More aggressively pungent, adamantly mineral, and overtly dense than its Fruhlingsplatzchen counterpart, Schonleber’s 2006 Monzinger Halenberg Riesling Spatlese trocken prominently features both plum and apricot and the bitterness of their pits. Sage, wet stone, and tart hints of red berry skin all add interest and a surprisingly voluminous and firm palate impression and serious, long finish are kept on the right side of refreshment thank to efficacious, ripe acids. This needs another 6-9 months in bottle, and should be worth following for 4-5 years thereafter. “The Nahe had the capability to render really good dry wines this year,” asserts Werner Schonleber. “Elsewhere, the botrytis was problematic, or the ripening took place too quickly. But we caught the whole spectrum here.” He proceeded to prove this memorably in the glass, with the finest collection I have ever tasted at this address (as well as – improbably – one in which Fruhlingsplatzchen outperformed Halenberg).Imported by Sussex Wine Merchants, Moorestown, NJ; tel. (856) 608-9644; also imported by Dee Vine Wines, San Francisco, CA; tel. (877) 389-9463