Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Clay, smoke, and earth can be discerned in the aromatics of Donnhoff's 2001 Riesling Spatlese Schlossbockelheimer Kupfergrube. This satin-textured, medium-bodied wine is stupendously pure and delineated as well as unbelievably concentrated, deep, and powerful. Typical of a wine from the Nahe, its flavors are dominated by minerals, earth, and smoky flint rather than primary fruit. Armed with a magnificently flavorful and lengthy finish, it is an exceptional Spatlese to drink between 2006 and 2020.
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Wine Enthusiast
Helmut Dönnhof is at the top of his game. From its explosive nose of powdered quartz and fresh apple skin through the flavors of apple, peach, melon and mineral, this wine has it all. It's medium-weight—even a bit full-bodied for Riesling—but impeccably balanced. Great length completes the package. Simply put, a tour de force.
Riesling possesses a remarkable ability to reflect the character of wherever it is grown while still maintaining its identity. A regal variety of incredible purity and precision, this versatile grape can be just as enjoyable dry or sweet, young or old, still or sparkling and can age longer than nearly any other white variety. Somm Secret—Given how difficult it is to discern the level of sweetness in a Riesling from the label, here are some clues to find the dry ones. First, look for the world “trocken.” (“Halbtrocken” or “feinherb” mean off-dry.) Also a higher abv usually indicates a drier Riesling.
ARP211784_2001 Item# 211784