White Wine

Riesling

A stunning variety made in a bewildering array of styles from crisp, dry to off-dry and incredibly sweet.

Beyond style, the variety has incredible ability to be consumed young or very old, producing some of the most long-lived white wines of any variety. The sweet German Rieslings also rate as some of the worlds most expensive.

Where is it grown?

In Europe we see plantings in Alsace, France, across many regions in Germany from the Mosel to the Rheinhessen and the Pfalz. Along with Grüner Veltinger, Riesling is widely planted in Austria.

In South Australia, the Clare Valley’s, Polish Hill and Watervale produce stunning Riesling. You’ll find great Riesling coming from the Eden Valley SA, Central Victoria, Canberra, Tasmania, and, from the Great Southern in WA.

There are some cracking Rieslings coming out of New Zealand too!

What does it taste like?

Fresher dry styles tend to have citrus aromas and flavours with floral blossoms. Riper styles introducing stone fruit.

From region to region winemaking changes from simple pressing of fruit and fermentation to dry in stainless steel to use of skin contact and maturation in oak. Layering in different textures and flavours.

Shifting gear to Germany and Alsace the game of balancing sugar, alcohol and acid comes into play. From dry 12.5-13% wines we shift to lower alcohol dry wines and then the freshest of the sweet wines, the Kabinett styles. Coming in with as little as 7.5% sugar the trick is achieving balance with higher acidity. From Kabinett we mover through an array of styles increasing in sweetness and alcohol, heading all the way to the very sweet botrytis style Trockenbeerenauslese & Icewein made from frozen grapes.

You can read more about the different styles of Riesling made in Germany in the Wine Bites Mag articles exploring Riesling.

Off-dry Riesling lends itself beautifully to pairing with many Asian foods. Aged, sweeter, botrytis styles are perfect with cheese and fresher fruit desserts. Fresh, citrus styles are perfect with seafood and lighter poultry.

2017 Riesling Sensations

Germany Dry

Delicious!

Wagner-Stempel Riesling Porphyr 2017

Riesling | Siefersheim, Germany

Beautifully balanced, it rests toward the acid side of the scales, with a touch less alcohol, taming rich luscious fruits. We often get seduced by opulence. Daniel's 2015's from sites yielding some of the ripest fullest fruit in the Rheinhessen certainly have such seduction. The 2016 Porphyr, beautifully balanced, it rests toward the acid side of the scales, with a touch less alcohol, taming rich luscious fruits. Such a sophisticated wine of great line and length.

$59

$56ea in any 3+

$53ea in any 6+

Wagner-Stempel Riesling Heerkretz 2017

Riesling | Rheinhessen, Germany

White peach, apple and lime are accented by their pits and pits as well as by raw almond on an enticing nose highly reminiscent of that exhibited by the corresponding 2016. Scents of Ceylon tea and spring beauty (Claytonia) add inner-mouth allure. The feel is flatteringly silken, notwithstanding the persistence of stimulating piquancy. Infectious juiciness, along with an invigoratingly tactile, active sense of crystalline stony impingement, dramatically sets this wine’s vibrant, bell-clear fin

$125

$120ea in any 3+

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DRY

Clemens Busch Riesling Marienburg 1er Grosses-Gewächs ‘Fahrlay Terrasse’ 2017

Riesling | Mosel-Saar-Ruwer, Germany

The 2017 Marienburg Riesling Fahrlay Terrassen opens with a bright, very clear, fresh and stony bouquet of concentrated white fruits and lemon notes intertwined with crushed slate aromas. On the palate, this is a highly finessed and elegant Riesling from vines that are 100+ years old. This 2017 serves intensity, power and complexity in a subtle way. The wine has a subtle tannin grip that makes this like a white Pinot Noir. Salty and crunchy and highly finessed, this is a powerful but elegant and

$174

$167ea in any 3+

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DRY

Clemens Busch Riesling Marienburg ‘Raffes’ 2017

Riesling | Mosel, Germany

The 2017 Pündericher Marienburg Riesling Raffes is the essence of gray slate. Bright in color and flavors but also intense and intermixed with lemon-fresh stony notes, this is a concentrated yet pure, fresh and finessed, highly intense and refined Riesling with great length and an endless finish. This is a powerful but Auslese-styled Riesling with concentration, finesse and lots of power but no alcoholic impression. The wine was bottled with 13% alcohol and almost nine grams of residual sugar.

