2002 Franz Hirtzberger Riesling Smaragd Hochrain

Community Tasting Notes (17) Avg Score: 92.8 points

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  6/20/2021 - Bob H wrote:

  A Father’s Day treat - my last bottle from a case bought on release. Full bronze color in the glass, very complex nose with scents of orange marmalade, ripe apple and minerality.
  
  Crisp and lively on the palate; expansive with great persistence. Almost 19 years old, but given how well it’s drinking today, this might have another 10 years ahead of it. Unfortunately, I’ll never know ☹️

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  12/14/2020 - Bob H wrote:

  Might be my last bottle of this from a case I bought on release, and I'll be sorry to see this go, as it has been one of my favorite vintages of this wine. Fully mature, and full-bodied for a white. Sweet & sour white fruit on the palate, dry and expansive with good acidity and persistence. My wife is making boneless Heritage pork chops with white wine, mushrooms and extra sharp cheddar for dinner tonight, and this should make for a great match.

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  7/22/2018 - Bob H wrote:

  A deeper bronze than the Hiedler; a "rich", unctuous nose, if that makes any sense. A hint of ripe pineapple here.
  
  Denser/fuller-bodied than the Hiedler on the palate, with a lengthy finish that I am still tasting as I type this. This is really in the zone right now - hard to imagine it could get any better. Also has that sweet & sour fruit thing going on. Impressive.

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  9/28/2017 - Bob H wrote:

  A full golden color in the glass; some lychee fruit on the nose, swathed in minerality, with a petrol note in the background - pretty complex nose.
  
  Dry and medium-bodied on the palate, with a finish I am still savoring as I type this. Good acidity. I don't know how much longer this wine will last, but at the age of 15 it's drinking very well!

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  2/5/2017 - Bob H Likes this wine:

  A little lighter in color than the Alzinger. Lovely nose, with a petrol accent in the background and ripe white fruits, with a tropical note, upfront.
  
  Better balanced and fuller-bodied than the previous wine; lengthy finish and adequate acidity. This almost has a tactile presence on the palate. Hard to imagine this getting any better, but I also don't have a sense that it is getting long in the tooth either.

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View all 17 Community Tasting Notes

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