Fritz Haag, Brauneberger Juffer Sonnenuhr Riesling Auslese Nr6, Mosel

This LGK Auction wine from the ok 1992 vintage demonstrates what an under the radar great producer Haag has consistently been. An auslese of intensity, with a dark amber color, a nose of honeysuckle and manadarin scents. A rich, full finish less Mosel than Rheingau in style. Just goes on and on.

Another scrumptious long gold capsule 1992 from Haag. One of the best auslesen of the vintage— and so different from the steel- chiseled Zilliken, floral and more complex Wehleners or spicy but milder Urziger that year. Golden almost amber color, deep, Brauneberger rich stone, apricot and loquat center, a hint of smoke and a wonderful length.

Just wonderfully salubrious for the soul and inviting in the most alluring appeal of old Mosel auslesen-- especially in the denser, more concentrated Long Gold Capsule variety. Quite a different Braunebergher Juffer than the brilliant spatlese or the later GK auslesen I have recently tried. but I am a big fan of this estate. Like many 1992s, this had less complexity to offer but plenty of depth, terroir and elegance along with the richness that these LGk wines deliver. Almost …

Cellared since original release. 1992 is not a good vintage in Mosel (as opposed to Rhein regions) if you look at the vintage charts, but some people played it brilliantly -- look, e.g., at Stuart Pigott's comments on this wine and Prüm's Wehlener Sonnenuhr Auslese in his Wine Atlas of Germany. The wine has lost most (but not all) of its sweetness but still has lovely enlivening acidity to go with precise slate aromas and flavors in a light body. …

Had high hopes for this bottle, but it didn't show well. Peach and honeysuckle on the nose with cinnamon and pie crust. Soft on the palate - spicy, peach and cinnamon and pie crust again. Finish is similar. Tasty but missing a step or two. Nose - 5/6, Palate - 4/6, Finish - 4/6, Je ne Sais Quoi - 1/2 = 14/20.

Rieslings and Scheurebes at Nahm Thai (Brooklyn, NY) : Really disappointing, and I wonder if something was off here or if the bottle was pristine. There's a funky, almost dirty note on the nose, plenty of honeyed sweetness on the palate with some ripe orchard fruit but not a great deal of complexity. Everyone at the table greatly preferred the regular Haag Auslese.

Hans-Gunther Schwarz is a god (Nahm Thai (Park Slope, Brooklyn)) : Salil's bottle, and this is 2 steps up from the bottle he recently bought to Umi Nom. Old Riesling nose - petrol, spicy, peach, creamy but lively. The palate is spectacular with peach, spice, crisp, lime and citrus build. Quite plush but lovely, on the soft side but has a racy undertone. Peach and creamy on the finsh. Nose - 5/6, Palate - 5.5/6, Finish - 5/6, Je ne …

AP #6. Salil's bottle. He asked me if I thought it was shot. Shot - no, gentle old riesling - you bet! Nose of Cinnamon, creme brulee, creamy, peach, spice - gentle. Palate is light and spicy, some apple-pear, not much acid, but balanced based on its lightness and airy quality. Finish of apple pie and cinnamon. No detailed scores (sorry!) but this was soundly a 16/20. Drink up.

Spicy, pear juice filled nose. Round and juicy sweet, full of tropical fruit but balanced by the great acidity. Has a really lovely almost 'blonde beer' character on the finish.