Dinner with friends this evening; cooked a mix of Thai and South Indian food and Riesling of course was the ideal accompaniment.
2006 Alfred Merkelbach Erdener Treppchen Riesling Auslese
Light gold colour with a Sauternes-like nose showing spicy honey, apricot and orange flavours and softer mineral and lime elements with more air. Full bodied in the mouth but not as sweet as the aromatics suggest. There's ripe mango and white fruited flavours up front, but tarter lime, herbal and salty flavours kick in on the back end and the finish is all lavender and lime and slightly bittersweet. Interesting wine although the botrytis seemed a little awkward in here; no idea how something like this might age.
2003 Willi Schaefer Graacher Domprobst Riesling Spatlese AP#11
Holy crap - seriously, after one sip of this I had to check the label again to confirm it was an 03. Just an incredibly beautiful Mosel Riesling. Apples, limes, pear, slate, flowers; lots of depth, so incredibly light and elegant in the mouth with plenty of acidity and a silky mouthfeel (Charles commented that it felt as if the wine was floating over your tongue). Superb wine, even moreso when you take the vintage into context. I need to drink more Schaefer!
2006 Pyramid Valley Lebecca Vineyard Riesling
From Marlborough, NZ, and 8.5% alcohol. Once the slight reduction on the nose blows off, this really feels like a good Pfalz wine - bright pear, melon, lime and salty aromas, slightly sweet and very tropical on the palate with lots of guava, pear and some kiwifruit flavours over a bed of minerals. Good acidity underneath and finishes with just a slight touch of sweetness with an interesting note of watermelon emerging on the back end. Very nice and great value - Garagiste nailed this one.