Donnhoff, Oberhauser Brucke, Spatlese, Riesling 2011 (1.5L)

Received in Original Carton

96 points Wine Advocate

High-toned, distillate-like herbal extracts along with ripe fresh strawberry, apple and quince inform the scintillating nose and electrical charged palate of Donnhoff’s 2011 Oberhauser Brucke Riesling Spatlese. “We were able to just keep waiting on this site,” he explains, “so that even this lightest wine from the Brucke was picked only in the last days of (regular) harvest.” Hints of pits and seed, along with black tea, nut oils, zesty citrus, and myriad mineral impingements add to a sense of quickening that goes well beyond mere invigoration in this gem’s strikingly persistent, shimmeringly vibrant finish. I was left with salivary glands palpitating and arms covered in gooseflesh. It will probably be hard to resist such a wine at any point over the next quarter century, but those with the requisite remaining life expectancy should make an effort to defer for the duration the pleasure of at least the last bottle or two. (DS)(2/2013)

95 points John Gilman

The 2011 Dönnhoff Brücke Spätlese shows the faintest touch of botrytis on both the nose and palate that serve to give the wine a slight touch of exotica that is very exciting indeed. The utterly suave bouquet offers up scents of clementine, lemon chiffon, pear, slate, citrus blossoms and an esthery topnote redolent of bee pollen. On the palate the wine is deep, fullish, pure and racy, with a fine core, dancing filigree, laser-like focus and stunning length and grip on the slatey and very precise finish. The nose is quite exotic by Brücke standards, but on the palate this wine is utterly classic. A magical combination! 95+ (3/2012)

94 Points CellarTracker Member

Popped and poured. Lovely cool floral nose. Medium bodied, fleshy with good acidity. One the palate lime, citrus, petrol, cashews, and a little honeysuckle. Mature but still loads of life ahead. Really delicious. 8/19/2023 

94 Points CellarTracker Member

Another great bottle of this. Early maturity. Great focus and acidity. Lime, pear, tropical fruits minerals come through. There is a vivacity and freshness to this which makes it so easy to drink now. 2/4/2023