2001 Dönnhoff Oberhäuser Brücke Riesling Spätlese - Germany, Nahe (9/7/2017)
Served blind to my tasting group in a flit with the 2000, 2005 and 2007, this split votes with the 2005 for wine of the night. It was my third bottle in the last nine months. Based on those three showings I might drink the rest soon, despite there being time in hand. The wine is spectacular now. It still has bright nectarine/peach fruit, but also shows the benefits of 16 years in bottle. The sweetness is dialed back. The base minerals are clear and on an equal footing with the fruit. There's a hint of smokiness, but just a hint. It's perfectly balanced, and continues to show the explosive mid-palate depth that captured my mind, senses and wallet in 2002!
2005 Dönnhoff Oberhäuser Brücke Riesling Spätlese - Germany, Nahe (9/7/2017)
Served blind to my guests in a vertical tasting with the 2000, 2001 and 2007, this split the group with the 2001 for wine of the night. Twelve years has stripped away some of the excess richness, resulting in a more classic frame, and good complexity of fruit, stone and fresh hay-like accents that filled out the palate. Lots of time to grow/change as well, as there is plenty of depth. Delicious.
FYI, the 2007 was flat and kind of boring. The 2000 was very much alive, but dominated by its botrytis. It tasted like pineapple Auslese. Fun wine, but not what I was looking for.