Germany wines in the Flickinger Fine Wines inventory http://www.flickingerwines.com/wineregions/german.asp WS 89 (3/2005): Almond and a hint of petrol in the aromas give way to passion fruit, lime and tangerine flavors in this intense, vibrant Riesling. It's just a tad coarse on the finish. Drink now through 2018.IWC 1-Star (2/2005): Aromas of tangerine, sassafras and toasted nuts. Sizzlingly bright and spicy on the palate, with juicy citricity but also a hint of creaminess. This comes from a small, ungrafted section near Pralat that was not disturbed during the general replanting of Treppchen. Finishes bright and long.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/JJChristoffelErben.aspWS 89 (12/2001): Sweet and thickly textured, offering nectarine, honey and apricot aromas and flavors. Drink now through 2002.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/KurtDarting.aspWS 89 (12/2001): Sweet and thickly textured, offering nectarine, honey and apricot aromas and flavors. Drink now through 2002.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/KurtDarting.aspWA 99 (10/2008): Donnhoff’s 2006 Niederhauser Hermannshohle Riesling Auslese introduces a caramelization of fruit and a roasted richness that represent a more obvious expression of botrytis, yet the springs of acidity are incredibly tightly-wound as well and there is absolutely no sense of heaviness. One can taste the effect of botrytis that was being constantly ventilated in the best portions of this great site, concentrating all components, including acidity, while juicy berries also still abounded. The fruitcake metaphor is overused and fails to capture the appropriate sense of levity, fluidity, and elegance. Suffice it to say that dried fruits, toasted nuts, citrus rind, honey, white raisin, baking spices, spiritous fruit essences, and singed, caramelized notes all abound, and that the less prosaic layers of this masterpiece – for lack of better words, the meat and mineral dimensions – are only revealed for now to the limited degree that time in the glass permits. The finish finds me licking my lips clean of mysteriously savory, salty residues. Voluminous and dense yet refined and elegant; baroque yet constructed like one of the great pyramids; viscously rich yet dynamic, this will stand – perhaps for half a century – as a monument to its vintner, site and vintage.IWC 92+ (2/2008): Rich golden yellow. Vibrant aromas of candied apricot, vanilla and cinnamon shine through the botrytis. The succulent tropical fruit flavors maintain a remarkable delicacy on the palate in spite of the wine's richness and depth. The long, glossy finish is marked by a refined spiciness. A profound effort for the vintage.JR 18/20 (8/2007): A savoury note initially followed by pears on the nose. Very rich orange sorbet on the palate but still an underlying streak of minerality. Drink 2008 to 2030.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/WeingutHermannDonnhoff.aspWA 96 (10/2005): The 2004 Neiderhauser Hermannshohle Riesling Spatlese A.P. #10 displays a positively supernal aroma, combining distilled strength berries, herbs and pit fruits with mysteriously carnal and pungently mineral suggestions. Rich, dense and meaty, plush and creamy in texture, yet bright, animated and rivetingly complex on the palate, this wine offers a bonus of beautifully integrated, exotically spicy, estrous notes of botrytis. (The botrytis berries in the Brucke were picked out to inform Auslesen – not so here.) The nearly endless reverberating finish reminds me of the complexity of overtones produced when a second set of hands depresses ten additional keys while you strike a full chord on the piano. On reflection, I was amazed to realize that no wine had so far surpassed a Spatlese from Norheimer Dellchen. But I was even more amazed to be offered at this point yet another wine of the same name!WS 92 (3/2006): Fine clarity to the peach, red berry and citrus flavors in this round yet vividly structured white. The point-counterpoint between richness and acidity frames the flavors and carries them to a long conclusion. Drink now through 2020. 127 cases imported.IWC 92 (2/2006): Mesmerizing aromas of papaya, sweet herbs and spearmint. Intense but discreet cherry fruit rises from the mid-palate, accompanied by brilliant acidity. The riveting finish is animated and spicy. One of the finest spatleses of the vintage in Germany.ahttp://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/WeingutHermannDonnhoff.aspWA 96 (10/2005): Donnhoff’s 2004 Norheimer Dellchen Riesling Spatlese A.P. #14 smells of overripe pear, banana, honey and suggestions of sheer botrytis. In the mouth, this distinctive lot offers much of the same richness allied to near weightlessness that characterizes its sibling, but there is an intensity of spice that tastes as though it had been borrowed from Schlossbockelheim. Coming from young vines in the “Halbmond,” a half-moon shaped heat-trapping pocket in the cliff whose overhanging mass of rock was at one time used by vineyard workers as a shelter from the elements, this small auction cuvee finishes with enveloping richness, enticingly exotic spice, and a generosity free of inhibition.