1997 Willi Schaefer Graacher Domprobst Riesling Spätlese - Germany, Mosel Saar Ruwer (8/27/2022)
This bottle is a perfect reminder of why I age German Riesling. All those bits and pieces that we can parse and micro-analyze in young wines have fused into a seamless whole that defies analysis, and just says “here I am.” It’s still gently sweet, and shows some older wine character, but that’s not what it’s about. It’s about the essence of Riesling and the essence of the soils where it’s grown.