WTN: Höhle Moly!

[David M. Bueker]

• 2001 Dönnhoff Niederhäuser Hermannshöhle Riesling Auslese Goldkapsel - Germany, Nahe (2/22/2026)
  Wow! Just wow! I have opened bottles of this periodically over the last several years, and this one is hitting at a level even higher than the best I have previously opened. Brilliant apricot, and golden flower honey, with a dash of citrus zest, and a finishing jolt from a lightning bolt, creates a near perfect combination that could only be improved by coming in a full rather than half bottle. Truly stunning Auslese.

But...but... I thought that Dönnhoff didn't age! Great note, BTW.

[David M. Bueker]

Nope. After five years it’s all crap. Send it to me for proper disposal.

Honestly though, the Dönnhoff doesn’t age crap started (IMO) with a lot of bottles brought in under the pre-Skurnik importer, who was less than conscientious, as well as with a number of bottles from DeeVine, which had a terrible track record on heat damaged wines.

Yup. I was at one of those dinners in NYC years back when the 'Donnhoff doesn't age' stuff got brought up a bit - it was a Hermannshohle vertical in ~ 2010 and all the older bottles - 90 and 98 Spatlese, 83 and 94 Auslese - showed terribly. One corked, the other three very advanced and flat.

Some of those bottles had been sourced either from Dee Vine, or from another grey market importer (perhaps all the bottles? I don't recall). I know Flickinger's brought in a bunch of Donnhoffs in the past (both grey market and from purchased cellars), and I've had issues with the provenance there on a lot of Rieslings. But I recall none of those had Skurnik labels, and all were very disappointing. And I'd bet that none had been purchased on release.

(OTOH, the few older Donnhoffs I've had from the cellars of folks who bought them on release - coughRieslingfancough - have all been stellar. I still recall that otherworldly '94 Brucke Auslese...)

[David M. Bueker]

Kronheim was the original importer of Theise Selections, and things were not always 100%. My ‘94s have always been in great shape. Every bottle of ‘95 I bought was heat damaged. Other vintages have been varied.