mdriver, it shouldn't have been much darker than '01 Prum. I tasted this wine a year or two ago at a tasting and found it balanced and not all cloying. I'm thinking you may have had a damaged bottle.

Hmmm..now I'm curious. I'm inclined to pull another bottle (one that wasn't acquired in my most recent purchase) and re-try.

Glad to see your comment on this. I've had the pleasure of having this and a 67 D'Yquem with foie gras and I came to the same conclusion.

I've had this at least 2 dozen times and it was never dark (although Darting's bottles are an odd color) and it was never cloying (albeit it can be sweet but always balance with the acidity like Eric said).

Interesting to hear that some were found recently. I did a lot of searches years ago and though I bought every bottle that was available.

This bottle lacked prevalent acidity. Especially when compared to other '01 Auslese from a variety of producers I've tasted (although, this may have been my first Darting...not sure).

Again, it wasn't dark, per se. Rather, darker than I expected it to be. In fact, I made a mental note to myself when I saw it hit the glass about the color. The color was reflective of a bottle with maybe 6-8 years of age, rather than 2-3.

The wine didn't taste bad, it was just sweet. FYI - I define "cloying" as heavy sweetness. I don't necessarily associate cloying with negativity when using the term as a descriptor. Sorry if that's the message I conveyed.

It really reminded me of a low numbered Kracher.

I've got more, so I'll open another bottle shortly for comparison purposes.

GATC, I recently picked up 9 bottles at Winebid for $20 + comission

Mdriver, based on your description I have to conclude that your bottle was flawed - cooked perhaps, maybe oxidized, but certainly not in line with every other experience I've had with this wine. Bummer

It sounds like a potentially flawed bottle, but bear in mind that Rieslaner naturally gives darker wine than Riesling. And most of hte time, Mosel wine is lighter in color than Pfalz wine. Now I would not expect the 2001 Rieslaner to be browning, but if it had the color of say a weddign ring I would not be at all shocked.

The color of a wedding ring? You stumped me with that one.

That's a great deal. I guess Winebid has its benefits. Good thing I am not on Winebid, we would have ended up bidding against each other and not know it.

2001 Darting Rieslaner Auslese Dürkheimer Nonnengarten -- beautiful burnished copper colour that pours slowly, thick legs; sweet floral and applesauce nose; intense peach/apricot flavours, lime, honey, ripe and sweet but lots of acidity to balance, powerful, very silky, a wine you want to keep in your mouth as long as possible; very long, intense, fruit-laden finish. Huge wine, esp. considering only 11.5% alc. Around 93-94 pts. Can probably go a lot longer, but it's drinking great right now. (Thanks, GATC!!)

Nice update. I have a bottle lined up for a tasting Tuesday night. I'm sure it has lots and lots of life left, but it will be fun to check in on it. Maybe I will throw a 1996 version of the same wine up against it.

I've been drinking this wine every few months since release (and I've had at least 36 bottles) and I have to say that the last 2 were a little awkward. Since this wine has always been amazing and has not shut down (yet), I'm wondering if it is starting to go into a phase. Still a pretty nice wine, but it is such an intense wine that when it is out of balance, it really shows.

Had my bottle last night, and it was delicious, but way, way too young. The '96 was more mature and drinking well, but the '01 showed much better balance.

The rest will sleep for a long time.

I had 3 more bottles and figured out what was going on. All of the ones that I bought upon release have been great. The ones that I recently bought from The Wine Shop in Michigan seemed a little cooked. If they are like other typical retailers, the wines have been exposed to non-ideal temperature and lighting conditions for 3 years which could explain why the wines were not in tip top shape.

That would do it. 3 years is a long time to be at 70 or 72.