Addy Bassin's MacArthur Beverages - Fine Wine and Spirits Since 1957

"The first wine harvested this vintage, and then en bloc, Adam’s 2006 Dhronhofberger Riesling Auslese is initially a bit covered over by youthful fermentative aromas and a faintly musky, dusty expression of botrytis. As it sits open, delectable aromas of quince preserves, apple blossom, fennel pollen, cardamom, and ginger waft from the glass. Oily-textured, caressingly soft in feel, and glycerin-rich on the palate, this Auslese preserves the core of fresh fruit that runs as a common theme through the sweet wines here this year. Musk melon, peach, and hints of white raisin contribute allure to the soothing finish of a wine that needs time to work off a bit of youthful sweetness, but that I predict will prove unforgettable, drunk anywhere between 10 and 40 years of age." David Schildknecht
- Wine Advocate

"Donnhoff’s 2006 Norheimer Kirschheck Riesling Spatlese smells beautifully of iris, cherry, lime, and honey. Juicy melon and cherry fruit are underlain by subtle salinity on a satin-textured palate, and this finishes with terrific refreshment, refinement, and lift – wafting, lilting as though its finish were yet another long inhalation. It’s true, I’m crazy for what Donnhoff does with this site, but the reason the wine’s quality is so often underestimated by other critical observers of the wine scene is because it is inherently delicate and doesn’t demand that you pay attention. Those who fail to attend will leave more for the rest of us. Time will tell how these mature, but my guess is this will be lovely for two decades." David Schildknecht
- Wine Advocate

"The 2006 Schlossbockelheimer Felsenberg Riesling Spatlese delivers luscious, juicy ripe poached peach and red raspberries dusted with brown spices and pepper. Intense and faintly sweet-tart in character at this youthful stage, it lacks the clarity or levity of the Kirschheck, but certainly not the sheer length, which is saltier, smokier, sappier, spicier, and altogether more insistent. Not that this needs to try too hard to convince me either to take the next sip, or to revisit another bottle in a few years. It should have a good 15 years in it. From a quartzitic site along the Nahe at the edge of the city (and which might have been built-on had the municipal water supply not been located there, the reason also why it must be farmed organically)," David Schildknecht
- Wine Advocate

"Another wine new this year chez Donnhoff, its label depicting a stone tower and with the words 2006 Riesling Spatlese Felsenturmchen on the back, reflects one microclimatically distinct portion of the Schlossbockelheimer Felsenberg. Smoke-, and black tea-tinged cassis, black raspberry, and blueberry in the nose lead to an envelopingly silken-textured, luscious, succulent, palate loaded with ripe berries and refreshing lime. Hints of smoke, crushed stone, pepper, and black tea add interest to the long, creamy finish. For all of its opulence, this has delicacy, refinement, and riveting minerality, and it actually achieved a very slightly lower must weight than the “regular” Felsenberg. “I almost had a bad conscience bottling this,” quips Donnhoff, “but the old comrades – Brucke and Hermannshohle – need to face up to the challenge!”" David Schildknecht
- Wine Advocate

"A musky, animal aromatic dimension to Schaefer’s 2006 Graacher Domprobst Riesling Auslese A.P. #14 leads to a borthy, meat-reduction suggestion on the palate, along with grapefruit, apple, and honey. Supremely concentrated and mysteriously transformed by botrytis so that certain elements scarcely seem to have come from grapes, at the same time this displays a juicy vividly fresh fruit side precisely as one imagines it must have been to taste the must. Seldom will you encounter an Auslese with this degree of clarity either, the sense that each flavor element (including the funky, dark ones) stands out, even if you can’t find a name for it. Botrytis has pulled off the perfect caper, assisted by the Schaefer’s watchful triage at the press: a creaming, enriching, enveloping concentration and secretion of ethereal, oily, honeyed essence, without leaving any coarse or obvious notes to which one could point as “botrytis tone.” The piquantly nutty and meaty depth, and the fruit flavors as well are perfectly supported by what seems only modest sweetness, so effective are acidity and sheer stuffing in buffering it out. Yet for all of that stuffing, the wine remains amazingly light on its feet. This should reward 40 or more years of cellaring. Willi Schaefer brings up the comparison of this wine with his 1990 Domprobst Auslese, but I think this is finer, more mysterious, and less likely to endure a protracted and difficult adolescence." David Schildknecht
- Wine Advocate

"The Schaefers’ 2006 Graacher Domprobst Riesling Auslese A.P.#11 smells Chartreuse-like in its suggestion of herbal and floral distillate; pits creaminess against bright lemon, tart crab apple, juicy, fresh yellow plum, and piquant walnut oil; and finishes with seemingly unlimited sappy, spicy concentration of herbs, citrus, and pit fruits. This rich yet not at all fat or even creamy Riesling brilliantly fulfills Schaefer’s intention to press the fresh fruit from the grapes without bringing along any bitter or coarser elements of botrytis. The refinement, subtlety, yet length and energy are remarkable. This would best be given 5-7 years before re-visiting and will then last at least 20 more." David Schildknecht
- Wine Advocate

"The 2006 Graacher Domprobst Riesling Auslese A.P. #10 features lightly caramelized peach, grilled pineapple, grapefruit, and subtly meaty smoky aromatic notes. The botrytis was a bit more advanced – or at least its presence is slightly more obvious – with honey, baked apple, caramelized peach, and white raisin in the vanguard of very forward richness (in contrast with the ethereal and delicate elements of #14.) But there is also admirable retention of vibrant citrus, along with the piquancy of toasted nuts, both of which elements help to balance the sweetness. There are 800 liters of this, by the way - it’s no micro cuvee. Look for it to keep pace with the #14 for 40 or more years. Lucky those who acquire some of each!" David Schildknecht
- Wine Advocate

"Tropical suggestions of soursop, pineapple, and papaya, along with candied, spiced grapefruit and sweet floral perfume dominate the 2006 Kiedricher Grafenberg Spatlese, and one’s palate is coated with glossy, oily essence of fruit and honey. Smoky hints of black tea underscore the botrytis component. Amazingly, this remains bright and invigorating, with lemon and grapefruit citricity lighting up its long, tropically-fruited, honeyed finish. This will almost certainly be worth pursuing for another 12-15 years." David Schildknecht
- Wine Advocate