Deep Straw Yellow, Shimmering Complexion
Soft Petrol, floral, apple, pear, lime, mineral, and a little smoke on the nose
Medium body, a little tart sensation, like a granny smith apple, soft petrol, smooth, creamy palate, a little residual sugar peeking through, good structure.
Balanced. Long Finish. This wine is smooooooooooth. Really good.

I was a bit apprehensive about opening it. But I'm glad I did.

This still has a really good amount of acidity. It's quite eye opening.

Nice note. I didn't know their wines (from the Nahe) were imported into the U.S.

If anyone is interested, the Crusius 2002s got the following ratings from Gault-Millau:

2002 Norheimer Kirschheck
Riesling Spätlese
9.2 €, 7%, trinken bis 2010 91

2002 Traiser
Riesling Auslese
29 €, 8%, trinken bis 2014 91

2002 Traiser Rotenfels
Riesling Eiswein
50 €/0.5l, 9%, trinken bis 2016 91

2002 Niederhäuser Felsensteyer
Riesling Spätlese
9.2 €, 7.5%, trinken bis 2010 90

2002 Schlossböckelheimer Felsenberg
Riesling Auslese
19.2 €/0.5l, 8%, trinken bis 2012 90

2002 Traiser Bastei
Riesling Spätlese trocken
10 €, 12%, trinken bis 2008 88

2002 Traiser Rotenfels
Riesling Kabinett
6.3 €, 9%, trinken bis 2007 87

2002 Schlossböckelheimer Felsenberg
Riesling Spätlese trocken
9.7 €, 12%, trinken bis 2006 84

2002 Traiser Rotenfels
Riesling Kabinett trocken
6.5 €, 11%, trinken bis 2005 83

Crusius was previously imported to the USA by Terry Theise. That relationship appears to have ended.

Really, Crusius has not been doing a particularly great job of late. Many of the wines (including those I tasted in Germany last fall) have been diffuse and/or over-sweet.

Looking around their parcels of the Traiser Bastei during September I am not given to much hope for 2003. The grapes were uniformly sunburned and shrivelling from heat. I think we'll taste bitter and flabby wines from that great site this year.

The other thing I'll mention is that I'm not too surprised that a '90 kabinett was showing so well. Kabinett can age. It's just most folks don't let it. '90 was a great vintage. I'm betting some 2001 kabinetts will go for 15-20 years. Of course most of them are just declassified spatlese, so it's not surprising. I wonder whether the Rotenfels was a "true" kabinett or declassified spatlese. We'll probably never know.

This Crusius was imported by Rudi Weist.

Was this a recent release, or is it something older?

No it's something older.