2003 Weingut Josef Leitz Rüdesheimer Magdalenenkreuz Riesling Spätlese - Germany, Rheingau, Rudesheim (7/8/2006)
WIML90,PURPLE90,WA89,WS90

Tasted July 8, 2006 at home during the second half of the Portugal and Germany World Cup Consolation match. 8% alcohol. Opened and glass decanted about 30 minutes before serving in a Speigelau Authentis Weiss Wein glass. Light yellow color in the glass, clear hue throughout. Nose of diesel, mix of light fruit notes such as pears and apricot, maybe a little orange hiding in there. Flavors of orange, honey, apricot with a slightly minerally finish. Medium acidity and medium bodied with a pleasing level of sweetness. Things seem to be fairly nicely integrated into a balanced package. Can be drank now and easily enjoyed now but should age nicely for years and years to come. Even based on our local retail price of $24.99 which I’m sure RieslingFan will point out is bad ( that’s a joke RF) I’d say the value here is still recommended. (90 pts.)

Indeed that is a horrid price (how could I not respond...). I actually feel sorry for you. The pricing in your area is soooooooo bad.

I was actually at Leitz the day that wine was picked and pressed. They also picked and pressed a Magdalenenkreuz TBA the same day by culling out all the botrytis berries. The spatlese will always have a special place in my heart because of our visit there that day. We actually had the picking crew (at least part of it) in our rental car, taking them from one vineyard block to another.

All in all we spent about 4 hours with Johannes Leitz that day. It was our best visit of the week we spent in Germany.

What a great experience. I remember some of your write-ups on that trip.