier Musigny Dinner (Blue Hill (NYC)): Fresh, clean, petrol and white rubber over white peach. Salmon berry, yellow raspberry. On the palate the sweetness is in the perfect place and only complements and drives the pear and peach flavors. Delicious stonefruit.
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Leo's Blind Tasting Group - June '15 edition (Amali, NYC): Better than my last bottle, but still on the soft side for my taste. Ripe peaches and lemon cream on the palate, but comes across a bit too heavy without much acidity. Eh.
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The aromatics are pretty; a floral scent mingled with ripe peaches, white cherries, and mature creamy and smoky elements, but the palate feels thick and flat with very little acidity here. There's no sense of freshness to the fruit, and it has a rather dull, heavy feel on the palate without the freshness or elegance I usually expect from Dönnhoff. I preferred this a lot more a few years ago. With some air and a chill on it, it perks up a bit more, but it's still quite a disappointment.
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Dinner with Salil (Sun Wah BBQ, Chicago IL): Nose: There is a distinct air of maturity and poise to the nose with quince, peaches, green apples, minerals, and a hint of sulfur tones. There is excellent depth and layering with some punch to the fruit too.
Taste: Medium bodied with medium+ acidity. The feel is very polished and layered with quince, peaches, green apples, minerals, and a good amount of pears.
Overall: This was a lovely and mature Donnhoff. It still has a long way to go, but that youthful zest has turned into confident poise.
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Chicago Chardonnay Shootout (Chicago, IL): Just spectacular. Showing just a little bit of age right now, but still comes across as very, very fresh. Definitely on the old school side, this feels more structured and seems to have less RS than a more modern Spatlese. Completely delicious.
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A bit of color, light honey gold, just the slightest hint of petrol on the nose, flavors are round and fleshy, medium sweetness, only moderate acidity makes the wine a bit flabby and ponderous; there are some interesting flavors lurking underneath, some ripe red apple, hints of salinity and stony mineral, and signs of age creeping in, but overall nothing too exciting, and probably not destined for a lot improvement with age.
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Not as light on it's feet as I expect from this bottling, but very adequate acid to go with the fruit. There is now considerable creaminess and some brown spices. I'd call this at peak for my taste.
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Opened in response to some negative comments on another bottle of this from someone I trust. His comment was that there was no acid in the wine whatsoever. Well I wouldn't go quite that far, but it sure is low acid. Pale yellow color, aromas of yellow plums, peach and a hint of cherries. There's still the tiniest bit of spritz on entry, though about 2 minutes later it is all gone. What is left is equisitely...boring! The wine wraps the palate like an old, hooded sweatshirt. It's soft, enveloping and has as much character as a Bill Belichik press conference. There's a hint of acid on the finish, and a little bit of minerality pokes through, but overall the wine feels syrupy and flat rather than having any of the invigorating life and complexity that is the hallmark of Donnhoff's better wines from the Brucke. The blandness of this bottle is largely the result of the most boring vintage in recent memory. Serve over pancakes.
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Simply delicious and stunning. Tons of fruit, flinty minerals galore, creamy sweetness, and good verve. This wine throws a huge punch but then twirls in an elegant dance.
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A bottle of this a few months ago was incredibly young, sweet and slightly awkward. This on the other hand - um - wow. Seamless. Rich peach, apple and red berried fruit combined with talc, floral and mineral notes and developing smoky aspects on a frame that conveys both power, weight and elegance. Everything here is in perfect balance - just flat out fantastic Riesling.
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Young. Very, very young. The aromatics are absolutely gorgeous with beautiful white fruits, mineral notes and developed smoky elements, but it's still very primary in the mouth with the fruit flavours quite dense and sweet. As this breathes and warms up a little, it becomes a lot more enjoyable with the acidity becoming more prominent - but the overall impression is still of a wine that needs years and years more and really should be left alone a while longer.
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WES - Classic German Riesling (LSE Holbourn): Clear and bright and golden. Age showing with a vegetal start to the nose, honeyed, oily, waxy and a slight oxidised note. Good acidity, not fruit led with a strong minerality and a cinnamon note like a sweet biscuit.
