Donnhoff Kreuznacher Krotenpfuhl Riesling Spatlese 2007 750ml

I’m tempted to assert that with his second rendition of this parcel (half of which gave its first crop) – namely his 2007 Kreuzncher Krotenpfuhl Riesling Spatlese – Donnhoff has hit a towering home run, except that the metaphor seems wrong for a wine that is really quite delicate and subtle. But what complexity and sheer sensual allure this has! Peony, lily, tangerine, blood orange, mint, and quince in the nose lead to a richly-textured, palpably high-extract, yet buoyant and refreshing palate performance, with a sneaky appearance of honeyed botrytis. And talk about salinity, savor, and animality in wine: you’ll know what they are when you taste this. A finish can afford to be understated if it never seems to end. Absent a track record, it’s still hard to imagine this rewarding fewer than two decades in the cellar, although like Donnhoff’s Kirschheck, one certainly wants to savor some of it young.

• Country: Germany
• Region: Nahe
• Size: 750ml
• Color: White
• Alcohol by Vol: 15.0%

Varietal

Riesling

Riesling grapes have been grown in and around central Europe for centuries, and over time, they became the lasting symbol of south Germany’s ancient and proud wine culture. Whilst the reputation of German wines abroad has in the past been mixed, the Germans themselves take an enormous amount of pride in their wineries, and Riesling grapes have now spread around the globe, growing anywhere with the correct climate in which they can thrive. Riesling grape varietals generally require much cooler climatic conditions than many other white grapes, and they are generally considered to be a very ‘terroir expressive’ varietal, meaning that the features and characteristics of the terroir they are grown on comes across in the flavors and aromas in the bottle. It is this important feature which has allowed Riesling wines to be elevated into the category of ‘fine’ white wines, as the features of the top quality bottles are generally considered to be highly unique and offer much to interest wine enthusiasts.