by David Lole » Sun Mar 10, 2013 6:52 am
Just realised I plucked one more corker for February's Wine Focus and didn't get 'round to try it.
Hermann Donnhoff Niederhauser Hermannshohle Riesling Auslese 1998 - 8.5% a/v and sealed with a top quality branded cork. Without a doubt, one the great drinking experiences of the last year or more. Holding a most attractive bright burnished yellow gold colour, followed by a bouquet of almost infinitesimal nuance ranging from apple skin, Packham pear, toffee-coated waxy apple, yellow nectarine, white and yellow peach, spiced apricot, ripe redcurrant, kaffir leaf, slate, salty minerals, all wrapped in a shroud of gorgeous honeyed goodness! Think instant replay for flavours on the palate. Layer upon layer of immaculately textured, gorgeously flavoured juice races around the mouth with scintillating and profoundly well-wrought minerally acidity seamlessly cutting the fatness and intensity of this amazing wine akin to the skilled surgeon performing an intricate and delicate operation. This exceptional riesling lingers like the proverbial overzealous parking inspector who receives renumeration by performance-based ticketing only. A true vin de garde, this wine is at an extremely good place now, but will reap the benefit of at least another 10, perhaps up to 20 years cellaring. I'm just over the moon with its performance tonight. 95 points.
Cheers,
David