Here are my notes from the tasting in Trier on September 26th 2008 in Trier. THis year it was mostly wines from the great 2007-vintage
that were to be autctioned. The quality was genereally very high this year. Bear that in mind if I sometimes sound a little critical on
the wines.
Wiltinger braune kupp riesling auslese goldkapsel 2007, le gallais
This straw wine had a fine and complex nose with hints of honey and earth. Atouch more towards rustic than Egon Müllers Scharzhofbergers.
In the mouth it has a great balance and a crisp and citrusy acidity on the finish. Great clarity and precision. Great wine.
Hammer prices: €60 (37.5cl), €105 (75cl), €260 (150cl)
Kanzemer Altenberg riesling spätlese 2007, Weingut von Othegraven
This had a quite mineral nose with hints of citrus and slight touch of honey. In the mouth it was surprisingly sweet and thick. Fine
minerality and medium acidity. Citrusy long finish. A fuller styled spätlese from this vintage.
Hammer prices: €24 (75 cl)
Scharzhofberger riesling auslese 2007, Weingut von Hövel
Light greenish/straw colour. Steely nose. Leafy, underripe. Lacks a little the precision of E.Müller, but very fine. Sweet in the mouth,
yet a slim mouthfeel. Refreshing, citrusy, young and long taste. Very good.
Hammer price: €39 (75 cl)
Oberemmeler Hütte riesling auslese lange goldkapsel 2007, Weingut von Hövel
A wilder, more earthier nose, but with great depth. Sweet and elegant auslese in the mouth. Great depth and complexity in the fruit. Intense,
yet a slim feeling. Great acidity and length. This is a very good Hütte.
Hammer price: €55 (37,5 cl.)
Saarburger Rausch riesling spätlese 2007, Weingut Forstmeister Geltz-Zilliken
Very light colour. Typical mineral and leafy underripe nose. Fresh and slim style in the mouth. Yet intense and fullbodied. Typical
Rausch from Zilliken. Great acidity and length. Good.
Hammer price: €25,50 (75 cl)
Saarburger Rausch riesling auslese 2007, Weingut Forstmeister Geltz-Zilliken
More intense, mienral nose. Leafy, underripe. Hints of currant. Sweeet and very well-balanced auslese in the mouth. Typical mineral and
slim style of Zilliken. Great intensity and a fine acidity and length. This is a great wine that sold for a relatively good price.
Hammer price: €35,50 (75 cl)
Saarburger Rausch riesling auslese goldkapsel 2007, Weingut Forstmeister Geltz-Zilliken
This shows more honey and botrytis on the nose. Again mineral touch. It is fatter and has a much more botrytised mouthfeel. Sweeter. Yet
mineral, but too me does not keep that magic balance and precision of the regular auslese which I find superior.
Hammer price: €41 (37,5 cl), €65 (75 cl), €160 (150 cl)
Saarburger Rausch riesling auslese lange goldkapsel 2007, Weingut Forstmeister Geltz-Zilliken
Richer and sweeter nose. Honey, botrytis. Mineral. Thick in the mouth, but not as sweet as expected mouthfeel. This remains better balanced
and an elegant wine. Mineral fruit with a touch of botrytis. Great balance and length. Great wine and the best from Zilliken.
Hammer price: €90 (37,5 cl), €155 (75 cl)
Waverner Goldberg riesling auslese 2007, Weingut van Volxem
Quite different and very complex nose. Steely, some earth and a touch of honey. Sweet in the mouth. Fine and complex fruit with fine depth.
Sweet, yet remalight and wonderfully refreshing with it's fine acidity and length. This is a great wine.
Hammer price: €57 (37,5 cl), €94 (75 cl)
Serriger Schloss Saarstein riesling auslese goldkapsel 2007, Weingut Schloss Saarstein
Flowery, lightly earthy nose with a steely edge to it. Sweet, yet slim and light auslese goldkapsel in the mouth. Flowery fruit. Fine
structure and length. Good wine, although one of the more modest wines this day and in this company.