$280

$270ea in any 3+

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Germany Off-Dry

Max Ferdinand Richter Graacher Himmelreich Kabinett 2017

Riesling | Mosel-Saar-Ruwer, Germany

Seriously! How often to Graacher and Wehlener just come up with the goods. This is a superb Kabinett. It has that slide flinty, reductive edge, less so than Prüm's Graacher. Huge energy here with a sense of translucence somehow coming through over the divine fruits. Reminds me of Clemens Busch. It has incredible length, with a pinch of salt to finish. Refreshing, mouthwatering, succulent juice, just as a good Kabinett should be! From 70- to 80-year-old vines, the 2017 Graacher Himmelreich

$49

$47ea in any 3+

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Selbach Oster Wehlener Sonnenuhr Kabinett Riesling 2017

Riesling | Mosel-Saar-Ruwer, Germany

This is a beauty, graceful with a certain transparency to it. The freshness, combined with excellent depth and length is classic Kabinett. Like Max F Richter, the use of large old wood for fermentation and maturation harmonises the wine beautifully. A joy to devour! “Great Mosel Kabinett should be like drinking cool spring water; thirst quenching and delicious.” Johannes Selbach

$58

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Max Ferdinand Richter Brauneberger Juffer-Sonnenuhr Auslese 375ml 2017

Riesling | Mosel-Saar-Ruwer, Germany

Yes! Stunning gear. I think the guys from Mosel Fine Wines calling it and Auslese Lange GK style is bang on. Lange GK = Long Gold Capsule and reference to the Reserve of the Reserve wines in Aussie vernacular. Give this 10-20 years and you'll be climbing a stairway to heaven! The 2017er Brauneberger Juffer-Sonnenuhr Auslese was harvested at well over 110° Oechsle. It offers a very classy and elegant nose of apricot blossom, whipped cream, almond, smoke and fine herbs. The wine proves highly

$71

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Only 70L Made!

Max Ferdinand Richter Wehlener Sonnenuhr Beerenauslese 375ml 2017

Riesling | Mosel-Saar-Ruwer, Germany

The 2017er Wehlener Sonnenuhr BA was harvested at a full 150° Oechsle. The wine proves still rather restrained yet already more than hints at gorgeous TBA-like notes of honey, raisin, baked spices, apple jelly, orange zest, toffee, and nut paste come through. These scents lead to stunningly creamy and honeyed notes including raisin, baked spices and apple jelly on the palate. A refreshingly acidity makes gives this superbly oily wine the great zesty side of an Eiswein (no wonder as this wine ha

$420

$405ea in any 3+

$390ea in any 6+

A.J.Adam Dhroner Hofberg Kabinett Riesling 2017

Riesling | Mosel-Saar-Ruwer, Germany

The guys from Mosel Fine Wines have nailed it! This is superb. When you listen to Andreas speak of the unique cooler climate of the site this all makes sense. Andreas and Barbara have achieved outstanding balance here. The vinosity with 8.5% alcohol is there, not always the case with young Rizza from this neck of the woods. The clean, refreshing acidity plays beautifully with the moderate residual sugar. Lythe with a divine set of flavours it's fantastic to see this a couple of years on and it w

$66

$63ea in any 3+

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A.J.Adam Dhroner Häs’chen Kabinett Riesling 2017

Riesling | Mosel-Saar-Ruwer, Germany

A fascinating comparison to the Hofberg. An edge of reduction a la Prüm's Graacher Kabinett on openning. A little more richness comes across here by comparision with the Hofberg. The balance and vinosity making for a complete wine loaded with personality. The MFW guys have nailed it. Chuck it in a decanter to get it moving! AP 11.18 The 2017er Dhroner Häs’chen Kabinett was harvested at 85° Oechsle. Still marked by residues of spontaneous fermentation at first, it delivers a gorgeou

