2003 Zeltinger Schlossberg Auslese 'Schmitt'

The best parcel of Schlossberg was harvested November 19 in a single pass as an experiment in block picking, which was standard practice until recent times. "We gambled and we were lucky," says Selbach. The varied condition of the bunches-"without any skimming or homogenization," in the winemaker's words-is directly mirrored in the wine's complexity, with fresh tropical fruit and citrus notes; spiced, baked and dried orchard fruits; and honey-drenched, ennobled white raisins all taking a turn in the spotlight. That said, the overall impression, without lacking elegance, is certainly fatter and softer than the norm here this year, which may of course say as much about the lateness of the picking as it does about its comprehensiveness. The texture is also uniquely doughy, with a lovely, subtle chewiness. Potential 2 stars.