Hammer price: €28 (37,5 cl), €50 (75 cl)
Scharzhofberger riesling spätlese 2007, Weingut Egon Müller-Scharzhof
Very light colour. Steely, mineral nose. Rainwater. Medium bodied in the mouth. Intense and mineral wine. Very good and greatly balanced
spätlese from Egon Müller. Fine acidity and long citrusy and mineral finish. This is very fine, yet lacks the final intensity of the
remarkably great 2005-version of this wine.
Hammer price: €65 (75 cl)
Scharzhofberger riesling auslese 2007, Weingut Egon Müller-Scharzhof
Light colour. Slightly riper nose. Yet remains a mineral, steely and citrusy character. Sweeter wine in the mouth. More open. A touch of
honey in the fruit. Mineral and precise fruit. Great and refreshing acids and long and citrusy finish. Great wine.
Hammer price: €130 (75 cl)
Scharzhofberger riesling auslese goldkapsel 2007, Weingut Egon Müller-Scharzhof
Straw colour. Some botrytis on the nose here. Sweeter and riper. Honey. Yet minerally intense nose. Sweet wine in the mouth with more
obvious ripeness and intensity. Some botrytis. Yet mineral and elegant mouthfeel. Great acidity and length. This is a great wine.
Hammer price: €240 (37,5 cl), €370 (75 cl), €920 (150 cl)
Eitelsbacher Karthäuserhofberg riesling spätlese #49 2007, Weingut Karthäuserhof
Mineral nose with hints of forest floor. Sweet, balsamic and round style in the mouth. Quite kind wine with a little sugary feeling.
Mineral fruit with a touch of earth in it. Round and kind acids and medium length. Good wine, but one of the more modest spätlesen of
the day.
Hammer price: €24 (75 cl)
Eitelsbacher Karthäuserhofberg riesling auslese lange goldkapsel #37 2007, Weingut Karthäuserhof
Fruity and flowery nose with a touch of botrytis in it. Again, fine and kind riesling in the mouth with a round and balsamic fruit. Fine
and tempting with fine typicity. Good acidity and better length. Good wine.
Hammer price: €75 (37,5 cl), €135 (75 cl)
Josephshöfer riesling auslese goldkapsel #3 2007, Weingut Reichsgraf von Kesselstatt
A shy nose on this one. Mineral touch. Sweet fruits. Sweet and mienral approach in the mouth. Young and tight experience. Quite elegant
feel with fine acids and good length. A little hard to get right now.
Hammer price: €32 (37,5 cl), €60 (75 cl)
Brauneberger Juffer Sonnenuhr riesling spätlese 2007, Weingut Schloss Lieser
This was a very fine spätlese. Typical Juffer Sonnenuhr. Precise and mienral. Hints of blackcurrant. Clean, young and typical in the
mouth. Great balance with refreshing acidity and good length. One of the better spätlesen for me this day.
Hammer price: €29 (75 cl), €91 (150 cl)
Brauneberger Juffer Sonnenuhr riesling auslese lange goldkapsel 2007, Weingut Schloss Lieser
Some botrytis on the nose. Hints of blackcurrant, minerality. Thick and sweet wine in the mouth. Quite creamy and rich style. Clean and
young fruit. Fine. Good acidity. Yet remains a little sweet mouthfeel. Will need some time to balance better. Very good.
Hammer price: €110 (37,5 cl), €125 (75 cl)
Uhlen R auslese lange goldkapsel 2007, Weingut Heymann-Löwenstein
Rich and sweet nose of honey and botrytis. Sweet and one of the thicker and heavier LGKA this day. Much fruit. Botrytis and honey. Mineral
depth. Yet it remains more elegant than heavy yet it's big size. And it remains well balanced with it's great acidic structure. Crisp long
finish. Great wine.
Hammer price: €70 (37,5 cl)
Berncasteler Doctor riesling auslese 2007, Weingut Dr.H.Thanisch - erben Thanisch
Wild and complex nose. Earth, tobacco and hints of underripeness. Leafs. This is a lighter auslese in the mouth with a fine and complex
taste. Slightly earthy, tobaccoish fruit. Mineral. Fine acidity and balance. Very good wine that perhaps will show even better with time.
Hammer price: €33 (37,5 cl), €53 (75 cl)
Wehlener Sonnenuhr riesling auslese 2007, Weingut Studert-Prüm
Light greenish colour. Mineral and fine nose. Underripe approach. Slim auslese in the mouth with a fine and crisp mouthfeel. On the lighter
side, but with a fine harmony. Fine acidity and length. Good wine.