$73

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A.J.Adam Dhroner Hofberg Spätlese Riesling 2017

Riesling | Mosel, Germany

AP 12.18 The 2017er Dhroner Hofberg Spätlese was harvested at 92° Oechsle in a prime parcel planted in the 1950s. It delivers a beautiful nose of whipped cream, vineyard peach, smoke, almond, earl grey and yellow plum. The wine offers great, almost concentrated presence on the mid-palate, yet a juicy and racy kick of acidity adds layers upon layers of freshness and intensity to the finish. This is a great success! 2027-2047 Jean Fisch & David Rayer, Mosel Fine Wines 94 Points

$93

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Markus Molitor Zeltinger Sonnenuhr Auslese** 2017

Riesling | Mosel-Saar-Ruwer, Germany

Gold Cap - Fruchtsüss! A richer and nobly sweet style of Riesling. "The 2017 Riesling Zeltinger Sonnenuhr Auslese ** (Golden Capsule) displays a concentrated yet highly refined bouquet of orange, lemon and grapefruit aromas intermixed with delicate and refreshing slate notes. Lush, piquant and salty on the elegant, pure, even weightless palate, this is a crystalline Auslese with great finesse, grip, tension and highly stimulating salinity. This is a finessed, gorgeous beauty, and it almost ma

$115

$110ea in any 3+

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Alsace Dry

Divine, Pure, Delicious!

Trimbach Clos Sainte Hune Riesling MAG 2017

Riesling | France, Alsace

Ask any Riesling tragic the Top 5 Rieslings in the World & they'll have Clos Sainte Hune on their list! Each region around the world has epic producers, in Alsace you think of Albert Mann, Zind Humbrecht, Ostertag and always Trimbach. Trimbach has certainly had plenty of practice. In only nine years they’ll celebrate the families 400thyear making wine! The first celebrated release of Clos Ste Hune was in 1919. "Vivid straw-green with gold highlights. Highly aromatic on the nose, revealing

$1,390

$1370ea in any 3+

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Alsace Off Dry

OFF-DRY

Domaine Marcel Deiss 1er Cru ‘Burg’ 2017

White Blend | Alsace, France

Premier Cru action from Deiss! A blend of 12 Alsatian Varieties! I haven't had the chance to try this yet. Given the rest of the 2017 are looking great this should be excellent too. D'Agata's note below if for the 2012. (a mixture of all the usual Alsace varieties, with a predominance of Gewürtzraminer, Riesling and Pinot Gris): Bright golden straw-yellow. The opulent nose features marmalady botrytis, honeyed tropical fruit and and sweet spice aromas. Densely packed, intense and showy, with

$138

$133ea in any 3+

$128ea in any 6+

OFF-DRY

Domaine Marcel Deiss 1er Cru ‘Grasberg’ 2017

White Blend | Alsace, France

Premier Cru action from Deiss! Riesling ~ Pinot Gris ~ Gewurztraminer I haven't had the chance to try this yet. Given the rest of the 2017 are looking great this should be excellent too. Notes from the last Grasberg I drank: Something quite special here. A unique wine of immense character. The botrytis play with spice, fresh apricot and almond / marzipan sits delicately with citrus, flowers, grapefruit and beyond. Off dry it sits balanced, with fresh acidity dancing over the light sweetnes

$138

$133ea in any 3+

$128ea in any 6+

Austria Dry

Schloss Gobelsburg Tradition Heritage Cuvée 3 Years Edition 850 NV

White Blend | Kamptal, Austria

Following on from the epic 50 year version of this wine, Michael Moosbruger plans to now release both a 3 year and 10 year version annually. Read more of the technique below. The Cuvée 3 Years Edition 850 is a blend of : Vintage: 85% 2018, 10% 2017, 5% 2016 Grapes: 80% Grüner Veltliner, 20% Riesling This is an epic wine of intensity yet delicacy. Perfumed with incredible complexity and a seamless mouthfeel. Entrancing, divine wine that require deep thought and patience to make. Soft

$100

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Gunderloch 2019's

What a Difference 3 Year Makes!

