RIESLING 2014 GRAND CRU SPIEGEL (DRY)

Riesling 2014 Grand Cru Spiegel (Dry)

Vinous by Ian d’Agata 92/100

Pale straw-green. Initially subdued nose opens with aeration to showcase sweet, spicy almond paste and fruit cocktail aromas. Crisp and clean in the mouth, offering hints of high-toned marmaladey botrytis (about 20% of the berries were hit by noble rot). Vibrant peppery acidity extends the long aftertaste. Fresher and more citrussy than the Kitterlé. Good Spiegel Rieslings are characterized by notes of aromatic herbs and are slow to develop. According to Dirler, the greatest Spiegel Rieslings require at least 15 years to finally show all they’ve got, but most people drink them up much sooner.

-- Ian D'Agata