The 2004 Thornicher Ritsch Riesling Auslese was harvested into separate buckets at the same time as the Spatlese. Over-ripe peach, honey, and musk aromas introduce a lovely creamy, glycerin-rich palate displaying soft, ripe and dried pit fruit character scented with brown spices. As imposingly rich and enveloping as this highly botrytis-inflected Riesling is, I am somewhat at a loss to explain why this doesn’t make a somewhat more impressive finishing statement (the cork was clean), but it may simply need time. Importer: Terry Theise Estate Selections, imported by Michael Skurnik Wines, Inc., Syosset, NY; tel. (516) 677-9300