2017 Kruger-Rumpf Scheurebe Spätlese

This smells intensely of sage and sage flowers, along with passion fruit, grapefruit and elder flower. (“I am Scheurebe, hear me roar!”) Given such a resounding opening gambit, the wine proves (relatively!) discreet on the polished palate, turning in a coolingly minty and melony direction while preserving such luscious fruit as well as herbal pungency as the aromas promised. The terrifically-sustained finish is infectiously juicy, exhibiting overt but perfectly-integrated and supportive sweetness. Sage, grapefruit zest and smoky black tea accents serve for invigorating counterpoint. On occasion, the Rumpfs have demonstrated that these vines in the Dautenpflänzer can yield Scheurebe capable of playing in the Pfeffingen or Müller-Catoir league – and this is one of those delicious occasions. (On the heels of this beauty – on November 2, 2018 – I tasted a dry 2018 Scheurebe trocken, from fruit harvested in mid-September, that was already improbably delicious; but the Dautenpflänzer Scheurebe grapes from 2018 had been picked only a few days before I visited!)