Hammer price: €32 (75 cl)
Trittenheimer Apotheke riesling auslese goldkapsel 1998, Weingut Milz-Laurentiushof
More evolved nose Blackcurrant, petrol. Intense and typical slightly rustic Apotheke-feel. Sweet wine in the mouth with hints of
blackcurrant and mint. Open and intense. Fine acidity and length. Good and typical for the einzellage. Whic also means a bit on the
heavy and rustic side.
Hammer Price: €60 (50 cl)
Leiwen Laurentiuslay riesling spätlese 2007, Weingut St.Urbans-hof
Not tasted. Hammer price: €30 (75 cl).
Wehlener Sonnenuhr riesling spätlese 2007, Weingut S.A.Prüm
Not tasted. Hammer price: €60 (150 cl).
Graacher Domprobst riesling ausese #36 2007, Weingut S.A.Prüm
Not tasted. Hammer price: €30 (37,5 cl), €60 (75 cl).
Graacher Domprobst riesling spätlese 2007, Weingut Willi Schaefer
Classic fruity Schaefer-Domprobst. Berryish and slatey nose. Crisp and elegant spätlese in the mouth. Weighy, yet less sweet than many
others. Elegant and fruity style. Crisp and long finish. Very good.
Hammer price: €50 (75 cl)
Graacher Domprobst riesling auslese goldkapsel 2007, Weingut Willi Schaefer
This is a more mineral approach- Hints of honey, slight botrytis. Sweet and fruity in the mouth. Again good weight, but not as sweet
mouthfeel. Crisp acidity and finish. Very good wine and shows more interest than the spätlese.
Hammer price: €75 (37,5 cl), €150 (75 cl)
Braunebergerg Juffer Sonnenuhr riesling spätlese 2007, Weingut Fritz Haag
I first tasted Schloss Lieser's version of this wine and then went on to this. The spätlese from Schloss Lieser was so fine I thought
this would have a hard time. But this was even a slight tad better. It is an exceptional spätlese. So clear and precise on the nose.
Mineral, rainwater. Light, intense and refined wine in the mouth. A slight fat in the front. But so clear and mineral style. So pure. Fine
acids and long taste. The spätlese of the day.
Hammer price: €36 (75 cl), €100 (150 cl), €530 (300 cl)
Braunebergerg Juffer Sonnenuhr riesling auslese goldkapsel 2007, Weingut Fritz Haag
Again this has a very precise and mienral nose with a touch of more sweetness and berryish nose. It is sweet in the mouth, young, clear
and elegant fruit. Mineral approach. Bright acids and long citrusy finish. It is a great wine, although perhaps not offering that much
more than the remarkable spätlese.
Hammer price: €45 (37,5 cl), €90 /75 cl)
Braunebergerg Juffer Sonnenuhr riesling auslese lange goldkapsel 2007, Weingut Fritz Haag
This has a little shy nose. Riper with more currants noticable. Some botrytis and minerality. Thicker and sweeter in the mouth. Clear, fine
and mineral style. But this did not open up too much from my glass. But again the balance is great and the length is there. It ends a
great showing from Fritz Haag and one of the best range for some years from this estate.
Hammer price: €90 (37,5 cl), €185 (75 cl)
Trittenheimer Apotheke riesling auslese lange goldkapsel 2007, Weingut Grans-Fassian
A little old-fashioned and wild nose. Hints of earth and minerality. Different and interesting. Fullbodied and sweet wine in the mouth.
A little more precise here. Some botrytis in the fruit. A little earthy fruit. Typical. Fine acids and harmonious wine with good length.
Hammer price: €60 (37,5 cl), €205 (150 cl)
Brauneberger Juffer Sonnenuhr riesling auslese goldkapsel 2007, Weingut Willi Haag
Honeyed and botrytised nose with hints of earthy elements. Sweet and a bit old-fashioned wine in the mouth. A little earthy fruit and
lacking a little precision. Relatively sweet, but fine acids and good length. One of the bottles with more modest quality of the evening.
