2006 August Kesseler Rüdesheimer Bischofsberg Riesling Spätlese
$375.00
Wine Spectator review from March 2009 (Score: 90):
A whiff of pine is followed by fresh peach and apricot notes in this lush spätlese. It's balanced on the rich side, with submerged acidity, but the two components should merge well over time. Drink now through 2022. 300 cases made.–BS
Cru Magazine, Jun 2014, 90
Subtle floral notes. Palate shows nice maturity and minerals, nice balanced.
Stephen Tanzer's IWC, Jan 2008, 91
($60) Pale golden yellow. Heady aromas of dried apricot, nut oil and a splash of botrytis. Elegantly sweet, creamy texture, with the tropical fruit flavors remaining light on the palate. Offers good potential for further improvement in bottle.
JancisRobinson.com, Jun 2015, 18.5
Allegedly
the first Spätlese ever came from the Rheingau and was the result of an accidental
delay in harvesting, but there is nothing accidental about Kesseler’s
Bischofsberg. Eight years in bottle have given it a delicious edge of
Edelfirne, only inadequately described as a perfect composition of honeyed and
fumy aromas. The sweetness of residual sugar and juicy acidity have used the
time spent together in bottle well to achieve great harmony of expression
without sacrificing the exhilarating vibrancy of Riesling. The finest of bitter
orange peel puts a superb edge on an exquisite notion of marzipan. (MS)
eRobertParker.com, Oct 2008, 90
The 2006 Rudesheimer Bischofsberg Riesling Spatlese Gold Capsule mingles orange, peach, marzipan, vanilla, and honey and once again displays the refinement, purity, creaminess of texture, and overt sweetness that characterize this vintage at Kesseler as a whole. Heady lily and heliotrope floral notes perfume the proceedings, complementing the wine’s almost stifling sweetness, but also its wafting sense of lightness. A little bit of this Riesling – like a dab of perfume – could go a long way. But it is difficult to resist its initial sweet seductiveness. It should be savored on its own and can be cellared for 10-12 years.
Kesseler suffered a 50% loss in crop from his long-term average, but ruthless selectivity on top of his usual low yields paid dividends in quality albeit at the price of prominent sweetness. Kesseler attempted neither a Kabinett, nor (insisting that botrytis and alcohol would have been too evident) did he essay any dry wines from his estate holdings in Rudesheim. The 2005 vintage reds – bottled in mid-2007 – have fulfilled their excellent promise. Needless to say, from these steep stone sites, and cropped at the levels requisite for top quality, Kesseler Pinot Noirs do not come cheap. But they certainly invite comparison with red Burgundies selling for comparable prices. And while they are all very ripe, none of these 2005s betray their alcohol in bitterness or heat.
Various importers including: Classic Wine Imports, Boston, MA tel. 800 362 4420; Dee Vine Wines, San Francisco, CA tel. (877) 389-9463; Ewald Moseler Selections, Portland, OR; tel. (503) 236-9370
Wine Spectator, Mar 2008, 90
A whiff of pine is followed by fresh peach and apricot notes in this lush spätlese. It's balanced on the rich side, with submerged acidity, but the two components should merge well over time. Drink now through 2022. 300 cases made.–BS
All reviews are copyright of their various authors/publications and are used with permission.
| Type | White Wine - Off-dry 微甜白酒 |
| Grapes | Riesling |
| Country | Germany |
| Wine Region | Rheingau |
| Vineyard | Rüdesheimer Bischofsberg |
| Producer | August Kesseler |
Wine data courtesy of CellarTracker
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