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/WeingutHermannDonnhoff.aspIWC 91 (2/2006): Subtle, nuanced aromas of honeysuckle, pineapple and lime. Pure and polished on the palate, with peachy fruit and a refined minerality. Finishes delicate and long.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/WeingutHermannDonnhoff.aspIWC 91 (2/2007): Pale golden yellow with a hint of green. Subtle honeysuckle aroma blends with hyacinth and lime. Pure, polished peachy fruit and a very refined minerality drift dreamily across the palate.Delicate, almost ethereal and quite long.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/WeingutHermannDonnhoff.aspWA 95 (12/2004): The 2003 Riesling Auslese Oberhauser Brucke exhibits a terrific nose of perfume, lilies, violets, and apples. Broad, supple, and round, this pure, medium-bodied wine has the personality and grace of a plump, joyful dancer. Its plush, sweet white fruit-packed core is dusted with spices whose flavors are seamlessly extended into its prolonged finish. Anticipated maturity: 2007-2030. Bravo to Helmut Donnhoff for this magical line-up!WS 93 (3/2005): Pure and bright, this evokes peach, tangerine and vanilla aromas and flavors on an elegant frame. Good underlying acidity and a lingering aftertaste of citrus. Fine combination of concentration and lightness. Drink now through 2018. JR 18/20 (6/2004): Strong greenish streak. Hidden intense nose. Introvert. Needs lots of time. Not showing its full glory at the moment. Very, very slightly dull on the finish. A bit of chew. Perhaps just muted and needs aeration. Drink 2012 to 2025.IWC * (2/2005): Blackcurrant, juniper and sloe berry aromas. Honeyed and rich as well as berry-flavored and shot through with salty minerality. Like a berry-studded, rich vanilla custard one moment and a wet stone mineral bath the next. Soothingly slippery, glyceral-rich texture. Nearly endless billowing length here. 2 stars.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/WeingutHermannDonnhoff.aspWA 97 (2/2004): This Spatlese is extraordinary, hovering in that zone bordering perfection in which wines touch the soul. The 2002 Riesling Spatlese Oberhauser Brucke exhibits aromas and flavors of cherry-drenched quartz, raspberries, minerals, as well as steel. Medium-bodied, muscular, powerful, and masculine, it is an oily-textured, broad-shouldered wine of spectacular depth and length. This concentrated, harmonious behemoth will be at its best between 2010 and 2030. All Hail the King of Spatlese! Donnhoff’s line-up of Spatlesen is second to none.WS 92 (3/2004): Tangy and vivid in structure, this is like a jolt of peach, tropical fruit, spice and mineral. Taut and racy, it packs a lot of flavor into its sleek frame. Long, fruit-cocktail aftertaste. Drink now through 2015.IWC 2-Stars (2/2004): A bouquet of lily and narcissus is both sweet and musky. A coulis of red raspberry and molten minerals flows over the palate, but the sheer intensity here is matched by an elegance and lightness of touch. You might say this has the concentration of other recent vintages of Brucke Spatlese but not the weight, a perfect illustration of Donnhoff's characterization of 2002 as "playful and light even though dense. " The balance of acid and sugar is perfect, so that the sweetness drops away completely in the back. Red fruit, citrus and devilishly diverse expressions of salt and stones hang around for a lot longer than you can wait before taking the next sip. 2 stars.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/WeingutHermannDonnhoff.aspIWC 90 (2/2007): Pale yellow. Rich aromas of lichee, lemon oil and pine.Luscious yet piquant tropical fruit flavors accented by smoke. In spite of the wine's substantial depth, subtle acidity brings spice and finesse to the finish.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/WeingutHermannDonnhoff.aspJR 17/20 (7/2006): Pure and fruity, open, transparent, off-dry. Very straightforward with lift. Drink 2008 to 2014.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/WeingutHermannDonnhoff.aspJR 17/20 (7/2006): Pure and fruity, open, transparent, off-dry. Very straightforward with lift. Drink 2008 to 2014.