Gunderloch Jean Baptiste Riesling Kabinett 2019

Riesling | Rheinhessen, Germany

I love seeing Kabinett styles from the different regions of Germany. Gunderloch's from the Rheinhessen is an absolute cracker! So playful. This is an excellent wine. Complex with beautiful acid, a divine texture. Delicious. A beautiful expression. Compared to the Kabinett of Loosen in the Mosel you see and extra 2.5% alcohol, half the residual sugar and 1.5g/L less acid yet both are balanced. The extra fermentation raising the alcohol adds vinosity and more immediate approachability to the wine.

$42

$40ea in any 3+

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Gunderloch Als Wär’s Ein Stück Von Mir Riesling 2019

Riesling | Rheinhessen, Germany

A previous vintage of this wine was Johannes' 1st chance to make a wine on his own. Its success marked the changing of the baton from his father who granted him full control of all winemaking after tasting it! This was my note from the 2018 - Excellent personality, so much going on. Texturally insane. Great core of fruit. No sulphur to the juice allows the phenolics from the skin contact to oxidise and fall out leaving just the right amount of phenolic grip from the few days of skin contact the

$47

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Gunderloch Nackenheim Rothenberg Riesling Spätlese 2019

Riesling | Rheinhessen, Germany

A juicy wine for the category with plenty of cassis character, but that doesn’t mean it’s really full-bodied. In fact, at the finish it’s quite a light and austere wine with a lot of herbal and green-leaf tea flavors. Drink or hold. Stuart Piggot

$78

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Egon Müller Scharzhof Qualitats Riesling 2021

Riesling | Saar, Germany

The Godfather of the Saar makes truly special wine deserving of the title! AP: 01 22. The 2021er Riesling Scharzhof is a fruity-styled wine made from the Estate’s holdings in the Saarburger Rausch, the Oberemmeler Rosenberg, the Wiltinger Kupp, and the Wiltinger Braunfels. This white-yellow colored wine offers a stunning nose of citrusy fruits, white peach sorbet, mint, cassis, and smoke. It offers a superbly bright acidity which is beautifully balanced by fruitiness on the palate. The f

$121

$116ea in any 3+

$111ea in any 6+

Willi Schaefer Graacher Domprobst Riesling Spätlese #5 2020

Riesling | Mosel-Saar-Ruwer, Germany

AP: 05 21. The 2020er Graacher Domprobst Riesling Spätlese AP 05 was made essentially from grapes harvested in the Gerdsgrub and Fergert sectors of the vineyard and was fermented down to fruity-styled levels of residual sugar. It proves still rather backward and marked by residual scents from its spontaneous fermentation. After a while subtly apricot-infused flavors of melon, cassis, blueberry, blackberry, and aniseed herbs emerge from the glass. The wine proves subtle, intensely cream, and nic

$121

$116ea in any 3+

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Kientzler Grand Cru Schoenenbourg Riesling 2021

Riesling | France, Alsace

I've been watching Kientzler over the last decade now and have seen them consistently produce excellent wines from the Lieu Dit Muhlforst and the Grand Cru vineyards of Osterberg, Geisberg and Schoenenbourg. Sherbety, superfine, exceptional intensity, long fine harmonious & seamless. Draws you in. Incredibly long & lingering, citrus, fine green apple. Shape & flow is insane. Love this. Earthy and savoury with a little shroomy funk coming through very, very good. Given the typic

