2002 Riesling Zeltinger Sonnenuhr Auslese**

Johannes Selbach described the harvest as "long and nerve-wrecking [sic]" and his keen competitive instincts had to have him casting worried backward glances at his success in 2001. He need not have worried. The 2001 collection here is as fine as this estate has ever rendered, and the dynamic elegance that characterizes the vintage perfectly fits the stylistic aims of the house. There is certainly less botrytis wine than in most of this estate's other top years, and what there is of nobly sweet wine incorporated a high measure of still juicy, green-gold berries, thus enhancing the natural delicacy, lift and refinement of the vintage. The extraordinary Eisweins Selbach's team picked here on December 11 (in fact, while the family was away on holiday) rank with the 1998s here as among the finest ever of their genre. I tasted this collection in July and again in December, relying largely on the latter impressions for the published notes that follow. (Terry Theise) Also recommended: 2002 Riesling Kabinett, 2002 Zeltinger Sonnenuhr Riesling Kabinett, 2002 Graacher Domprobst Riesling Spatlese, 2002 Zeltinger Schlossberg Auslese, 2002 Bernkasteler Badstube Auslese

Johannes Selbach described the harvest as "long and nerve-wrecking [sic]" and his keen competitive instincts had to have him casting worried backward glances at his success in 2001. He need not have worried. The 2001 collection here is as fine as this estate has ever rendered, and the dynamic elegance that characterizes the vintage perfectly fits the stylistic aims of the house. There is certainly less botrytis wine than in most of this estate's other top years, and what there is of nobly sweet wine incorporated a high measure of still juicy, green-gold berries, thus enhancing the natural delicacy, lift and refinement of the vintage. The extraordinary Eisweins Selbach's team picked here on December 11 (in fact, while the family was away on holiday) rank with the 1998s here as among the finest ever of their genre. I tasted this collection in July and again in December, relying largely on the latter impressions for the published notes that follow. (Terry Theise) Also recommended: 2002 Riesling Kabinett, 2002 Zeltinger Sonnenuhr Riesling Kabinett, 2002 Graacher Domprobst Riesling Spatlese, 2002 Zeltinger Schlossberg Auslese, 2002 Bernkasteler Badstube Auslese

Johannes Selbach described the harvest as "long and nerve-wrecking [sic]" and his keen competitive instincts had to have him casting worried backward glances at his success in 2001. He need not have worried. The 2001 collection here is as fine as this estate has ever rendered, and the dynamic elegance that characterizes the vintage perfectly fits the stylistic aims of the house. There is certainly less botrytis wine than in most of this estate's other top years, and what there is of nobly sweet wine incorporated a high measure of still juicy, green-gold berries, thus enhancing the natural delicacy, lift and refinement of the vintage. The extraordinary Eisweins Selbach's team picked here on December 11 (in fact, while the family was away on holiday) rank with the 1998s here as among the finest ever of their genre. I tasted this collection in July and again in December, relying largely on the latter impressions for the published notes that follow. (Terry Theise) Also recommended: 2002 Riesling Kabinett, 2002 Zeltinger Sonnenuhr Riesling Kabinett, 2002 Graacher Domprobst Riesling Spatlese, 2002 Zeltinger Schlossberg Auslese, 2002 Bernkasteler Badstube Auslese