Wine Spectator Insider newsletter November 8th, 2008

2007 Gran-Fassian Riesling Auslese Gold Cap Mosel Trittenheimer Apotheke 95 points

Concentrated and viscous, displaying apricot, mango and papaya flavors tinged with lime and slate. There’s a lot of flesh, and it will take time for the submerged nuances to emerge, but this has balance and lingers beautifully. Drink now through 2040.—B.S.

2007 Fritz Haag Riesling Auslese Gold Cap Brauneberger Juffer (AP 22) 95 points

Assorted pâte de fruit flavors, lime zest and slate combine with appeal in this delicate, ethereal Riesling. Intense and juicy, with wonderful balance and harmony, leaving a melt-in-your-mouth impression on the finish. Drink now through 2040.—B.S.

Fritz Haag Riesling Auslese Gold Cap Brauneberger Juffer-sonnenuhr #12 95 points

Concentrated yet detailed, with candied citrus and berry notes playing off the bracing structure. It’s not too sweet, and the mineral is submerged now, yet this shows great potential. Best from 2012 through 2042.—B.S.

2007 Fritz Haag Riesling Auslese Brauneberger Juffer-sonnenuhr #10 93 points

Starts out round, with mineral and savory notes, then the acidity sweeps in, cutting through the texture, concentration and sweetness like a knife. All this in a light-bodied package, with finesse and a long aftertaste. Best from 2012 through 2037.—B.S.

2007 Reinhard & Beate Knebel Riesling Auslese Winninger Uhlen 97 points

A style that’s marked by plenty of botrytis. Intensely sweet, with apricot, beeswax, candied citrus and spice aromas and flavors, yet racy and defined by its bracing structure. There’s great length and harmony, but this needs time to show all its nuances. Drink now through 2040. From Germany.—B.S

2007 Reinhard & Beate Knebel Riesling Auslese Winninger Röttgen 2007 95 points

Like the Uhlen, but more muted and without the botrytis and concentration. Yet this is fresh and lively, with loads of mineral and spice accenting the core of apricot and peach notes. There’s focus and precision that ends with a long aftertaste of apricot and jellied citrus. Best from 2012 through 2037.—B.S.

2007 C. von Schubert Riesling Auslese Maximin Grünhäuser Abstberg 93 points

A lovely expression of slate fixes the peach and nectarine flavors, while hints of orange and lime swirl around. This has great cut, and the finish is steely, austere even. Be patient with this. Best from 2014 through 2040.—B.S.

2007 C. voN SChubeRt Riesling Auslese Mosel-saar-Ruwer Maximin Grünhäuser Abstberg #70 93 points

Intense apricot and citrus notes greet the senses, making way for stone notes as this zigzags across the palate. The rich texture is offset by its vibrant structure. Mouthwatering finish. Best from 2012 through 2038.—B.S

On April 18th and 25th, the San Francisco Chronicle published reviews of 2006 German Rieslings.

We are thrilled to be able to offer these high scoring wines. From now through, September 31st, purchase the 11 bottles of Kabinetten, Spatlesen and Auslesen for $293, a savings of $40 (12%) off of the individual bottle price. Add a bottle of the Four Star rated 2006 Erben von Beulwitz Kaseler Nies’chen Beerenauslese for a total of $425, a savings of $78 (15.5%) off of the individual bottle price. The Beerenauslese was the first Four Star rated wine of the year and the highest rated of all the wines. Wine Club Members, please call or email otto@dvw.com for your special pricing.

The following are reviews from the San Francisco Chronicle and the Wine Spectator:

2006 Prinz Hallgartener Jungfer Rheingau Kabinett ($19/750ml) GRKB2006151 THREE STARS Very ripe nose with oily stone notes; quince, green apple, peach skin flavors with lingering grapefruit acidity on finish; a vibrant, focused palate.

