Musky floral perfume also hovers over the glass of Loewen’s auctioned 2007 Thornicher Ritsch Riesling Auslese A.P. 20, along with buddleia, prickly pungent citrus zest, and white pepper. The strong botrytis element here manifests itself on the palate as decadent musky over-ripe melon and peach, along with caramel as well as fungus, and a certain hardness of texture. Some of the sense of lift and lightness that accrue to the A.P. #16 are present here as well, but while striking wine, this will strike many tasters as over-the-top in ripeness, decadence, and exoticism. A bit of finishing bitterness is further reminder that botrytis more than site seems to be calling the shots here. I would be cautious about putting any way, and shall refrain from prognosticating. Karl-Josef Loewen finds similarities in character between 2007 and 2002, which he illustrated with a now spectacular Thornicher Ritsch Spatlese, a wine I already admired in its youth, but about whose combination of botrytis and slight severity of acids I at that stage expressed slight concern. Still, I was not entirely convinced by the analogy, or by certain of Loewen’s 2007s. Few German growers I know are as sanguine about botrytis in general as he, and it certainly touched most of his wines in 2007, at times awkwardly.Importer:Terry Theise Estate Selections, imported by Michael Skurnik Wines, Inc., Syosset, NY; tel (516) 677-9300