The wine is Bernkasteler Doctor Riesling Auslese 1976, Weingut Wwe. Dr. H. Thanish, A.P. Nr. 2 576 242 11 77. It has been stored properly since release. The fill was very high in the neck still, and the cork was sound.
This wine is golden in color and very bright. The richness in bouquet and taste go far beyond what is expected in a Mosel auslese; it easily could pass as a BA. If it had a bit of "iron" mineral character, you likely could pass it off as a top 1976 Rheingau. There is moderate, very clean petrol character that spices up the very intense fruit, reminding one of apricots and Mangos. It is loaded with honey character. There is enough clean acidity and a hint of slate and smoke. The texture is nearly creamy. The finish is very long. This wine likely will not benefit from more age, but it likely will hold well for several more years. This is not at all typical of a classic great Mosel such as a top 1971. However it can not be blamed for that. This estate also produced a 1976 TBA, of which I have 2 half-bottles. If the auslese tasted is any indication, the TBA may need to be served in a soup dish and eaten with a spoon! Some say that Doctor is overrated, and that might be so in some years, considering the price of the wine. However a wine such as the one tasted shows that this vineyard can live up to the famous name in top, very ripe years at the auslese level and above.