I wanted a dessert wine Saturday night, but nothing big (e.g. 2001 Eiswein), so this little item fit the bill.

Pale, golden color. Aromatics are already veering into the secondary (and this bottle has seen nothing but impeccable conditions) with some smoke and forest aromas. There's also caramel apple, honey, apricot vanilla and cream elements. It's a very complete and compelling nose. The botrytis is really showing itself here.

It's fairly light in palate impression, definitely a "starred" auslese rather than some kind of declassified BA. The honey, smoke and caramel apple flavors really stand out. It's pretty gentle in its acids, which is characteristic of '99.

All in all a good, but not great wine. It should hold for 5 or so more years, but I would not age it for a long time. Certainly the half bottle format will make it age quicker, but there's nothing wrong with having some auslese to drink in the near term.

A very solid and enjoyable 88 points.