TASTING NOTE: The mix of lime and vanilla with a creamy texture makes this white a winner. Leaner than most auslesen in this category, with balance, intensity and a long finish. Best from 2008 through 2025. Score - 94.
(Bruce Sanderson,
www.winespectator.com,
April 30, 2007)
WEGELER BERNKASTELER DOCTOR RIESLING SPÄTLESE 2005
36137
(M) 750 mL $64.50
TASTING NOTE: The Bernkasteler Doctor Spatlese is a notch above, as it always seems to be. The wine shows exotic spiciness in the nose and mouth with length and depth. Score - 94+.
(Claude Kolm,
The Fine Wine Review,
Nov. 2006)
WEGELER RIESLING BERNKASTELER DOCTOR TROCKENBEERENAUSLESE 2005
37044
(S) 375 mL $431.35
TASTING NOTE: ... Here one encounters the honey, grapefruit marmalade, maracua, pralines, almond paste, musk, and brown spices that typified its predecessors, but with an even more liqueur-like intensity, more creamy texture and viscosity, more overt sweetness, and an utterly palate-coating finish. Furthermore, there is a sense of brightness and energy that reflects an enormous concentration of acidity to balance the wines opulence and sheer sweetness. Given its recent bottling and the intensity and plushness of its raw material, this may well display more of its character even in the course of 2007. After that, I would close the cellar door on it for at least a quarter century. Score - 94.
(David Schildknecht,
www.erobertparker.com,
Feb. 2007)
WEGELER BERNKASTELER DOCTOR RIESLING SPÄTLESE 2002
727412
(M) 750 mL $64.50
TASTING NOTE: There's a richness here, underscored by the vibrant structure, keeping the peach, herb and mineral flavors defined and persistent. Good, lingering finish. Drink now through 2012. 200 cases made. Score - 89.
(Bruce Sanderson,
www.winespectator.com,
March 31, 2004)
SCHLOSS JOHANNISBERGER RIESLING SPÄTLESE TROCKEN 2004
8961
(M) 750 mL $44.65
TASTING NOTE: Lovely acid on attack and delectable sweet, honeyed, strong mouthfeel. Long length. Delicious. Drink up to 2008.
Score - **** (out of 5).
(www.decanter.com)
TASTING NOTE: An amazing hit of fresh apricot and fruit sauce texture signal this intensely sweet dessert wine. Starts out thick, yet finishes clean, courtesy of the bracing acidity. The finish echoes mineral salt. Impressive, but monolithic and with- out complexity for now. Drink now through 2050. Score - 93.
(Bruce Sanderson,
www.winespectator.com,
Oct. 15, 2006)
COSTERS DEL SIURANA CLOS DE L'OBAC 2004 DOC Priorat
737015
(XD) 750 mL $76.35
TASTING NOTE: The purple-colored 2004 Clos de l'Obac exhibits a beautiful perfume of spice box, mineral, kirsch, red and black currants, and black cherry. Intensely fruity on the palate, it is already complex, sweet, and layered. The oak, tannin, and acidity are nicely integrated and the finish is long and pure. Give this stylish wine 3-5 years of cellaring and drink it through 2022.
Score - 95.
(Jay Miller,
www.erobertparker.com,
Feb. 2007)
COSTERS DEL SIURANA MISERERE 2004 DOC Priorat
737080
(XD) 750 mL $67.45
TASTING NOTE: ... Even more expressive aromatically, on the palate it offers surprising elegance, ripeness, and depth. Nearly seamless, it should deliver superb drinking with another 3-5 years of cellaring. Score - 94.
(Jay Miller,
www.erobertparker.com,
Feb. 2007)
COSTERS DEL SIURANA DOLC DE L'OBAC 2003 DOC Priorat
737148
(MS) 500 mL $111.05
TASTING NOTE: The 2003 Dolc de l'Obac is a red dessert wine produced from a blend of Garnacha, Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, and Merlot. The grapes are harvested as they are turning to raisins and the potential alcohol is 16-18%. The fermentation is interrupted by the addition of wine alcohol leaving a sweet wine of about 16% alcohol. It is aged for 12 months in French oak and bottled unfiltered. Dark ruby colored, it offers pure aromas of kirsch, blueberry, and black currants. On the palate the wine is medium sweet, complex, and has a long, pure finish. It is an excellent accompaniment for chocolate desserts. Score - 93.
