604. Freiherr Heyl zu Herrnsheim, Nierstein Pettental Riesling Auslese Rheinhessen, 1999

£18.50 / 37.5cl; 10%

This otherwise unknown Rheinhessen Auslese almost pulled it out of the bag in matching the mango & passionfruit sorbet palate-cleanser. The sweetness and acidity were bang-on, but the flavours weren’t quite there. Orange and passionfruit would have been perfect. And much pleasant surprise around the table! Deep yellow-gold. Pronounced, fairly complex nose of quince jelly, with touches of roast peach, caramel apple, preserved lemon, toast, and some slatey minerality. ‘Zingy’ lemon marmalade and sherbet palate. High acidity and medium-sweet, which was as the sorbet. A touch short. Not Earth-shattering, but pretty nice.