2007 - Niederberger Helden Riesling Auslese, Lieser

Haag’s botrytis-free 2007 Lieser Niederberg Helden Riesling Auslese smells of lilac, honeysuckle, and fresh lime; exhibits a wonderful sense of lift, vivacity, and clarity on a palate reminiscent of limeade and liquid flowers; and positively shimmers with stony, saline, and savory crustacean minerality. This quite literally lip-smacking Riesling should be worth following for a quarter century, yet it is infectiously delicious and genuinely refreshing right out of the starting gate. Thomas Haag has enjoyed another sensationally successful vintage, and given his penchant for extremely ripe, pure Riesling with high residual sugar, it was perhaps not surprising that the virtues of 2007 would dovetail nicely with his favored style. Haag finished harvesting already on October 27, but as he points out, his crew was able to go from morning until evening without significant interruptions thanks to the persistently clear weather. Importer: Rudi Wiest, Cellars International, Carlsbad, CA; tel. 800 596 9463