From 125-year-old vines on blue and gray slate, the 2017 Erdener Herzlei Riesling Spätlese Alte Reben (Gold Capsule) is rich, deep, herbal and flinty on the clear nose with plum and mango notes. It is lush and elegant on the palate, with lots of tropical fruit flavors and racy-piquant acidity. This is an opulent, piquant, refined, pure and elegant Spätlese with ripe peach and nectarine flavors. A perfectly balanced Riesling with generosity and elegance. Tasted in March 2019.
94 points, Stephan Reinhardt, Wine Advocate (Issue # 243 - Jun 2019)
This beauty comes from vines that Hermann says were mostly planted in 1900. Mint-infused orange is garlanded in honeysuckle on the nose and the subtly creamy palate. Whereas there was a liqueur-like sense of concentration to the corresponding 2016 – which was also notably low in acidity – here we have remarkable and delightful freshness and consequent animating juiciness. The superbly sustained finish introduces mouthwatering salinity and is transparent to stony, smoky and ravishingly floral nuances.
93 points, David Schildknecht, Vinous (Jan 2020)
Dr. Hermann owns all of Herzlei, a tiny parcel next to Erdener Treppchen of vines over 100 years old. They produced a wildly fragrant riesling in 2017, mouthwatering in its tropical fruit scents alone. Those scents read in the flavors as well, joined by notes of sage and green tea to balance the sweetness. It feels pure and vibrant, savory enough to match an herb-stuffed pork loin, and sweet enough to stand in for dessert.
93 points, Wine & Spirits (Feb 2019)