2004 TBA No. 3 Traminer

Strong golden yellow colour. Delicately smoky, fine orange zest, rose oil, perfect varietal characteristics. Powerful on the palate, fine wood spice, still needs some time to fully digest the wood, ... (from 2005 the Traminer will be matured in larger barrels to shed its somewhat "French" flavour). Mineral and well persistent, rose petals on the finish, this wine is still a long way from being ready to drink.

The 2004 No 3 Traminer Trockenbeerenauslese Nouvelle Vague offers a fascinating nose of alkaline brine, faded roses, honey and celery seed that puts one in mind a bit of an older wine. Relatively firm on entry, this Traminer fills the mouth with subtle mint, rose, lychee, and celery seed, without being as extroverted as one would expect from the variety or from this degree of over-ripeness. Exuberance is held back for the finish, where a concentration of mint, cinnamon, and celery seed penetrate impressively, although residual sweetness has the last word.

90/100 The Wine Advocate / David Schildknecht