2006 Erben von Beulwitz Kaseler Nies'chen Mosel-Saar-Ruwer Kabinett ($17/750ml) GRKB2006195 TWO AND A HALF STARS Mineral, wet stone and lemony floral aromas on an understated nose; broad, solid palate with brown spice overtones, tingly acidity and plenty of sweet fruit on the focused, prolonged finish.

2006 Erben von Beulwitz Kaseler Nies'chen Alte Reben Mosel-Saar-Ruwer Spatlese ($22/750ml, $51.50/1500ml) GRSP2006196 THREE STARS A fuller, riper wine with a slightly muted nose that opens to soft pear, golden apple and quince aromas with sorrel, lime zest and citrus acidity on palate. Rich but somewhat racy; layered and complex. From the Wine Spectator March 31, 2008: 92/100 points “Slightly austere and stony in aroma, yet offers enticing lime, vanilla cream and slate notes on the palate. Delicate and expressive, with fine balance and a long mineral aftertaste. Drink now through 2028. 160 cases made." –B.S.

2006 von Hovel Scharzhofberg Mosel-Saar-Ruwer Spatlese ($22/750ml) GRSP2006200 THREE STARS Exotic and zingy with Anjou pear, apricot, floral and dried plum aromas; dark mineral, gravel and galvanizing acidity to match the dense texture.

2006 Josef Rosch Trittenheimer Apotheke Mosel-Saar-Ruwer Spatlese ($26/750ml) GRSP2006053 THREE STARS Fresh and balanced, rich but still racy, with focused lemon-lime, roses, honey and pineapple aromas. Juicy fruit is dense on the palate; zippy acidity and mineral notes complete it.

2006 Keller Westhofener Kirchspiel Rheinhessen Spatlese Goldkapsel ($50/750ml) GRSP2006018 THREE STARS "Goldkapsel" or gold capsule - indicates a producer's "extra-good" wine with an actual gold-colored foil capsule around the neck of the bottle. Delicate floral, chervil, apricot, citrus rind and honey aromas with hint of petrol. Very intense, concentrated palate that shows some botrytis - white nectarine, Asian pear, ripe honeyed apricot and mineral. Complex and elegant.

2006 Prinz Hallgartener Jungfer Rheingau Spatlese Goldkapsel ($39/750ml) GRSP2006152 THREE AND A HALF STARS Subtle petrol, freshly zested lime, pineapple and dried peach aromas; vibrant, focused palate of apricot, ripe pear, green apple and rose hip with rigid mineral underpinning and a racy, long finish.

2006 Schloss Vollrads Rheingau Spatlese ($29.50/750ml) GRSP2006138 TWO AND A HALF STARS Rich nose of pineapple, apple and ripe peach with a white mineral underpinning. Sweet fruit flavors have buoyancy and kick; long, intense midpalate with guava on the slightly fading finish.

2006 Schmitges Erdener Treppchen Mosel-Saar-Ruwer Auslese** ($28.50/500ml) GRSP2006164 THREE STARS Aromas of wet stone, tangerine and a slight fiery note akin to cinnamon and gasoline. Baked apple, lemon zest, tangerine and intensely sweet peach flavors knit together with intense acidity; subtle grainy texture on the refined finish.

2006 von Hovel Kanzemer Horecker Mosel-Saar-Ruwer Auslese ($63/750ml) GRAU2006202 THREE STARS Golden with beeswax, granite, lurid apricot, rich nectarine and rambutan aromas. Similar flavors plus hint of caramel corn; unctuous, almost thick mouthfeel. Balanced with galvanizing acidity.

2006 Erben von Beulwitz Kaseler Nies'chen Mosel-Saar-Ruwer Beerenauslese ($170/375ml) GRBA2006195H FOUR STARS An exotic wine. Aromas of syrupy honeycomb, dried fruit - apple, apricot and papaya - with hints of pencil lead and diesel. Explosive apricot, dried pineapple and surging acidity on the unctuous palate. Superb definition and grip with great structure and balance. San Francisco Chronicle FOUR STARS: Extraordinary THREE STARS: Excellent TWO STARS: Good