Kerpen Wehl Sonn Kab 2007

3/26/2009: 2007 Kerpen Wehlener Sonnenuhr Riesling Spätlese * and Auslese *** Auction - Germany, Mosel Saar Ruwer (3/25/2009) TN:2007 Kerpen Wehlener Sonnenuhr Riesling Spätlese * Auction (Versteigerungswein) Bernkasteler Ring Auction 2008 AP 2 576562 18 08; 9.0 pabv. Imported via Ewald Moseler Selections/Mitchell Wines, Portland, OR. Estimated costs: 6 bottles @ € 9.5 (US $14.25) plus US $4.26 (exchange fees and shipping)= $18.51 plus $4.00 per bottle UPS fees $18.51 wholesale; $27.77/750 ml estimated retail value at 33.3 percent markup on selling cost 120x 750 ml bottles produced; 6 bottles thought to be imported into the United States. Moderately strong straw-green (chlorophyll-like) like most Kerpen wines of this style. Mint, lavender, baby powder, spun sugar, transparent apple, hint of unleavened bread on the nose. Very firm acids on entry with a delicate floral impression; lissome body; sugar almost hidden under the acid but there's plenty of residual there, I think. Lime and a little peach on the finish. This wine is still a little rustic and has a touch of roughness, but will come together, I believe, with a little more time. Plenty of flavor and plenty of complexity and stylishness. 89-91/100. Note that these wines were perforce tasted within a week of shipping receipt, so this is a conservative score. By the third day a pleasant and promising hint of Prüm-like yeastiness and a nice vibrancy and integration, playing off the lime and lime-peel, have started to show. TN:2007 Kerpen Wehlener Sonnenuhr Riesling Auslese *** Auction (Versteigerungswein) Bernkasteler Ring Auction 2008. AP 2 576562 24 08; 8.5 pabv; imported via Ewald Moseler Selections/Mitchell Wines, Portland, OR. Estimated Costs 6x 375 ml bottles purchased @ €14.00 (US $21.00each) plus US $4.26 (exchange fees and shipping)= $25.26 plus $4.00 per bottle UPS fees. $25.26 wholesale; $37.89 retail value at 33.3 percent markup on selling cost. 60 x 375 ml produced; 6 x 375 ml thought to have been imported into the United States Color may even be a little lighter than the Spätlese, but the same shade of green; heavier-bodied, of course. Strong unleavened bread scent, with honey, peach and mango; has a decided yeast note. Plenty of honey and soaring acid on entry; some citrus on the mid-palate; fairly well integrated for such a powerful wine. Enough botrytis to have been called a Beerenauslese, but not as sweet and sticky as would earn that title. The numbers are there, though, I'd bet. So is plenty of deftness on its feet for such a big wine. Very long finish that summarizes all of the above, with predominating honey and tartness. Needs some time to be adequately judged. 90-92/100. This is again a tasting within the first week after arrival, and so conservative. On the third day, the reductive yeast notes and the honey/apricot scents have melded to create something finer than at first. The acids and the sweetness are firm but balanced, and a neat bitter lime-peel sneaks in to the finish to bring about better integration. Both of these will be stunning beauties at the price I paid for them--about $22.50 and $43.90 INCLUDING SHIPPING, respectively.