German Catalog 2006 USE THIS ONE.qxp - Michael Skurnik Wines

GMS-113 2005 Muskateller Kabinett +
No site-name. Gregor observes “I think you should only have on the label what you can
taste in the glass,” so he reserves place-names for Riesling, which always conveys
where it’s planted. This is in fact Halbtrocken, and it is also in fact simply wonderful;
perfect serene aromas, starting out roses, then lime, wintergreen, tarragon, mineral; the
palate seems to scratch a deep, deep itch with knowing sharp nails; it’s a shower of fruit
and salty minerality, and it lights up the body with sheer animal joy.
SOMMELIER ALERT! SOS: 0 (now-7 years)
GMS-118 2005 Michelsberg Riesling Spätlese Grosses Gewächs
The site belongs to the village of Weyher; it’s just north of Altenforst; the soil includes
slate along with mineral-rich sand; it is certainly Gregor’s most compelling dry
Riesling; a gorgeous aroma of quince, linden and cold-cuts; the palate is wonderfully
dense with a kind of creamy minerality, and for the first 67% it gives you everything
you can ask from dry Riesling — whereupon, despite its 9g.l. residual sugar (the limit
for GG), it becomes apparent the wine screams for more; the fruit abruptly stops, you
feel the alcohol, and an endive-bitterness clamps down. What’s good is so good you
deserve to learn of it. Tell me if you like it more than I do.
SOS: minus-1 (now-4 years)
GMS-115 2005 Burrweiler Altenforst Gewürztraminer Spätlese
Mr. Midas-touch with this variety does it again, this time with `05’s form and grip.
There is no Gewürz in Germany as consistently superb as Meßmer’s.
SOS: 3 (now-6 years)
GMS-116 2005 Burrweiler Schäwer Riesling Spätlese +
Again this is serene and luminous; rather on the sweet side; a lovely nose of violet,
hyacinth, mirabelle and tilleul; a caressing refined and satiny palate leads into a spicy
perfumey finish that’s all flowers. For the long-haul.
SOS: 3 (12-27 years)
GMS-117 2005 Rieslaner Auslese ++
This is quite the critter here! 116º Oechsle; it tastes like a bunch of clotted cream poured
over a Sherman tank; penetrating lime-grass spice and wintergreen leads to am amazing
palate at once poundingly intense yet bubble-bath voluptuous, and the fruit is
astoundingly clear and candid; the botrytis was pristine. I mean, YOW; one of the great
wines of the vintage.
SOS: 4 (8-22 years)
GMS-081H 2001 Burrweiler Schlossgarten Muskateller BA, 12/375ml +
135º Oechsle. This has ravishing purity; picked November 10th from the fruit left hanging
after the “little” Muscat was gathered. Riotous psychedelic flower-fragrance; seductive
botrytis, quite sweet, but as pretty as a purple pony.
SOS: 4 (between eight and twenty-five years)
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PFALZ WINES