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/WeingutHermannDonnhoff.aspWA 93+ (10/2005): The 2004 Schlossbockelheimer Felsenberg Riesling Auslese smells of peonies, quince, mint, distilled purple and black fruits, and pungent brown spices. Spice-, flower- and berry liqueur-laced pear and quince preserves inform an intensely rich yet impeccably balanced and refined palate. The finish really whips up the flowers, berries and spices and suggests that these are early days for trying to capture the quality of this wine with my poor words, to say nothing of numbers.WS 90 (4/2006): A distinctive rose aroma segues into peach, grapefruit and cooked apple flavors in this opulent auslese. It's all supported by lively acidity in a well-integrated presentation. Good, lingering finish. Drink now through 2018. 50 cases imported. JR 17/20 (8/2005): The Dönnhoffs call this ‘everyday Auslese’ and indeed it is far from the most exciting Auslese, or even the most exciting 2004, from this stable. I wrote: not that sweet, not very Auslese really. OK. Drink 2007 to 2016.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/WeingutHermannDonnhoff.aspWS 94 (4/2007): Shows delicacy and nuance. Vanilla, apricot, lime and a fireworks of mineral get a lift from the vibrant structure. Long and complex, with a gingerbread and mineral aftertaste. Drink now through 2020. 205 cases imported.IWC 91 (2/2007): Pale golden yellow.Subtle bouquet of pineapple, nut oil and lemon zest.The luscious yet crisp papaya fruit is brightened by a refreshing mineral character.Deceptively light and wonderfully drinkable.A charming riesling with a sweet/salty finish.JR 17.5/20 (7/2006): Very aromatic. Then very pure and full. Racy, lively, mouthfilling. Chewy, delicate. Still young.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/WeingutHermannDonnhoff.aspWA 93 (12/2004): Intense scents of slate as well as minerals burst from the glass of the medium-bodied and seductively sexy 2003 Riesling Spatlese Schlossbockelheimer Kupfergrube. Broad, rich, and plush, it boasts plump, seamless layers of powerfully flavored poached pears, apples, and candied slate. This dense, fat, and prolonged wine should be drunk over the next 15 years. Bravo to Helmut Donnhoff for this magical line-up!WS 90 (3/2005): An intense spätlese, this is dense and concentrated, yet lithe and lively, with apricot, tangerine and mineral notes gracing the long finish. Balanced and harmonious. Drink now through 2018.JR 17.5/20 (6/2004): Intense lychee nose. Very broad and exotic on the nose, but with quite remarkable delineation. Maybe not searing acidity. Very, very slightly indistinct on the finish. Still very slightly chewy. The vineyard benefited enormously from its damp subsoil. Drink 2006 to 2020.IWC * (2/2005): Nut oils, almond pastry and lichee on the nose. The palate is similarly informed of marzipan, lichee and praline. Round and opulently rich, with an almost gaudy complexity of fruits and confections in the finish and a whiff of smoke. Impressive, if not terribly site- or Donnhoff-typical. 1 star.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/WeingutHermannDonnhoff.aspWA 95 (10/2006): When it comes to the realm occupied by Zilliken’s extraordinary 2005 Saarburger Rausch Riesling Auslese Gold Capsule A.P. #8, he readily – indeed gleefully – admits to having produced remarkable volumes. “This #8 is the sort of wine of which one would ordinarily harvest two or three hundred liters,” he explains, “whereas I harvested 3,700 liters.” Date, dried apricot, grapefruit, and honey aromas set the stage for an intense mouthful of dried pit fruit concentrate, citrus, and honey that exhibits incredible focus, clarity and finishing penetration, yet comes off as gentler than several of the other Auslesen in this collection, with delicacy, refinement and lift, and among great 2005s, must count as a bargain!WS 94 (5/2007): Spiced pear, lime and golden raisin notes swirl around a laserlike structure that keeps this centered. A racy style, with less concentration, yet showing plenty of intensity and a lovely lime and slate aftertaste. Best from 2010 through 2030. 100 cases imported.IWC 94 (2/2007): Rich gold. Full-blown aromas of dried apricot, acacia honey and candied dates waft over the brown-spice botrytis.Unctuous honey-glazed pineapple flavor counterpointed by robust, bright acidity. Polished, delicate and high-toned on the finish.Given the almost 5,000 bottles produced, this is an astonishing wine.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ForstmeisterGeltzZilliken.asphttp://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ForstmeisterGeltzZilliken.aspIWC 99(+?) (2/2007): Rich gold. Deeply botrytized nose offers an exotically spiced blend of mango, papaya and lichee, with hints of mocha and chocolate. Compellingly sweet, rich and concentrated, with smoky accents and the elegantly bitter expression of botrytis providing verve and lift.Riveting deep spice character makes for a fascinating, otherworldly finish. Wonderfully deep and rich yet ethereal, this wine approaches perfection in liquid form.