WTN: 2004 Donnhoff Norheimer Dellchen Riesling Spatlese

[David M. Bueker]

Very complex aromatics, with peach, pineapple and coconut over the top of warm red stone. The flavors are still very primary, with tropical aspects dominating until after a billowing wave of fruit there follows a richness that is packed with mineral. This wine really explodes on the finish. The flavors just linger and linger. Absolutely delicious.

For me Dellchen represents a different expression for Donnhoff, as the wine is richer in texture than anything else I regularly taste from him. There's still elegance, but this is perhaps the only Donnhoff wine I buy that I could describe as big.

Anyway, a masterful performance.

Sounds great, and speaking of rich 04s, have been sipping the 04 Muller Catoir Haardter Herrenletten Spatlese over the past two days, where they obviously had none of the Mosel 04 rain..

Out of curiosity over how many days did you drink the ND? And did you find it approachable/enjoyable on day 1?

[David M. Bueker]

This was day 1. I have about 1/3 of the bottle left for day 2.

As far as Mosel rain...it really wasn't a problem for the better growers.

As far as Mosel rain...it really wasn't a problem for the better growers.

Yes, but while I may not have tasted extensively enough, what I have tasted showed a certain freshness and crispness, which was fine (welcome even) and clearly not at all the same beast that one finds in the 04 MC. Of course it is a completely different region. But I was just saying...

[David M. Bueker]

But I was just saying...

Ok, it's just that the open-ended way you said it made it sound like you thought '04 Mosels were not so good. I'm a big fan of '04 for its freshness and lively acidity, especially compared to '03 and to a great degree '05.