The 2005 Riesling Zinnkoepfle displays a prominent, pungent nose of sage, lavender, cassis, and grapefruit zest; honeyed richness on the palate - though with no lack of invigorating citrus character or intimations of minerality; and a finish expansively and with admirable vigor, clarity, and exuberant juiciness. Obviously high-extract – not to mention high-energy – this Riesling should be worth following for at least 5-7 years.Agathe Bursin – whose inaugural vintage was 2000, prior to which her family sold their grapes to the local coop – is one of Alsace’s major emerging talents. Although this widely-traveled young viticultrice (her preferred title) farms fewer only ten acres and is already chronically sold out, she says she does not intend to increase production by more than another third, and then only over the long run. Bursin indicated she had more botrytis in 2005 than in 2004, even though she harvested quite late (and even though this is the opposite experience from that of Mure in neighboring Rouffach) because Westhalten’s clay-poor soils generally retain very little moisture.A Thomas Calder Selection (various importers), Paris; fax 011-33-1-46-45-15-29.