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ForstmeisterGeltzZilliken.asphttp://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/Groenesteyn.aspWS 94 (4/2006): Intense aromas and flavors of pineapple, apricot, wet earth and stone are exuberant and beautifully integrated with the silky texture and vibrant structure. There's fine depth and a lingering intensity. You can almost smell a spring rain rising from the warm slate. Drink now through 2022. 400 cases imported. IWC 89 (2/2006): Ripe peach, passion fruit and candied lemon on the nose. Rich and juicy in texture, but still clean and refreshing. In spite of the residual sugar this spatlese remains bright and lively on the finish.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/Gunderloch.aspWS 94 (4/2007): Suave, with a texture that's as smooth as silk, boasting peach, apple and citrus notes. Picks up a hint of vanilla custard before the structure kicks in, leaving a citrus aftertaste. Very clean and pure. Drink now through 2025. 50 cases imported.WA 93 (10/2006): The 2005 Brauneberger Juffer-Sonnenuhr Riesling Auslese A.P. #6 offers scents of nectarine, white peach, and quince, a glossy, polished palate with abundant inner-mouth florality and underlying nut cream and vanilla character, and an imposing degree of interplay between fresh and ennobled fruit elements and salty and alkaline minerality that is missing from many 2005s. A refined, subtly persistent finish exhibits striking clarity of fruit and transition to mineral nuance that is uncommon in a botrytis-influenced Auslese.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/FritzHaag.aspWS 95 (4/2007): Pure and expressive. A mix of slate and nectarine flavors, verging on passion fruit, highlights this lithe yet dense Riesling. Ripe and succulent, with excellent balance and a tangy finish. Drink now through 2025. 100 cases made.IWC 94 (2/2007): Pale golden yellow. Fine bouquet of candied papaya, ginger and lemon oil, with a whiff of botrytis. The rich, juicy pineapple fruit and subtle, creamy texture harmonize nicely within a framework of elegant acidity. Crisp slate animates the long finish. Wonderfully balanced wine with considerable promise.WA 93 (10/2006): Scents of over-ripe pear and musk melon rise from a glass of the 2005 Brauneberger Juffer Riesling Auslese Gold Capsule A.P. #9. In the mouth, this positively drips with a condensed concentration of sweet floral perfume, along with grilled pink grapefruit and honey-drenched pear and melon. Almost gaudy in comparison with its siblings and decidedly softer and more overtly sweet, it finishes with peach, pear, and quince preserves of compelling concentration and clarity, even if its nectar-like emphasis on extremely ripe fruits and heady florality leave no apparent room – at least at this stage – for mineral nuances. Ernst Loosen is fond of saying that a great Mosel Auslese should be like a hamster in its youth, storing up fat and sugar for a long sleep. To the extent one trucks with that metaphor, I cannot imagine a better illustration, and I would wait at least a decade before pulling the next cork on this Auslese and commencing a further 20 years of satisfying contemplation.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/FritzHaag.asphttp://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/WeingutGeorgGustavHuff.asphttp://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/WeingutGeorgGustavHuff.asphttp://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/WeingutGeorgGustavHuff.asphttp://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/WeingutGeorgGustavHuff.aspWS 92 (3/2005): Fine concentration here, matched by a gossamer texture and juicy acidity, all of which frame the peach, vanilla and lime notes. In the end, a delicate Riesling. Drink now through 2018. 70 cases imported.WA 89 (12/2004): Revealing a nose of sweet citrus fruits, the 2003 Riesling Auslese Eitelsbacher Karthauserhofberg #43 (gold cap) is a rich, plush, thick wine whose seamless personality is perilously close to being blowzy. Flavors of caramel are intermingled with candied white fruits in its decadent core. Because it is already showing flavors of burnt sugar, I recommend drinking this wine in the near term though it will undoubtedly last for many more years. Anticipated maturity: now-2011.