WTN: 06 Wittmann Westhofener Aulerde Riesling Großes Gewächs

[Salil]

(Whew, that just fit)

Opened this a few weeks ago, figured I'd post a TN now for the Focus theme (as I hadn't done so earlier).

This starts out slightly austere with an intense mineral character dominating; all rocks and seawater (my friend's comment: "This came from grapes - how on EARTH does it smell so salty?"), but with time gains richness and picks up exotic tropical flavours of pineapple, melon and lychee with a jab of tart grapefruit on the back end before finishing with another wave of seawater and rocks. Really fun to sit down and follow this over a couple of hours.

[David M. Bueker]

Thanks for posting this back here. As mentioned on the main forum, I had this on Saturday night & was impressed but found it a touch closed.

[Salil]

From the GGs/big trockens I've had so far I get the impression they all benefit and transform massively with air, more than any other wines I've come across.

I've noticed that trend with a lot of others (particularly Keller von der Fels, 06 Hermannshohle GG and Weil's Grafenberg) - that they all started out very minerally and austere with little or no fruit, but with air really gained in terms of depth and flavour and blossomed (with the Weil and Donnhoff becoming surprisingly creamy and glossy with time).

I'm really starting to get into the Grosses Gewachs these days (a concept/style I generally hated a year ago) - I find the better examples in this style are incredibly dynamic and really amazing to sit and follow over a few hours.