2016 Gimmeldinger Schlossel Rieslaner Spatlese

Mango and lightly singed caramelized pineapple dominate on the nose and the silken, glycerol-slicked palate of this luscious offering. Muskmelon, white peach syrup and almond extract add decadent, rich but juicy elements to the mix, leading to an impressively sustained finish, albeit one surprisingly restrained for Rieslaner and in which the grape’s naturally high acidity is not at all obvious as tang or brightness, but does serve as a spring to generate animation. “This fruit reached 108 degrees Oechsle but with almost no shriveling” – let alone botrytis – observed Franzen.