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/Karthauserhof.aspWA 91 (10/2009): From younger vines in the Kirchspiel and (in lesser proportions) Hubacker and Morstein, Keller 2007 Riesling trocken von der Fels offers perfume, lift and clarity – encompassing a vivid sense of chalkiness – that go well beyond the estate’s basic Riesling bottling. Gardenia, orange blossom, lime, and quince, as well as toasted almond and pistachio fill the nose; lusciously juicy fruit, inner-mouth floral perfume, and piquant nuttiness fill the palate; and a seemingly incongruous yet in practice not at all inharmonious alternation of nut cream and mocha with invigorating tart berry skin and citrus fill out a finish marked also by chalky and saline mineral suggestions. This should remain fascinating and delicious for at least the next 6-8 years. JR 17/20 (6/2008): Drink 2009-12 Young vines mainly from Kirchspiel and other Grosses Gewächs vineyards. Quite broad and expressive on the nose. Elderflowers at first and then lots of lime and tingle and a dry finish. Very firm finish and very long and minerally. 12.5%http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/WeingutKeller.aspJR 17/20 (6/2009): This has other ingredients as well, more than the S bottling tasted just after. Really quite opulent and expressive on the nose. Very neat and precise. Drink 2010 to 2014.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/WeingutKeller.aspJR 17/20 (6/2009): This has other ingredients as well, more than the S bottling tasted just after. Really quite opulent and expressive on the nose. Very neat and precise. Drink 2010 to 2014.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/WeingutKeller.aspJR 18/20 (8/2009): Nutty, bright very intense fruit - so ripe! A real miracle in this year, presumably, with real TBA characteristics and masses of acidity. The richness is so great that the metallic element is subsumed. Drink 2014 to 2028.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/WeingutKeller.aspJR 18.5/20 (9/2007):Very youthful purple-edged crimson, medium density with a pale rim. Meaty sundried tomato and some spicy oak notes but these do not overwhelm the fine red and black fruits. Lovely classy oak - a very classy wine altogether. Firm fine tannins. Very fresh. Very very long.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/WeingutKeller.aspWA 91 (10/2009): Aged in six used barriques (all of outstanding provenance), Keller’s 2007 Dalsheimer Burgel Spatburgunder Grosses Gewachs – part of which was fermented in upright demi-muid – displays aromas ripe cherry with cocoa powder and coconut overtones from the barrel. There is a sweetness and purity of fruit as well as a plush of texture and depth of nutty and meaty character that reflect 35 year old vines (of diverse German clonal origin) planted in fossil mussel-chalk, with pleasant contrasting tartness of fruit skin and pungent spice. I slightly miss the sheer juiciness and at the same time haunting perfume and mineral dimensions more evident in the ostensibly lesser “S” bottling. Still, this too should be well worth watching for at least 6-8 years.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/WeingutKeller.aspJR 19/20 (4/2009): Another unique expression of terroir with concentrated aromas of ginger almost tickling one’s olfactory senses. A gentle prolonged extraction has provided the wine with a firm backbone of astringency giving it even greater substance and longevity. Fine, sensual and promising complexity maybe beyond powers of verbal description, but not of appreciative exclamations. Drink 2012-2020WA 92 (10/2009): Keller’s 2007 Dalsheimer Hubacker Riesling Grosses Gewachs smells flinty, pungent, and smoky – in short (and among other things) slightly reductive – and needs time in the air to open up. Zesty grapefruit and juicy lime and peach mingle with alkaline, chalky, and smoky mineral elements on a dynamic palate which however lacks the singular combination of creaminess and energy exhibited by the Kirchspiel. The striking thing about this Hubacker is its sheer grip, not so much a savory as rather a sheer tactile intensity of finish which, however, never crosses to the unpleasant side of bitterness. Anticipate more than a dozen years of fascination, and make no assumptions as to whether this or the Kirchspiel will ultimately prove more complex or satisfying as that will in any event depend on the occasion and one’s predilections, not to mention their as yet inscrutable stages of evolution.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/WeingutKeller.aspJR 19/20 (10/2009): Rather than opulent in its fragrance, this convinces with a more refined combination of spices and yellow fruit; on the palate this exhibits a perfect balance of local and exotic fruit (ripe apples, juicy pears, grapefruit, oranges), spice (nutmeg) and a mouthwatering acidity; great structure, complexity and length.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/WeingutKeller.aspWS 94 (4/2006): A rich, juicy auslese, evoking passion fruit, apricot and vanilla custard flavors. It's forward, yet with an intensity and length that belies its extroverted personality. Long apricot aftertaste. Drink now through 2025.IWC 92 (2/2006): Pale gold. Rich aromas of passion fruit, pineapple and sweet lime. The lush, sweet fruit is at first almost overwhelming, but a bright spiciness lightens and cleanses the palate. The long, sweet finish is not at all cloying.