Wittmann Morstein Riesling GG Vertikale (2012-2016)(5 Fl.)

James Suckling zu 2016: Be prepared! This is the most closed of the 2016 Wittmann Grosses Gewächs, but it has extraordinary finesse. Then the fundamental power climbs out of the abyss and pushes the incredibly fine, chalky finish out towards infinity. Please wait until at least 2018, because this has enormous potential. No hurry! You can even hang on through 2050. 98/100

James Suckling zu 2012: Already stunning on release, this has now turned into a spectacular beauty with a near-perfect apricot nose with hints of spices. Super rich but impeccably balanced. A very long finish that is so silky, making it impossible to resist. Very easy to enjoy now, but probably has a couple of decades ahead of it. Made from biodynamically grown grapes. 97/100

James Suckling zu 2015: Although a bit shy and many years from its peak, this is clearly one of the finest dry Rieslings of this great vintage. The nose of tropical flowers, peaches, and pineapple is subtle and enticing. On the palate it's as deep and concentrated as it is delicate and tantalizing. The breathtaking finish is as mineral as wine can be. Patience will be rewarded. 97/100

Robert Parker zu 2016: The 2016 Morstein Riesling GG has an open and intense nose with delicate chalky notes. Spicy, precise and focused on the palate, this is a very elegant and balanced Morstein with delicate acidity and sustainable limestone minerality with lemon bitters. Another superb Morstein! 97/100

Robert Parker zu 2014: Ten years after the vegetation period, the 2014 Morstein Riesling GG is super precise and fine in its chalky expression and provided with crushed limestone notes, as well as deep, intense and saline on the nose. Silky, very elegant and beautifully balanced yet also very intense and with remarkable concentration, this is a spectacular 2014 with long and aromatic fruit, fine acidity and very fine tannins, tart. 95/100

James Suckling zu 2014: Perhaps this isn't the most powerful Morstein Wittmann ever made, but it has all the smoke and chalky mineral character you'd expect from the site. On top of that, there is a gracefulness that is rare in this difficult vintage (rain at harvest and the Suzuki fly spreading sour rot). The crisp acidity is married to an attractive beeswax character. A long, complex finish. Drink or hold. 94/100

James Suckling zu 2013: There's a hint of botrytis here that gives it candied citrus and acacia honey notes, but on the palate, the wine is concentrated and rich. The high acidity makes it slightly edgy at the finish, which is a typical attribute for this vintage. This should smoothen out a bit more with more bottle age. Impressive now, but may gain in harmony in 2030. Made from biodynamically grown grapes. 93/100

Falstaff zu 2013: Feine gelbe Tropenfruchtanklänge, zart nach Wiesenkräutern und Stachelbeere duftend. Am Gaumen ein Wechselspiel aus würziger Mineralik und ausdrucksstarken Fruchtanklängen, feine Extraktsüße, wirkt seidig, elegante Säurestruktur, schon jetzt mit Vergnügen zu trinken. 92/100

Vinum Wine Magazine zu 2012: Brillant klare und würzige Nase mit präziser Frucht, kündet von einer grossen Persönlichkeit. Enorm straffer und dichter Gaumen, faszinierend puristisch die Lage verkörpernd, von grosser Ausdruckskraft und Länge. 19/20

Jancis Robinson zu 2012: We often find that certain vineyards excel in the expression of certain properties or strengths. The Morstein doesn’t. To me, in a good vintage, like 2012, it exemplifies a Grosses Gewächs with a superb balance of manifold components, none of which stand out, all perfectly integrated. At the beginning stands a subtle fragrance of citrus fruit, at the end a complex display of minerality. In between these bookends of good taste we are treated to a lively expression of acidity, zesty exhibition of fruit, delicate sprinkling of green herbs and exotic spices. The texture is creamy, the body well toned and the stance graceful. 19/20

Jancis Robinson zu 2016: I don’t get to drink enough of this Grosses Gewächs to be able to confidently declare a change in style, but the 2016 takes me by surprise with its abundance of aromatics and extreme ripeness. Apricot, peach and nectarine are just some of the fruits that ooze sweet juice on the palate, and a curvaceous body and creamy texture only serve to emphasise the generous expression of the vintage. But Wittmann’s Morstein does not just rely on big is beautiful, as it adds some fine spicy and mineral notes for sophistication. 18,5/20

Jancis Robinson zu 2015: Big oak casks. More savoury than the Kirchspiel, more spicy but equally fresh. Broader and more full-bodied than the Kirchspiel, perhaps less elegant, at this stage at least, but probably with the potential for greater complexity. 18/20

Jancis Robinson zu 2013: Firm and pungent nose. Vibrant with red pepper notes underneath. Gritty and with real grip. 17,5/20