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Damn tough to follow that Kalin. Pleasant blend of mixed citrus cream dusted with baking powder with a tart apple, minerally finish. The sweetness is where I’d expect but the acidity seems to be lacking a bit to really give it some pop. I’m getting a bit concerned that my preferences are starting to lean much more to Alsatian and Austrian riesling over the horde of German that I own.
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No formal note: straw yellow -- nose like pears in syrup. Nice balance with lovely grapey fruit – a bit light on acid for its age. I think this is the time to drink the rest. I really like this, though it does fall short of the JJ had at lunch the other day. (17.5)
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If I were judging this wine on the nose alone, it'd merit a score in the 90s easily -- even a bit overchilled, soaring aromas of raspberry, vanilla, and talcum powder emanate from the glass. However, the lack of acidity others have reported on in the '99 vintage shows up here too. Candied peaches and berries, with only a very slight spritz of acidity to keep it from becoming completely flabby.
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8/16/2022 - Acohen Likes this wine: 93 Points
Peach, pear and petrol with great balance and acidity
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4/26/2018 - The Vines That Bind wrote: 92 Points
Mugnier Musigny Dinner (Blue Hill (NYC)): Fresh, clean, petrol and white rubber over white peach. Salmon berry, yellow raspberry. On the palate the sweetness is in the perfect place and only complements and drives the pear and peach flavors. Delicious stonefruit.
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6/7/2015 - salil wrote: 86 Points
Leo's Blind Tasting Group - June '15 edition (Amali, NYC): Better than my last bottle, but still on the soft side for my taste. Ripe peaches and lemon cream on the palate, but comes across a bit too heavy without much acidity. Eh.
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6/7/2015 - indiscriminate palate wrote: 84 Points
LBTG blind - very very brief notes (Amali, NYC): Flat... Eh... Boring. My 3 of 3 in the flight. 84-85?
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9/27/2014 - salil wrote: 82 Points
The aromatics are pretty; a floral scent mingled with ripe peaches, white cherries, and mature creamy and smoky elements, but the palate feels thick and flat with very little acidity here. There's no sense of freshness to the fruit, and it has a rather dull, heavy feel on the palate without the freshness or elegance I usually expect from Dönnhoff. I preferred this a lot more a few years ago. With some air and a chill on it, it perks up a bit more, but it's still quite a disappointment.
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4/4/2014 - KeithAkers wrote: 91 Points
Dinner with Salil (Sun Wah BBQ, Chicago IL): Nose: There is a distinct air of maturity and poise to the nose with quince, peaches, green apples, minerals, and a hint of sulfur tones. There is excellent depth and layering with some punch to the fruit too.
Taste: Medium bodied with medium+ acidity. The feel is very polished and layered with quince, peaches, green apples, minerals, and a good amount of pears.
Overall: This was a lovely and mature Donnhoff. It still has a long way to go, but that youthful zest has turned into confident poise.
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4/4/2014 - acyso wrote: 93 Points
Chicago Chardonnay Shootout (Chicago, IL): Just spectacular. Showing just a little bit of age right now, but still comes across as very, very fresh. Definitely on the old school side, this feels more structured and seems to have less RS than a more modern Spatlese. Completely delicious.
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5/1/2013 - alanr wrote: 88 Points
A bit of color, light honey gold, just the slightest hint of petrol on the nose, flavors are round and fleshy, medium sweetness, only moderate acidity makes the wine a bit flabby and ponderous; there are some interesting flavors lurking underneath, some ripe red apple, hints of salinity and stony mineral, and signs of age creeping in, but overall nothing too exciting, and probably not destined for a lot improvement with age.
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1/5/2013 - cweiss wrote:
Gustazo's. Good but not outstanding in Donnhoff context.
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12/9/2012 - Acohen wrote: 90 Points
peach, pear and apricot with slight sweetness and low acidity
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11/12/2012 - Acohen wrote: 93 Points
Excellent rich peach, pear and apple flavors with creamy lingering finish
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9/9/2012 - cweiss wrote:
Not as light on it's feet as I expect from this bottling, but very adequate acid to go with the fruit. There is now considerable creaminess and some brown spices. I'd call this at peak for my taste.
