One of the few 2001s I had not tasted again since my big taste off last October.

This has finally started to come together in the bottle, though it still needs time. The botrytis is showing through, giving the tropical fruit a caramelized aspect, and the sweetness needs to back down a bit. All in all one of the more average bottlings of the vintage, but showing more promise than in its totally disjointed first few months. The one issue I still worry about is does it have the extract to balance its sugar?

I will cellar the remaining bottles for a while (3-5 years) and revisit. If it does not come together it will at least make a very interesting (and relatively inexpensive) liquid for poaching pears!

Good info. After the 2001 Darting Durkheimer Nonnengarten
rieslaner auslese and the 2001 Muller-Catoir Haardter Burgergarten (2134) spatlese, I was wondering if I should be trying more Pfatz from the 2001 vintage. I guess I've tried the best.

It was better after 24 hours in the refrigerator, but it still doesn't make me want more. I'm still stockpiling Rieslaner. As with your situation, every time I open the Rieslaner I end up having to buy some more for other people. I've now plowed through 7 cases of that & only have 5 bottles in my own cellar.

Interesting. Fortunately, I bought 2 cases of the Rieslaner in the beginning and 3 more cases when I found out that there was some left at the sub-distributor. When I tallied what our BAWE tasting group wanted (after tasting it), I ended up ordering 8 more cases. They had 1 left and we are hoping to get 7 more cases in Nov. I noticed that the prices went up reflecting the price escalation for 2002's and 2001's in stock (probably due to the exchange rate). I was able to get my first 2 cases at $20 retail. Now it selling for $29 if you can get it. I certainly hope that they come through in Nov. I would guess that the 2002 could be as good or even better since Pfatz is supposed to be better. Too bad the old man retired at Muller-Catoir after he made the 2001's.

If I recall, my first impression of the rieslaner was not good - it was way over the top and disjointed. Even since then, it was been so enjoyable, it's not funny. A wine like this should not cost $20-29. It's ridiculous. I enjoy it as much as the 2002 Karlsmuhle Eiswein, which is $90 for 375 and the best 2002 that I've tasted so far.

Well, HUH! I think I just found some of this at one of my favorite wine shops for $21.85 after tax and discount. I don't know how much they have, but I'm trying to get all of it.

Stemor, if you are talking about the rieslaner, get all you can. I think that I have 2 cases coming that are for you, but at that price get all you can. The 2nd shipment of the rieslaner (the 2002 price list) is 20% higher, so the person selling must have gotten it from the early shipments.