1990 von Hövel Scharzhofberger Auslese
More depth and breadth of body than the 99, but still far from a rich thick wine. Despite the golden color and character of the aged fruit, there is strong underlying metal iron, which perhaps will become increasingly present with each passing day/week/month/year as the fruit fades. Decent sipping aperitif wine, but pretty simple and no fireworks on the horizon.
1999 von Hövel Scharzhofberger Auslese *
Sweet juicy and simple. If I concentrate hard enough I can perhaps conjure up the herbal currant leaf delicacy that makes me think of Scharzhofberger, but I could also be fooling myself. Mostly just a decent sipping aperitif wine, with no fireworks on the horizon.
2011 von Othegraven Altenberg GG
Here we get some excitement from the first sip. Waxy yellow richness with apricot flesh, apricot juice, and firm rocky apricot pits to give tension and structure. As rich and powerful as the fruit is, it is always in the fresh racy Saar frame. More importantly, the length, elegance and perfume that reverberates in the mouth make this a gorgeous gorgeous joyous wine. Probably the most convincing Saar GG that I've had, although such a superlative probably doesn't mean much, since I have limited exposure to Saar GG!
More depth and breadth of body than the 99, but still far from a rich thick wine. Despite the golden color and character of the aged fruit, there is strong underlying metal iron, which perhaps will become increasingly present with each passing day/week/month/year as the fruit fades. Decent sipping aperitif wine, but pretty simple and no fireworks on the horizon.
1999 von Hövel Scharzhofberger Auslese *
Sweet juicy and simple. If I concentrate hard enough I can perhaps conjure up the herbal currant leaf delicacy that makes me think of Scharzhofberger, but I could also be fooling myself. Mostly just a decent sipping aperitif wine, with no fireworks on the horizon.
2011 von Othegraven Altenberg GG
Here we get some excitement from the first sip. Waxy yellow richness with apricot flesh, apricot juice, and firm rocky apricot pits to give tension and structure. As rich and powerful as the fruit is, it is always in the fresh racy Saar frame. More importantly, the length, elegance and perfume that reverberates in the mouth make this a gorgeous gorgeous joyous wine. Probably the most convincing Saar GG that I've had, although such a superlative probably doesn't mean much, since I have limited exposure to Saar GG!