$123

$118ea in any 3+

$113ea in any 6+

Wagner-Stempel Riesling Heerkretz 2017

Riesling | Rheinhessen, Germany

White peach, apple and lime are accented by their pits and pits as well as by raw almond on an enticing nose highly reminiscent of that exhibited by the corresponding 2016. Scents of Ceylon tea and spring beauty (Claytonia) add inner-mouth allure. The feel is flatteringly silken, notwithstanding the persistence of stimulating piquancy. Infectious juiciness, along with an invigoratingly tactile, active sense of crystalline stony impingement, dramatically sets this wine’s vibrant, bell-clear fin

$125

$120ea in any 3+

$115ea in any 6+

A.J.Adam Dhroner Hofberg Auslese** Riesling HALF 2019

Riesling | Mosel-Saar-Ruwer, Germany

AP 19.20 The 2019er Hofberg Auslese **, as it is referred to on the consumer label, is a selection of botrytized grapes (60%) harvested at 125° Oechsle from the main hill of the vineyard, and was fermented down to noble-sweet levels of residual sugar. It offers a beautifully ripe and alluring nose of honeyed peach, apricot, pineapple, cherry, mango, yoghurt cream, and tar, all wrapped into quite some spices, herbs, and a hint of volatile acidity. The wine proves sweet, honeyed, and deeply r

$125

$120ea in any 3+

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Joh Jos Prüm Wehlener Sonnenuhr Kabinett Riesling 2021

Riesling | Mosel-Saar-Ruwer, Germany

Poised, refined, rich with wonderful tension. “The 2021er Wehlener Sonnenuhr Riesling Kabinett offers a superbly appealing and hugely complex nose of lily flowers, lozenge, fine spices, thyme, rosemary, spearmint, almond, and cassis, all wrapped in great minty smoke. The wine is superbly playful on the palate, where there are refined flavors of vineyard peach, orange blossom, and almond cream. It proves airy and light-footed. The finish is very delicate and pure. What a great Kabinett in the m

$126

$121ea in any 3+

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Joh Jos Prüm Graacher Himmelreich Riesling Spätlese 2021

Riesling | Mosel-Saar-Ruwer, Germany

Beautiful delicacy from Graacher “The 2021er Graacher Himmelreich Riesling Spätlese has a beautifully complex and pure nose of lime tree, verbena, orange blossom, anise, smoke, cassis, jasmine, and white peach. The wine coats the palate with very pure and fresh fruits and leaves a vibrating and hugely long finish. This splendidly pure Spätlese has great energy! 2031-2051” Mosel Fine Wines 95 Points AK 93

$126

$121ea in any 3+

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98 MFW SR 95

Willi Schaefer Wehlener Sonnenuhr Riesling Spätlese 2021

Riesling | Mosel-Saar-Ruwer, Germany

AP: 17 22. The 2021er Wehlener Sonnenuhr Riesling Spätlese is a fruity-styled wine made from grapes harvested in the prime Redellay sector. It offers a beautifully and gorgeous nose of tangerine, fine floral elements, whipped almond cream, vineyard peach, cinnamon, and bergamot. The wine proves superbly balanced on the palate and shows a lot of finesse as fine creamy elements give a velvety side, which is well wrapped into fine spices and zest. The finish shows a lot of energy and presence, but

$129

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Sublime

Trimbach ‘Cuvée Frédéric Émile’ Riesling 2012

Riesling | Alsace, France

I love the fact that Trimbach hold back there wines for so long. The freshness, combined with the development of this wine brings a lovely harmony and balance. 8 years on the acid of this bone-dry wine has resolved and the richness of the fruit has powered through. Yet it remains elegant and fine. Complexity around a core of lime, layers of flowers, minerals, salt, hints of spice, just a lick of patisserie cream and so much more are occasionally popping their heads up. Also available in

$135

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Joh Jos Prüm Wehlener Sonnenuhr Auslese Riesling 2020

Riesling | Mosel, Germany

The Wehlener Auslese had everything. Power with line and length. Rich with super fine acid. Again texture phenolics, Even + long. Estery with a soft green herb hint. Delicacy and transparency on power. The 2020er Wehlener Sonnenuhr Riesling Auslese offers a gorgeously attractive and ripe nose of almond cream, honeyed peach, smoke, tangerine, orange zest, candied grapefruit, and apricot. The wine is luscious and proves well on the sweet side on the palate. There is presence and intensity,

