2005 Heymann-Löwenstein Winninger Uhlen Riesling "R" Roth Lay

“I had never previously tasted any wines from Reinhard Löwenstein, but had heard reports that his dry rieslings are a specialty of his and amongst the best in the Mosel. I was completely smitten by the quality of his auction Long Gold Kap, as the wine delivers a complex and heavily botrytized wine with structural sizzle and fine delicacy of step. The fine bouquet offers up a botrytis blend of pear, white cherries, peach, minerals, honeycomb, and spring flowers in the upper register. On the palate the wine is medium-full, crisp and focused, with a lovely, creamy attack of botrytis, bright and tensile acids, an excellent base of minerality, and great cut and grip on the racy finish. The Roth Lay is a subplot of the Uhlen vineyard, and I am not sure if this section is particularly soil-driven, or if Reinhard Löwenstein has had similar success in 2005 with the other bottlings he makes from this vineyard. In any case, this particular bottle is a beautiful bottle of auslese that should prove to be long-lived and amongst the top examples of the vintage. Most impressive.” (09/2006)