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6/24/2012 - Rieslingfan wrote: 80 Points
Opened in response to some negative comments on another bottle of this from someone I trust. His comment was that there was no acid in the wine whatsoever. Well I wouldn't go quite that far, but it sure is low acid. Pale yellow color, aromas of yellow plums, peach and a hint of cherries. There's still the tiniest bit of spritz on entry, though about 2 minutes later it is all gone. What is left is equisitely...boring! The wine wraps the palate like an old, hooded sweatshirt. It's soft, enveloping and has as much character as a Bill Belichik press conference. There's a hint of acid on the finish, and a little bit of minerality pokes through, but overall the wine feels syrupy and flat rather than having any of the invigorating life and complexity that is the hallmark of Donnhoff's better wines from the Brucke. The blandness of this bottle is largely the result of the most boring vintage in recent memory. Serve over pancakes.
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11/12/2011 - Acohen wrote: 91 Points
Lovely yellow color and very nice minerality with pears, honey and slight sweet acidity
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8/26/2011 - BillB656 Likes this wine:
Simply delicious and stunning. Tons of fruit, flinty minerals galore, creamy sweetness, and good verve. This wine throws a huge punch but then twirls in an elegant dance.
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11/5/2010 - salil wrote: 94 Points
A bottle of this a few months ago was incredibly young, sweet and slightly awkward. This on the other hand - um - wow. Seamless. Rich peach, apple and red berried fruit combined with talc, floral and mineral notes and developing smoky aspects on a frame that conveys both power, weight and elegance. Everything here is in perfect balance - just flat out fantastic Riesling.
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6/14/2010 - salil wrote: 88 Points
Young. Very, very young. The aromatics are absolutely gorgeous with beautiful white fruits, mineral notes and developed smoky elements, but it's still very primary in the mouth with the fruit flavours quite dense and sweet. As this breathes and warms up a little, it becomes a lot more enjoyable with the acidity becoming more prominent - but the overall impression is still of a wine that needs years and years more and really should be left alone a while longer.
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3/18/2010 - hadwin Likes this wine: 90 Points
WES - Classic German Riesling (LSE Holbourn): Clear and bright and golden. Age showing with a vegetal start to the nose, honeyed, oily, waxy and a slight oxidised note. Good acidity, not fruit led with a strong minerality and a cinnamon note like a sweet biscuit.
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3/18/2010 - tendring Likes this wine: 89 Points
Wine Education Service - Classic German Riesling (LSE): Starts with a vegetal nose, then you get minerality and some floral notes - but no fruit here.
Fresh tasting, good balance, sweet but not fruity, mineral.
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5/25/2009 - rjonwine@gmail.com wrote: 93 Points
Bodega Bistro OL with Brad Kane (Bodega Bistro, San Francisco, CA): Bright medium canary yellow color; very nice petrol, baked peach and mineral nose; baked peach, minerals for days, citrus palate; medium finish
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10/2/2008 - BillB656 wrote:
Damn tough to follow that Kalin. Pleasant blend of mixed citrus cream dusted with baking powder with a tart apple, minerally finish. The sweetness is where I’d expect but the acidity seems to be lacking a bit to really give it some pop. I’m getting a bit concerned that my preferences are starting to lean much more to Alsatian and Austrian riesling over the horde of German that I own.
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12/24/2005 - dbkitc wrote:
No formal note: straw yellow -- nose like pears in syrup. Nice balance with lovely grapey fruit – a bit light on acid for its age. I think this is the time to drink the rest. I really like this, though it does fall short of the JJ had at lunch the other day. (17.5)
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2/22/2004 - secession wrote: 88 Points
If I were judging this wine on the nose alone, it'd merit a score in the 90s easily -- even a bit overchilled, soaring aromas of raspberry, vanilla, and talcum powder emanate from the glass. However, the lack of acidity others have reported on in the '99 vintage shows up here too. Candied peaches and berries, with only a very slight spritz of acidity to keep it from becoming completely flabby.
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