The nose of St.Urbans-Hof’s 2005 Ockfener Bockstein Riesling Auslese is obscured by yeasty, fermentative aromas, but the impressively dense, surprisingly firm-textured palate displays abundant, attractive sweet herbal and floral essences, and tropical fruits. The finish is quite sweet but that fits the character of its florality and fruitiness. Time is needed to really properly assess this impressive raw material. The team here – cellarmaster Rudi Hoffmann, vineyard manager Hermann Jostock, and proprietor Nik Weis – continued their streak of highly successful harvests this year, albeit at the price of extremely low yields.Importer: H. B. Wine Merchants, New York, NY; tel. (917) 402-0456

Very aromatic, evoking rose and violet scents that lead into lime, peach and mineral flavors. Expressive and refined, showing precision balance. Ends with a long, succulent aftertaste of fruit and stone. Drink now through 2030. 100 cases made, 50 cases imported.??–BS??Region: Germany / Mosel-Saar-Ruwer Select to Add

Shows the winery’s characteristic leesy notes on the nose, but unfurls on the palate to reveal wonderfully delineated flavors of melon, white peach, honey and green apples, all held together by slaty underpinnings. It’s rich and mouthcoating without being heavy, ending on a spicy, minerally note that helps counter the wine’s sweetness. Imported by HB Wine Merchants.——J.C.(6/2/2007)—— 94