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/WeingutKeller.asphttp://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/WeingutKeller.asphttp://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/WeingutKeller.asphttp://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/WeingutKeller.aspWA 88 (10/2009): The basic Keller 2007 Riesling trocken suggests pumpkin and winter squash along with lime, apricot, and hints of fresh mint and sage, offering a polished and substantial yet clear and refreshing display, with its 8 grams of residual sugar proving to be just enough to set off the fruit and steer the finish away from austerity. Enjoy this anytime over the next 2-3 years.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/WeingutKeller.aspWA 88 (10/2008): The 2006 Riesling R.R. trocken comes from young vines in lower portions of the Kirchspiel that are high in iron content and thus red in color. Unlike Keller’s two less-expensive dry Riesling, this is vinified in cask. Fresh red raspberry, sweetly-perfumed flowers, and salted pistachio dominate this piquant, pungently smoky, mineral, and impressively concentrated Riesling. Hints of resin and lanolin from the large but youthful barrel make themselves evident in the finish, and this lacks quite the clarity or lip-smacking juiciness of the von der Fels bottling.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/WeingutKeller.asphttp://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/WeingutKeller.aspJR 16/20 (6/2009): Very bright fruit and very obvious acidity. Good pungent, rather hazelnutty fruit. Clean and bracing, though nothing like his top dry Rieslings for complexity alas. Still, not a bad introduction to dry Riesling. Drink 2009 to 2010.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/WeingutKeller.asphttp://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/WeingutKeller.asphttp://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/WeingutKeller.aspWA 91 (10/2009): The 2007 Spatburgunder trocken S combines freshness of red fruits with chocolate, fennel and leather. Like his other reds, it displays the sort of mysteriously musky, phernomic, and floral perfume as well as the silkiness of texture that make Pinot so alluring, and which I too seldom find in German examples. Cocoa powder, toasted nuts, and spices in the finish are deliciously counterpoised with invigorating tart berry skin and saline, chalky mineral notes. This lovely wine – in another class from its vintage predecessor – should be worth following for at least 6-8 years.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/WeingutKeller.aspWA 92 (10/2009): The Keller 2007 Westhofener Kirchspiel Riesling Grosses Gewachs combines a cool restraint of melon-like fruit and overtly chalky, saline, savory mineral tones with an only nominally contradictory conjunction of creaminess and tactile impingement of tart berry skin and herbal pungency. The nose on its own is Burgundian in its aura of crushed stone, toasted hazelnuts, citrus oil, and milled grain, but the echoes of these elements on the palate are accompanied by a lusciousness of fruit and almost subliminal sense of electric charge that definitely spell “Riesling.” This may not be more fun to drink right now than the “von der Fels” bottling – which is as Keller intended – but what a length there is here! Plan to follow this beauty for at least the next 12-15 years.JR 17.5+/20 (6/2008): Drink 2010-14 Cask sample. Strong mineral elements on the nose. Almost scratchable. From the higher special Turmstück parcel (von der Fels comes from the lower part). Very dense and firm and bone dry. Positively tingles. 13% (90 btls imported)http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/WeingutKeller.aspJR 18.5/20 (10/2009): Spontaneous fermentation aromas give way to an overwhelming array of vineyard peaches, mangos and satsumas; very generous and ripe fruit keeps expanding without transgressing into overload; finely polished acidity, mineral finish; very long (MS)http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/WeingutKeller.aspJR 19/20 (7/2006): Very dense with lovely dancing hints of dried apricots. Great richness yet very lively. A wonderful mouthful of Riesling in its broad symphonic Rheinhessen essence. Terribly long and yet quite delicate. Drink 2010-2020.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/WeingutKeller.aspJR 17.5/20 (7/2008): Minerals and tension on the nose with lots of pure Riesling fruit. Drink 2010 to 2018.