2005 Graacher Himmelreich Riesling Trockenbeerenauslese Versteigerung

Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
I tasted the golden-colored 2005 Graacher Himmelreich Trockenbeerenauslese (Auction) AP 2716 from a bottle that had been opened at the Trier auction in September 2016, so 18 weeks earlier. Since not a single glass of this bottle had been poured so far, I accepted to review the wine from this bottle, although Katharina generously offered me a closed demi-bottle. The 2005 shows a perfectly clear and lovely, spicy botrytis aroma of ripe Riesling berries and mirabelles intermixed with white pepper flavors. This is a gorgeously finessed and vital TBA whose sweetness is lifted by minerals; it has a very fine salinity and finely clocked acidity. The tiny touch of Madeira is fascinating, but is likely a result of the opened bottle. In fact, this is a pretty perfect TBA that is not just sweet and rich, but even more finessed, vital and elegant. It finishes with a stimulating salinity. 100% Prüm style! - Stephan Reinhardt, Apr. 2017