For thoughts on Chateau Ste Michelle’s uniqueness and recent evolution, consult my extensive April, 2013 text designed to introduce recent tasting notes.The Ste Michelle-Loosen 2001 Riesling Eroica Single Berry Select is deep amber in color and dominated by an Esszencia-like, ultra-viscous amalgam of apricot preserves, honey, and candied lemon rind. But unlike with that genre, here there is a lot of superficial sweetness – including a brown sugar overlay – all the way through a finish that lingers, but not exceptionally; and there is no brightness, invigoration, or saliva-inducement. Some lovely and intriguing hints of floral perfume and extracts of mint and sage are very welcome, but regardless of whether they were present already in this wine’s early days, I fear it’s too late now for the overall palate impression to do them justice, and they come tied to considerable volatility as well as hints of smoky, oxidative nuttiness. I would plan on drinking this elixir – enormously sweet though it still is – within the next couple of years. Tel. (425) 488-1133