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/WeingutKeller.asphttp://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/WeingutKeller.asphttp://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/WeingutKeller.asphttp://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/VonKesselstatt.aspWS 90 (6/2005): An open, airy white, with hints of almond and fennel gracing the peach, floral and orange flavors. Appealing, and balanced in a more traditional style. Good length. Drink now through 2018. 200 cases made.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/DrLoosen.aspWS 90 (3/2004): A real core of apple and peach notes are wrapped up in a firm structure. Dense and long, this needs time to unravel its stony secrets. Drink now through 2008. 300 cases made.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/DrLoosen.aspWS 94 (3/2005): Clean, focused and packed with apricot, lime and mineral aromas and flavors, this '03 auslese shows harmony and length. A little tightly wound at this point, but patience will be repaid about 12 to 15 years on. Drink now through 2028. 100 cases made.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/DrLoosen.aspWS 90 (8/2006): A rich style, one-dimensional at this stage, showing vanilla custard, lime and grapefruit notes. Attractive and bright, it needs a little time to come together and find more expression. Best from 2008 through 2025. 50 cases made.IWC 90 (2/2006): Pale golden yellow. Fine aromas of fresh apple and vanilla, with a hint of acacia honey. Elegant and fine, the peach fruit remaining graceful in spite of the wine's considerable depth. Satisfying rather than impressive or especially complex, this wine nonetheless finishes strong.WA 89 (2/2006): Loosen’s 2004 Wehlener Sonnenuhr Riesling Auslese presents a sweet lily- and vanilla scented nose, along with a polished, clear, creamy palate dripping with pear and apple fruit and with wafting florality. For all of its sweetness, the finish is elegant and refined, clear and expressive.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/DrLoosen.asphttp://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/Lubentiushof.aspWA 98 (10/2005): The 2004 Gimmeldinger Schlossel Rieslaner Beerenauslese smelled of peach and gooseberry jam augmented by black tea, honey and smoke. The palate impression was similarly Eszencia-like in its creamy, nearly gelatinous viscosity, ethereal high toned inner-mouth aromas, and apricot and peach preserve intensity. If you have to fall on your sword, what a way to go. This offers a rapier thrust of finishing fruit swathed in a thick creamy envelope. Peach jam, dark resinous honey, citrus rind, black tea, caramelized apricot, and complex, nameless esters reverberate in the hereafter. It was, I suppose, inevitable that Rieslaner would be tried out in the estate’s most famous vineyard, and the parcel is adjacent to the Aspen, so there is a regular breeze to accentuate this variety’s proclivity to spontaneously pucker.IWC 94 (2/2006): Quite smoky on the nose, with aromas of caramelized peach, acacia honey and lemon oil wafting over spicy botrytis. Viscous and intensely flavored, with bright pit fruits and tantalizing minerality imploding on the palate. The complex, resinous finish is keep alive by sweet herbs, lime zest and nut oil.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/Muller-Catoir.aspIWC ** (2/2005): Black cherry, white peach, lime and vanilla in the nose. Toasted nut and alkaline mineral notes accent a sweet mouthful of peach, quince and banana. Creamy yet with underlying mineral firmness and persistent brightness. This split personality, along with the increasingly honeyed, smoky, quince fruit character the wine takes on with air, reminds me of a Loire Valley chenin blanc. Quince jelly, caramelized peach, black cherries in syrup and wet stone inform the long, strong finish.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/JJPrum.aspWS 94 (4/2006): The aroma is marked by matchstick now, but this is positively crunchy on the palate. The vibrant structure and clarity set the tone for its peach, citrus and mineral notes. It's refreshing and alive, with a mouthwatering finish. This needs time. Best from 2009 through 2030. 1,200 cases made.IWC 91 (2/2006): Sedate aromas of blueberry, honey, apple and mint. Pure and rich on the palate, with subtle nut oil and spice notes. Finishes with bright brown spices, succulent length and lovely lift and delicacy.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/JJPrum.aspWS 96 (3/2005): This is really singing. Floral, apricot and mineral notes burst from the glass, and the wine is silky and impeccably balanced. Very concentrated, yet lightweight and elegant, with a fresh aftertaste. Should be brilliant in about 20 years. Drink now through 2025.