Hermannshohle, Lagrein, Malbec/Cab

One disappointment from the cellar and surprises of a more pleasant nature from the closeout bin.
I'd be interested if anyone else has tasted the Mathern recently.
Charles

• 2001 Mathern Niederhäuser Hermannshöhle Riesling Spätlese - Germany, Nahe (4/4/2010)
  First bottle I'd had since 2002, and I had apparently forgotten that it had a plastic cork! Cursed when i saw it, and indeed this bottle was not what I expected. Nose and palate with a prominent cherry component, so far so good, but it lacked brightness and tasted old. Still 4 bottles and will open another (?all) soon.
• 2004 Heinrich Mayr (Nusserhof) Lagrein Alto Adige - Südtirol Riserva - Italy, Trentino-Alto Adige, Alto Adige, Alto Adige - Südtirol (3/31/2010)
  Lovely pure spicy fruit with very good balance. No idea if there would be positive evolution but drinking very well now.
• 2008 Bodegas Caro (Barons de Rothschild / Catena) Amancaya Malbec Cabernet Sauvignon (Gran Reserva) - Argentina, Mendoza (3/20/2010)
  Pretty impressive, especially for the price. Good structure, balance and length. Plenty of fruit. Fairly soft tannins and a touch of green, both as might be expected from a young Bordeaux.

Yikes! re. the Mathern closure. That's a real shame, hope your other bottles are at least OK.

I liked the 2000 Hermannshohle Spatlese from that estate a lot, but remember it being under cork. Shame they switched to plastic cork after - though I'd be interested to find out what closure they're going with now.