$21.50 at Premier Cru (Emeryville, or is it Berkeley or Oakland?).

Closed nose. Kept waiting, but just won't open up. If anything, it has an inorganic smell. Sweet and tart flavors that is more towards apricots than apple. Good acidity and fairly well balanced.

At this point, a little more intense than the Meulenhof Wehlener Sonnenuhr spatlese, but not nearly as charming as the Christoffel Urziger Wurzgarten Kabinett.

Since it is still pretty young, so will hold judgement. A good riesling will win you over with the clean clear mesmerizing fruit in the nose. When this doesn't happen, the wine is off to a bad start.

Very interesting in comparison to the Dr Loosen Qualitatswein I tasted.

Do you think it may be going through a little travel shock?

Possibly. I have not given my rating to any of the wines yet because it would be unfair. Had it again tonight and it's still pretty benign. If any of these 2001's are showing well now, then it says something. If they do not show well now, it does not necessarily mean anything.

After 2 hours in the glass, the nose opens up, but it is still weak. Not your typical clean sharply focused nose. Flavors are evolving. More lemony with gripping acid. Definitely awkward at this time and cannot be fairly judged.

Well, I'm glad that I reserved my judgement. Opened a second bottle at the Napa Group's gathering at Celedon and the wine was completely different.

Much more open, fragrant, and the flavors were really coming out. The sweetness comes out in the middle, then the finish gets exciting like a prior comment made on another riesling where the sweetness starts to evolve into a tart finish, then the wine just keeps evolving.

I apologize for hogging this wine - had 3 small pours and 2 people asked for it after it was gone. It just went great with the spicy, hot, and sweet calimari and wasn't bad with the other dishes.

What a difference 2 months makes.

Whew!! I bought a case of this and was sitting theer thinking- maybe another week I'll drink the lot- but no now I will hold for another two years or so.