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/JJPrum.asphttp://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/SAPrum.aspWS 94 (3/2005): Stunning. Very aromatic and expressive, offering rose, apricot, lime and mineral notes allied to a clear, gossamer frame. Well-balanced, though somewhat soft in structure. Forward today, the finish should pick up more intensity with age. Best from 2008 through 2028.IWC ** (2/2005): Peach and vanilla aromas. Broad, polished and creamy, yet it lies lightly, even delicately, on the palate. Brown spice, mango and banana suggest the vintage's extreme ripeness without conveying any overt sense of botrytis. Static yet imposingly rich and layered on the finish. (Nooks and crannies are not what this vintage, particularly at this address, is about.)WA 88 (12/2004): About a third of this wine was poured out, then the bottle was violently shaken to help rid it of CO2 and to allow the SO2 to blow-off some. It was then allowed to rest and aerate before being tasted. The 2003 Riesling Auslese Wehlener Sonnenuhr displays hints of minerals lurking below its wafts of sulfur. A seamless, creamy-textured wine, it is easygoing, plump, and exhibits flavors reminiscent of poached pears, cotton candy, and sweet minerals. Drink it between 2010 and 2020.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/JJPrum.aspWS 94 (3/2005): Stunning. Very aromatic and expressive, offering rose, apricot, lime and mineral notes allied to a clear, gossamer frame. Well-balanced, though somewhat soft in structure. Forward today, the finish should pick up more intensity with age. Best from 2008 through 2028.IWC ** (2/2005): Peach and vanilla aromas. Broad, polished and creamy, yet it lies lightly, even delicately, on the palate. Brown spice, mango and banana suggest the vintage's extreme ripeness without conveying any overt sense of botrytis. Static yet imposingly rich and layered on the finish. (Nooks and crannies are not what this vintage, particularly at this address, is about.)WA 88 (12/2004): About a third of this wine was poured out, then the bottle was violently shaken to help rid it of CO2 and to allow the SO2 to blow-off some. It was then allowed to rest and aerate before being tasted. The 2003 Riesling Auslese Wehlener Sonnenuhr displays hints of minerals lurking below its wafts of sulfur. A seamless, creamy-textured wine, it is easygoing, plump, and exhibits flavors reminiscent of poached pears, cotton candy, and sweet minerals. Drink it between 2010 and 2020.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/JJPrum.aspWS 95 (3/2005): Very clean and focused, with an intensity that belies its delicate profile. Wonderful aromas and flavors of apricot, flowers and slate, with pinpoint balance and a long, almost salty aftertaste. Deceptive and completely disarming in its appeal. Drink now through 2030.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/JJPrum.aspIWC NR (2/2001): Scents of honey and candied citrus rind. The sweetness shows more prominently than is typical for this estate, due no doubt to lower acids. Finishes in a faintly sweet-sour way of candied gooseberry.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/CvonSchubert.asphttp://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/WeingutFritz-JosefSchwibinger.asphttp://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/WeingutFritz-JosefSchwibinger.aspWA 85 (10/2005): This wine was recommended, but no tasting note was given.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/JHAStrub.aspWS 88 (12/2004): Tangy notes of tangerine and lime infuse this lively, focused Riesling. It shows a little more nerve than its peers, with a juicy texture and mineral shadings. Drink now through 2012. 350 cases made.WA 87 (12/2004): The 2003 Riesling Kabinett Berncasteler Doctor’s engaging aromas of spicy pears greet the nose of the taster. Rich, plush, and sweet, it exhibits a plump personality that is packed with poached pear, mineral, and tangy apple flavors. Projected maturity: now-2009.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/DrHThanisch(Erben-Thanisch).aspWS 91 (12/2005): Very seductive from the smoky, mineral-tinged aromas to the peach and lime flavors. It's juicy and silky, with precision balance and a lingering finish. Drink now through 2010. 15,000 cases made. WA 87 (2/2006): The estate’s basic 2004 Riesling represents a blend from Leiwen and Saar sites, but smells decidedly Saar-like of cherry and apple blossom. In the mouth, crunchy fresh apple fruit character is augmented by notes of cherry pit, juicy citrus, and wet stones. Despite its 38 grams of residual sugar this tastes nearly dry. The finish of this excellent value is freshly fruited, invigoratingly citric, and lip-smackingly salty.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/StUrbans-Hof.asphttp://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/Wilhelmshof.asphttp://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/WeingutAugustZiegler.asphttp://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/WeingutAugustZiegler.asp