$135

$130ea in any 3+

$125ea in any 6+

OFF-DRY

Domaine Marcel Deiss 1er Cru ‘Burg’ 2012

White Blend | Alsace, France

Premier Cru action from Deiss! A blend of 12 Alsatian Varieties! (a mixture of all the usual Alsace varieties, with a predominance of Gewürtzraminer, Riesling and Pinot Gris): Bright golden straw-yellow. The opulent nose features marmalady botrytis, honeyed tropical fruit and and sweet spice aromas. Densely packed, intense and showy, with ripe, pure flavors of exotic tropical fruits and custard cream. Finishes with noteworthy residual sweetness but also a lovely saline edge, which keeps the win

$138

$133ea in any 3+

$128ea in any 6+

OFF-DRY

Domaine Marcel Deiss 1er Cru ‘Burg’ 2017

White Blend | Alsace, France

Premier Cru action from Deiss! A blend of 12 Alsatian Varieties! I haven't had the chance to try this yet. Given the rest of the 2017 are looking great this should be excellent too. D'Agata's note below if for the 2012. (a mixture of all the usual Alsace varieties, with a predominance of Gewürtzraminer, Riesling and Pinot Gris): Bright golden straw-yellow. The opulent nose features marmalady botrytis, honeyed tropical fruit and and sweet spice aromas. Densely packed, intense and showy, with

$138

$133ea in any 3+

$128ea in any 6+

OFF-DRY

Domaine Marcel Deiss 1er Cru ‘Grasberg’ 2017

White Blend | Alsace, France

Premier Cru action from Deiss! Riesling ~ Pinot Gris ~ Gewurztraminer I haven't had the chance to try this yet. Given the rest of the 2017 are looking great this should be excellent too. Notes from the last Grasberg I drank: Something quite special here. A unique wine of immense character. The botrytis play with spice, fresh apricot and almond / marzipan sits delicately with citrus, flowers, grapefruit and beyond. Off dry it sits balanced, with fresh acidity dancing over the light sweetnes

$138

$133ea in any 3+

$128ea in any 6+

Joh Jos Prüm Wehlener Sonnenuhr Spätlese Riesling 2021

Riesling | Mosel-Saar-Ruwer, Germany

Great intensity and transparency! “The 2021er Wehlener Sonnenuhr Riesling Spätlese is really restrained and almost non-saying at this early stage, but already hints at the complexity to come as it reveals after a few minutes very delicate notes of whipped almond cream, lily flowers, vineyard peach, minty herbs, smoke, candied grapefruit, and quite some fine spices. The wine proves creamy yet intense and dynamic on the palate. It proves very focused and already hugely long. This will need quit

$138

$133ea in any 3+

$128ea in any 6+

Weinbach Cuvée Colette Riesling 2021

Riesling | France, Alsace

“Stunning nose of yellow peach, pomelo and fresh pineapple that pulls you into this simultaneously ripe and vibrant dry Riesling. The ripe citrus flavors run right through the palate into the long finish that’s so uplifting it makes you feel good to be alive. So polished and precise.” Stuart Pigott, Jamessuckling.com 95 Points

$139

$134ea in any 3+

$129ea in any 6+

Willi Schaefer Wehlener Sonnenuhr Riesling Auslese HALF 2019

Riesling | Mosel-Saar-Ruwer, Germany

A highly aromatic, fruit-driven and perfumed nose of William’s pear, pineapple juice, apricot, passionfruit, banana flambé, honeyed peach and melon, all wrapped in white mint and a hint of toffee. Superbly sweet, unctuous and delicately smooth on the beautifully layered and intense palate. A tickly touch of acidity adds a gorgeous sensation of lightness to the nicely energetic and intense finish. A comparatively opulent and rich expression of auslese that flirts with BA presence. It proves

$141

$136ea in any 3+

$131ea in any 6+