1999 Rech Herrenberg Spätburgunder Auslese trocken JS Lange Goldkapsel, Ahr, Germany

Matt, deep garnet red, lighter on the rim. Appears closed, profound and very complex nose of red berries, with some black berries, plums as well as toasted spicy oak with a light medicinal touch. Concentrated "sweet" firm fruit, spicy oak, quite finely-grained, evident tannins, particularly powerful body, tremendous structure, very persistent on the palate, inviting aroma, full, deep and persistent, enormous length. This will be recognised in a few years time as one of the greatest red wines ever to have been made in Germany.

Best to drink: 2003-2010. What our ratings mean