I hadn't opened any of my four cases of '02 Donnhoff until today. Now that I've started, how do I stop?

This wine has a clear straw color with minimal fizz or sulphur, even right out of the bottle. Although its nose is somewhat restrained, what there is -- of red fruits like cherries and strawberries, with just a faint hint of petrol in the background -- is elegant.

Legs are slight and clear. In the mouth this wine isn't as dense as other Spatlesen from other producers from the 01 & 02 vintages, for example. What it lacks in viscosity, it makes up for in well-balanced minerality, ripe red fruits as on the nose, and an acidity that cuts through any of the (probably considerable) sweetness that is onboard.

The finish lingers, and evolves, and improves ... I find myself trying to time my sips to be every three-five minutes, which is how long it seems to take for the previous sip to fade from my palate.

This a fantastic wine, my first of my Donnhoff's and only my second one ever. Thanks to Riesling Fan for sharing his passion (and his '02 Schloss. Felsenberg Spatlese) a few years ago, I now have a stash of these. I promise to try to leave at least half of them for their prime drinking window. Really.

Score: SM96

Ah but when is that prime drinking window? Rally, the Donnhoff wines do not shut down as hard as sme otehrs. Witness the fact that your bottle was delicious where many 2002s are totally shut down these days.

I had the '02 Dellchen Spatlese about 4 months ago, and it was showing very well.

I am betting that the 2002s will be at their best around the time we change decades. Look for them to really shine around 2010 or so.