The intensely colored 2006 Berncasteler Doctor Riesling Sp?tlese offers a highly ripe and intense, very noble bouquet with mineral and herbal flavors. Round and elegant on the palate, this is a very sweet and intense, but also subtly mineral and finesse-full Sp?tlese; it has minty flavors in the delicate and slightly salty finish. Keep this for another 10-15 or even 30 years, and it will be an even greater Doctor.

Prospective purchasers should bear in mind that this wine was harvested at sugar levels far beyond the minimum spatlese requirements. This is more of a big auslese or small beerenauslese in terms of sugar and style, marrying dried apricot aromas with notes of candied pineapple and spice. It’s very sweet and honeyed, and would be cloying were it not for its firm acid backbone. This can be cellared for 20 years. Imported by Chapin Cellars, LLC.——J.C.(8/1/2008)—— 93