2018 Willi Schaefer Graacher Domprobst Riesling Auslese #14, Mosel

This came from more concentrated material [than the A.P. #11] with a higher percentage of botrytis,” explained Schaefer. Quince jelly, marzipan and penetratingly pungent anise and caraway distillates inform the nose and the glossy, glycerol-rich palate. Intriguingly, though – perhaps as a function of botrytis influence – there is an underlying firmness of texture in contrast with A.P. #11’s creaminess. I was not wrong in anticipating a confectionary finish, but from somewhere the wine also manages to pull a counteracting modicum of primary pear and apple juiciness to balance its richness and sweetness. Moreover, a sense of bittersweet green herbal concentration enhances the balance and complexity of this remarkably persistent libation. It should prove especially fascinating and worthwhile to follow (though certainly you don’t have to be in a pinch to open a bottle now). (DS)

94 points vinous.com

An outstanding wine in the making with just a touch more fruit-driven personality than the AP #11. The bouquet is very expressive out of the blocks, a gorgeous mix of pear, mirabelle, tangerine, slate, gentle notes of honeycomb and a topnote of citrus blossoms. The palate is pure, full-bodied and absolutely loaded with beautiful fruit on the attack and mid-palate, with a lovely undertow of slate, great focus and grip and a long, zesty and beautifully balanced finish. Breathtakingly beautiful auslese!

96 points Jon Gilman viewfromthecellar.com Drink 2026-85 

From the legendary blue slate amphitheatre of Graacher Domprobst in the Mosel, the Schaefer family produces Rieslings that seem to hover between delicacy and profound intensity. For generations this tiny estate has worked some of the region’s steepest parcels by hand, guided today by Christoph Schaefer who continues the gentle, traditional approach established by his father Willi. Auslese from Domprobst represents the pinnacle of ripeness and precision, capturing the vineyard’s ability to deliver both opulent fruit and crystalline minerality in perfect harmony.

A luminous pale gold shimmers in the glass, immediately hinting at richness held in graceful balance. Aromatics rise slowly with layers of ripe apricot, white peach and mandarin peel entwined with acacia honey, jasmine and the unmistakable scent of wet slate after rain. There is an almost hypnotic perfume here, at once exotic and weightless.

The palate is sumptuous yet featherlight, balancing luscious sweetness with electric acidity and a striking mineral spine. Flavours of baked citrus, nectarine and golden orchard fruit glide effortlessly across the tongue before a finish that lingers with saline freshness and remarkable purity. Built for extraordinary longevity, this Auslese will evolve over decades, gaining complexity of dried fruit, beeswax and gentle petrol nuance while retaining its radiant energy.

A magnificent partner for both savoury and sweet dishes, it shines with foie gras, blue cheese, roast pork with caramelised apple or delicate fruit tarts. Willi Schaefer Graacher Domprobst Riesling Auslese captures the quiet majesty of the Mosel, a wine for contemplative evenings, milestone celebrations and those rare moments when time seems to slow and every detail feels heightened.