Hammer price: €30 (37,5 cl)
Wehlener Sonnenuhr riesling spätlese 2007, J.J.Prüm
Typical JJ-stink on the nose with sulphure, reductive style. Mineral underneath. Quite light and refreshing spätlese in the mouth. Young
and reductive style. Typical. But seems a little lighter than normal. Yet fine balance and good length. Needs time and will perhaps turn
into a great bottle. But I think it might not be completely up to the best vintages.
Hammer price: €51 (75 cl)
Wehlener Sonnenuhr riesling auslese 2007, J.J.Prüm
This has a more open nose. Sulphure, honey, minerality. It has a sweet mouthfeel. Yet light and slim and with a great intensity. Beautiful
balance with great acidity and length. Great wine that also needs time.
Hammer price: €49 (37,5 cl), €100 (75 cl)
Wehlener Sonnenuhr riesling auslese goldkapsel 2007, J.J.Prüm
Again reductive and sulpurhy. But underneath there is a good deal minerality and a great typicity. Even complex notes. It is sweet in the mouth and
fuller than the regular versteigerung auslese. It is yet elegant and slim in it's style with a remarkable precise fruit. Fine acidity
and length. Great wine.
Hammer price: €95 (37,5 cl), €195 (75 cl)
Graacher Himmelreich riesling auslese lange goldkapsel 2007, J.J.Prüm
This is also reducitve, but it is fruitier and more open due to the sweetness. Still fine minerality underneath. It is thick, rich and sweet
in the mouth with lots of concentration. Again great balance and fine acidity and length. Yet to me this does not seem to have less
interesting fruit than the previous wine which I think I slightly prefer.
Hammer price: €195 (37,5 cl), €400 (75 cl)
Ürziger Würzgarten riesling auslese*** goldkapsel 2007, Joh.Hos.Christoffel erben
Rich and botrytised nose with fine hints of white fruits underneath. Sweet and quite rich in the mouth. A tad creamy style. Good acidity.
But a little short on length. Seems a little too rich right now. Needs some time.
Hammer price: €60 (37,5 cl)
Erdener Prälat riesling auslese 2007, Weingut Dr.Weins-Prüm
This was served very cold and I did not get the best impression. The shy nose showed minerality, almost rainwater-like. Underripe, almost a
little leafy in the mouth. A lighter auslese with fine and pure fruit and fine acidity and length. A little lighter styled in this company.
Hammer price: €12 (37,5 cl), €23 (75 cl)
Piesporter Goldtröpfchen riesling auslese 1994, Weingut Reinhold Haart
Yellow/greenish colour. Fine and very typical Goldtröpfchen-nose. Blackcurrant, leafs. Some firn and lots of minerality. Complex and
quite open. Sweet and fullbodied wine in the mouth. Evolved fruit withthe typical lightly austere and bold character of the einzellage.
Curranty and complex. Crisp and high acidity. Cleansing and gives a long refreshing taste. Great wine.
Hammer price: €69 (75 cl)
Bernkasteler Doctor riesling spätlese 2007, Weingut Geheimrat J.Wegeler
The nose is very closed. Shows some firn, underripe, minerality. In the mouth this is sweeter and with more power than expected. This
has lots of fruit. Quite underripe, mineral style. Fine crisp acidity and good length. Fine wine, although not stellar in this company.
Will probably show a little better with some age.
Hammer price: €35 (75 cl)
Pündericher Marienburg riesling auslese lange goldkapsel 2007, Clemens Busch
Lightly golden colour. Honeyed nose with some botrytis. Thick and sweet wine in the mouth. This is a rich styled '07 with great
concentration. Fine, young and a bit honeyed fruit. Fine acidity and length. Fine harmony, although one of the sweeter mouthfeels of the
day. This is a very good wine and a great first showing for Clemens Busch.
Hammer price: €85 (37,5 cl), €135 (75 cl)
Ürziger Würzgarten riesling spätlese 2007, Weingut Dr.Loosen
Greenish/yellow colour. Spicey nose with hints of botrytis. Sweet and rich style in the mouth as typical of this wine. Still it is slimmer
than previous vintages. And not showing that much of the fruit. Apricotty, spicey fruit. Still fine acids and length. Good.
