The wine opened was Schlossbockelheimer Kupfergrube Riesling Auslese
1976, Verwaltung der Staatlichen Weinbaudomanen, A.P. Nr. 1 750
053/49/77. The bottle had been properly stored since release, the fill was high, and the cork was sound. I reported on this wine a few years back, but it has now become much better. In fact it now is one of the best 1976 auslesen that I have tasted recently. The color is golden. The bouquet is very intense and complex as is the taste. It is nearly an essence of apricot. Garnier's Apry liqueur is the closest taste comparison I can suggest. There is also some very clean petrol old Riesling character, a mineral character, rich sweetness, including honey, balanced by enough acid, and with complex mixed spice seasoning. The finish is extremely long. I suspect that most people opened this wine much too soon when it was quite good, but just a hint of what it has now become. The Nahe wines from the state property have had their ups and downs over the years, but his wine now can compete with any 1976 auslese from Germany that I have tasted.