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WTN: Spatlese 2005 -1976 (well really 1993)

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Dale Williams

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WTN: Spatlese 2005 -1976 (well really 1993)

by Dale Williams » Wed Aug 15, 2018 1:08 pm

John put out a call for folks interested in a mature (or maturing) Spatlese tasting, and a nice crew gathered at his place in Croton last night. John and Sasha had put together nice platters of cheese and pate, and John had a delicious poached shrimp dish with avocado and lemon as well. Most Spatlese I've ever tried at one sitting (other than maybe trade tastings)

Flight 1

2005 Von Schubert Maximin Grunhauser Abtsberg Spatlese AP #27

Crisp, liney citrus notes, minerally, really bright for ‘05 A-/B+


2005 Donnhoff Schlossbockelheimer Kupfergrube Spatlese (Auction Bottling)

Bigger ripe, peaches , quite sweet, needs time. B

Flight 2
2002 Willi Schaefer Graacher Domprobst Riesling Spatlese- AP #09
Spicy/minty, crisp apple,. young, balanced. A-


2002 Donnhoff Oberhauser Brucke Riesling Spatlese AP#08
Big, rounder, pears and peaches. B/B+

2002 Donnhoff Niederhauser Hermannshohle Riesling Spatlese AP#11

Quite complex, tropical fruit, herbal, slatey, I liked more than table. B+/A-

Flight 3 (great flight)
2001 R. Haart Piesporter Goldtropfchen Riesling Spatlese AP #08
Exotic tropical fruit yet with electric acidity, spicy finish. Eyeopener A-/A

2001 Willi Schaefer Graacher Domprobst Spatlese- AP #05
Hint of spritz even at 17, bright, vibrant, takes some time to open but delicious. A-

2001 Fritz Haag Brauneberger Juffer-Sonnenuhr Riesling Spatlese
Mint, smoke, hint of caramel. Good, though not absolutely certain well stored (mine, but no memory of when acquired, cork for slightly protruding, and S said slid out a little too easily). Still, awful tasty. B+

Flight 4
This flight had a 2001 Donnhoff Schlossbockelheimer Kupfergrube Spatlese AP #07 and a 2001 Donnhoff Oberhauser Brucke Riesling Spatlese AP#09, but I don't have anything written down that I can read. Think I helped clear dishes and got distracted. Looks like I preferred Kupfergrube to Brucke, but didn't like either as much as previous flight.


Flight 5
1998 Donnhoff Niederhäuser Hermannshohle Spatlese Auction Bottling)
Kind of cheesey lactic thing going on, ripe tropical fruit, if correct B

1998 Willi Schaefer Graacher Himmelreich Riesling Spatlese #9
Bright, slatey, but a not so long. B/B+

1998 J. J. Prum Wehlener Sonnenuhr Riesling Spatlese
Tons of sulphur on nose, blows off and leaves a beautiful wine, green apple and citrus with petrol and rocks. A-

A break while John cooked pork medallions in a mushroom sauce served with couscous.

2000 Lanson Cuvee Noble Blanc de Blancs Champagne
Crisp, elegant bead, citrus peel and apple with warm brioche. B+/A-

Flight 6
1996 Von Schubert Maximin Grunhauser Abtsberg Spatlese
Light and sprightly, citrus, floral, saline. A-/A

1996 J. J. Christoffel Urziger Wurzgarten Riesling Spatlese
Definite red fruit, wrote down cherry but others were insisting on strawberry/cream. Complex, long. B+/A-

1996 Donnhoff Oberhauser Brucke Riesling Spatlese

Dark browning color, this is cooked

Flight 7
1993 Zilliken Saarburger Rausch Riesling Spatlese
Smoky nose, a touch reductive at first, citrus and petrol. B+

1993 Von Schubert Maximin Grunhauser Herrenberg Riesling Spatlese

Mint, petrol , incredibly light on its feet. Long minerally finish. A-

John remarked the ‘93s were only ones to be truly mature- sugar fading, savory mineral notes out ahead of fruit- but neither fading

1976 Egon Muller Scharzhofberger Riesling Spatlese - corked. Ouch!!!!!!!

Great night with fun crowd.

Grade disclaimer: I'm a very easy grader, basically A is an excellent wine, B a good wine, C drinkable. Anything below C means I wouldn't drink at a party where it was only choice.Furthermore, I offer no promises of objectivity, accuracy, and certainly not of consistency.
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David M. Bueker

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Re: WTN: Spatlese 2005 -1976 (well really 1993)

by David M. Bueker » Wed Aug 15, 2018 3:04 pm

Nice!

Every 1996 Donnhoff I have ever tasted showed some signs of heat damage or was downright cooked. That was right at the end of Terry's time with Kronheim as his importer.
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Rahsaan

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Re: WTN: Spatlese 2005 -1976 (well really 1993)

by Rahsaan » Wed Aug 15, 2018 3:24 pm

Sounds like a great tasting, with plenty to keep you occupied and not be too upset about the corked 76 Scharzhofberger.

But interesting comment about 'truly mature'. Presumably he means for his palate? There is no official definition of these things is there.
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David M. Bueker

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Re: WTN: Spatlese 2005 -1976 (well really 1993)

by David M. Bueker » Wed Aug 15, 2018 3:41 pm

Rahsaan wrote:But interesting comment about 'truly mature'. Presumably he means for his palate? There is no official definition of these things is there.


No doubt. John is a bit of a necrophiliac if you look at his drinking windows.

That being said, 1996 from good producers is just getting to the beginnings of maturity. 2001 is an incredibly slow maturing vintage. 1998 will probably get to the mythical "full maturity" much sooner than both. 2002, with its fine freshness, will probably show young for a very long time.

2005 is a beast and young.
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Dale Williams

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Re: WTN: Spatlese 2005 -1976 (well really 1993)

by Dale Williams » Wed Aug 15, 2018 4:20 pm

While full maturity is of course personal I think David nailed it.
I think John was just saying that '93s were only ones where fruit wasn't first thing you notice (though neither were "fruitless")
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Bill Spohn

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Re: WTN: Spatlese 2005 -1976 (well really 1993)

by Bill Spohn » Wed Aug 15, 2018 6:13 pm

Pity about the 1976 - great wines. I have but one left, a BA, and then a few Auslesen from 1982 through 1990, in the early bunch. Trying to find a time to open a BA can be challenging.
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Bob Parsons Alberta

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Re: WTN: Spatlese 2005 -1976 (well really 1993)

by Bob Parsons Alberta » Thu Aug 16, 2018 12:25 am

Nice notes, 3 ring binder at the ready for print out.

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