Published in March 2012

Wines, Spirits and Beers published in the March 2012 issue of Wine Enthusiast Magazine.

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Robert Weil 2009 Kiedrich Gräfenberg Trockenbeerenauslese Riesling (Rheingau)

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Price $612

Hugely sweet yet reasonably balanced given its enormous concentration, this is a tremendous example of the quality heights sweet Riesling can achieve. Golden raisin, dried apricots and candied pineapple all swirl together in a delicious haze of sugar-coma-inducing syrup that nevertheless goes down easily. Will age easily for decades. — J.C. (3/1/2012)

points

Schloss Johannisberger 2009 Trockenbeerenauslese Riesling (Rheingau)

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Price $445

Even in a flight of top BAs and TBAs, this one stood out. It’s hugely sweet and viscous, yet also has amazingly fresh acids that really prolong the finish and promise decades—if not centuries—of cellaring. Golden raisin and dried apricot notes are true to type, and the wine’s balance is impeccable. — J.C. (3/1/2012)

points

Caymus 2009 Special Selection Cabernet Sauvignon (Napa Valley)

Price $130

So delicious now, you can hardly keep your hands off it. Blackberry tart, ripe blueberry, cassis, milk chocolate, licorice and sweet, smoky cedar flavors flood the mouth, dramatically huge and memorable, and lasting long into the finish. The tannins are obvious, but sweetly ripe and soft. A brilliant evocation of Napa Cabernet, despite a high production level of… — S.H. (3/1/2012)

points

Dr. Pauly Bergweiler 2009 Bernkasteler Johannisbrünnchen Eiswein Riesling (Mosel)

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Price $95

This eiswein is supersweet, yet remains decently balanced, thanks to a laser beam of bright acidity. After an initial hint of volatility, the flavors of preserved citrus and stone fruits are almost painful in their intensity, so sip it in small doses and savor the nearly endless finish. — J.C. (3/1/2012)

points

Maximin Grünhäuser 2009 Herrenberg Eiswein Riesling (Mosel)

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Price $228

Von Schubert bottled two eisweins from the Herrenberg in 2009. This one is pale in color, with intense pineapple and honey flavors. The wine is sweet, luscious and viscous yet never cloying, with a long finish that features unfolding layers of fruit flavor. — J.C. (3/1/2012)

points

Dr. Heidemanns-Bergweiler 2009 Bernkasteler Johannisbrünnchen Eiswein Riesling (Mosel)

Editors' Choice
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Price $80

This lesser-known vineyard is the source of at least two stupendous eisweins in 2009. This one features demerara syrup and ripe peaches imbued with an incredibly lush texture, yet balanced by bright acids and a slightly briny quality on the finish. — J.C. (3/1/2012)

points

Domdechant Werner 2009 Hochheimer Domdechaney Beerenauslese Riesling (Rheingau)

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Price $271

A wonderfully drinkable beerenauslese, which makes it a serious accomplishment—sometimes these wines can just be too much. This one balances its intense dried apricot and golden raisin notes with tropical and citrus fruit and lively acidity. — J.C. (3/1/2012)

points

Bründlmayer 2010 Zöbinger Heiligenstein Erste Lage Alte Reben Reserve Riesling (Kamptal)

Cellar Selection

Price $80

A superb wine, the product of a great vineyard site and old vines. The wine is concentrated, very rich, beautifully balanced between considerable acidity and sweet white fruits and mandarin oranges. With its tense, edgy texture, it is a wine that will age for many years. — R.V. (3/1/2012)

2010 Andeluna Altitud

This is a high-quality Malbec with fleshy berry aromas that veer towards…

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