(Jay Miller,
www.erobertparker.com,
Feb. 2007)
VEGA SICILIA VALBUENA 2002 DO Ribera del Duero
937680
(XD) 750 mL $147.75
932574 (XD) 1500 mL $346.05 51391 (XD) 3000 mL $693.10
TASTING NOTE: The Valbuena offering is a brilliant introduction to the winery. The 2002, from a supposedly average vintage, is purple in color with an expressive nose of pain grille, earth, herbs, lead pencil, and blackberries. It offers layers of ripe fruit, excellent depth and concentration, and enough stuffing to drink well for the next 10+ years. Score - 92.
(Jay Miller,
www.erobertparker.com,
Feb. 2007)
VEGA SICILIA UNICO RESERVA 1996 DO Ribera del Duero
675918
(XD) 750 mL $346.05
TASTING NOTE: The 1996 Unico seems more developed aromatically than the 1995 with elements of coffee and mocha but not quite the richness of fruit of the 1995. It is more supple on the palate but with less depth. It can be enjoyed now and over the next 20 years. Score - 95.
(Jay Miller,
www.erobertparker.com,
Feb. 2007)
VEGA SICILIA UNICO RESERVA 1991 DO Ribera del Duero
22947
(XD) 1500 mL $891.40
TASTING NOTE: The current release of Vega Sicilia's flagship offering, the 1991 Unico Reserva, will have to satisfy lovers of this great Spanish red until the 1994 is released in 2005. The 1991 is a gorgeous, deep ruby/purple-colored, remarkably youthful effort offering sweet vanilla notes intertwined with black currants, cherry liqueur, flowers, spice box, and tobacco leaves. Full-bodied and intense, with sweet tannin, outstanding density as well as purity, and a layered mouthfeel, this unevolved 1991 needs another 3-4 years of cellaring; it should last for 20-25 years. It's a wine of great elegance as opposed to power. Score - 95.
(Robert Parker Jr.,
www.erobertparker.com,
April 2004)
VEGA SICILIA UNICO RESERVA 1990 DO Ribero del Duero
50518
(XD) 3000 mL $2467.95
TASTING NOTE: ... A deep opaque plum/ garnet color is accompanied by noticeable sweet toasty oak in the nose along with copious quantities of black cherry and cassis fruit. Extremely youthful, vigorous, and full-bodied, with notes of over-ripeness, low acidity, moderately high tannin, and a full-bodied, layered, concentrated personality. Give it another 3-4 years of cellaring; it should last for 25 years. Score - 94.
(Robert Parker Jr.,
www.erobertparker.com,
Aug. 2001)
MARQUÉS DE CÁCERES GRAN RESERVA 1982 DOC Rioja
33324
(XD) 750 mL $84.30
TASTING NOTE: Full-bodied, but not overpowering, with attractive, gamy black pepper aromas and loads of ripe cherry flavors. Lush and clean. Drinkable now. Score - 89.
www.winespectator.com,
March 31,1992)
MARQUÉS DE CÁCERES GRAN RESERVA 1981 DOC Rioja
33316
(XD) 750 mL $84.30
Marqués de Cáceres was established in 1970 and is now known as one of the more innovative producers in the Rioja Alta. Michel Rolland is consultant here. The winery buys all its grapes from established local growers. They only produce their Gran Reserva in the finest vintages. Ancient vines with lots of sun exposure are the source for concentrated grapes which are picked in very limited yields, pressed, fermented, and aged in oak for over two years before further bottle ageing. These wines are built to last a long time: this one is 26 years old! A traditional wine from a cutting-edge producer.
MARQUÉS DE CÁCERES GRAN RESERVA 1975 DOC Rioja
34967
(XD) 750 mL $89.25
This 1975 Gran Reserva, along with the 1981 Gran Reserva (33316, $85), is a great opportunity to conduct a small-vertical tasting of exceptional older Riojan wines from Marqués de Cáceres. This is a rare opportunity to try an older Rioja wine at such a reasonable price.
VEGA SICILIA UNICO RESERVA ESPECIAL DO Ribera del Duero
727081
(XD) 750 mL $371.85
TASTING NOTE: The non-vintage Unico Reserva Especial, scheduled for release in 2007, is a blend of the 1985, 1991, and 1996 vintages. Still purple in color, it has a fabulous nose of pain grille, smoke, spice box, blueberry, and blackberry liqueur. Layered, rich, and opulent, it should drink well for another 25-40 years. Score - 97.
(Jay Miller,
www.erobertparker.com,
Feb. 2007)