Hammer price: €35 (75 cl)
Erdener Prälat riesling auslese lange goldkapsel 2007, Weingut Dr.Loosen
Rich, intense and sweet nose with hints of honey and botrytis. Very sweet and thick wine in the mouth. Quite cloying. But the fruit is nice.
Honeyed and with a mineral touch. Fine acids and length. Big and bold as usual in style. But better harmony than before due to the high
acids.
Hammer price: €185 (37,5 cl), €350 (75 cl)
Berncasteler Doctor riesling beerenauslese 1976, Weingut Dr.H.Thanisch - erben Thanisch
Not for tasting. Hammer price: €750 (75 cl)
Trittenheimer Leiterchen riesling beerenauslese 2005, Weingut Milz-Laurentiushof
Fruity nose with a strange touch of paint. Thick, cleaner and fruity styled BA in the mouth. Very fine botrytis. Quite sweet mouthfeel
with a little lower acids. Which makes it a little bit heavy styled. Still very good.
Hammer price: €180 (37,5 cl), €360 (75 cl)
Wehlener Sonnenuhr riesling beerenauslese #24 2006, Weingut S.A.Prüm
Yellow/greenish colour. Botrytised nose with hints of ripe fruits and earth. Sweet and creamy BA in the mouth. Earthy fruit.
Lots of botrytis. Unclear fruit. Medium acidity and a not too fine finish with some chemical taste. Decent, but lacks precision.
Hammer price: €380 (37,5 cl)
Wehlener Sonnenuhr riesling beerenauslese 1994, J.J.Prüm
Not tasted. Hammer price: €410 (37,5 cl), €900 (75 cl)
Oberemmeler Hütte riesling trockenbeerenauslese 2005, Weingut von Hövel
Golden colour. Fruity nose for a TBA. Botrytised, but very clear botrytis. Hints of citrus. Thick and sweet wine in the mouth. Fruity
styled TBA with a very clean and fine botrytis. Fine depth, but young fruit. Fine acidity and a long citrusy finish. This is really a
very great TBA with pureness and precision. To me the sweet-wine of the day.
Hammer price: €480 (37,5 cl)
Saarburger Rausch riesling trockenbeerenauslese 2003, Forstmeister Geltz-Zilliken
Lightly yellow colour. The nose is fruity with hints of blackcurrant, leafs, ripe fruits. Sweet wine in the mouth, with a fine acidic cut.
The fruit is clear and precise for this einzellage. Not so much botrytis showing. MOre clean fruity and transparent character. Great acids
and a long lingering finish. Great wine.
Hammer price: €430 (37,5 cl), €800 (75 cl)
Wehlener Sonnenuhr riesling trockenbeerenauslese #50 2006, S.A.Prüm
Botrytised and earthy fruit. Apricot. Sweet and thick wine in the mouth. Very concentrated. But also very creamy and sugary balance. The
fruit remains a bit earthy and lacking precision. Quite typical of the vintage. The acids are low in the balance and the finish shows some
bitter-notes. Not my type of wine.
Hammer price: €700 (37,5 cl)
Scharzhofberger riesling trockenbeerenauslese 1997, Weingut Egon-Müller-Scharzhof
Yellow colour. Steely nose with hints of wool, ripe fruits. Sweet and long win in the mouth. Concentrated with fine botrytised fruit.
Some aged notes. Steely, blackcurrant. But also with a touch of caramel. Medium acids for the Saar. Long citrusy finish. This is no doubt a
great wine and one of the best of the day. But after doing some tasting, I conclude that the von Hövel TBA to me is even a tad better than
this wine.
Hammer price: €1800 (37,5 cl), €3650 (75 cl)
Wehlener Sonnenuhr riesling trockenbeerenauslese 1959, J.J.Prüm
Not for tasting. Hammer price: €4200 (70 cl)
To me the wine of the day was von Hövels great trockenbeerenauslese. For the lower prädikaten Fritz Haags spätlese was a real great wine
and in the auslese-section it would be hard to beat Egon Müllers Scharzhofberger LGKA. Looking at prices Fritz Haags spätlese was relatively
cheap. But the best buy of the day had to be Geltz-Zillikens auslese at only €35,50 a full bottle.
Arnt Egil Nordlien
Tasting notes: Sep-08