Dr Bürklin Wolf - Wachenheimer Mandelgarten Scheurebe Trockenbeerenauslese Auction Wine VDP 1970

Dr Bürklin-Wolf - Wachenheimer Mandelgarten Scheurebe Trockenbeerenauslese 1970

General classification
This wine is an absolute rarity and a legend in the history of German viticulture. It is a Trockenbeerenauslese (TBA) from the Scheurebe grape variety , produced in the 1970 vintage by the renowned Dr Bürklin-Wolf winery in Wachenheim (Pfalz). Wines in this category are among the most concentrated, long-lived and valuable sweet wines in the world.

Historical context & significance

• Vintage 1970:Considered an outstanding, if not legendary, year for noble sweet wines in Germany. A warm late summer and an ideal autumn allowed the development of botrytis (noble rot) and the harvest of very shrivelled, sugar-rich berries (dried berries).

• Scheurebe grape variety:A cross between Riesling and Silvaner, which often produces particularly aromatic wines reminiscent of cassis and grapefruit in the Palatinate. A TBA from the Scheurebe is an extreme rarity.

• Weingut Dr Bürklin-Wolf:One of the oldest and most traditional wineries in the Palatinate, known for generations for the highest quality standards. A wine in this category from the 1970s represents the estate's top performance at a time when such wines were still produced in very limited quantities and with enormous manual labour.

Sensory description (based on general profiles of such wines & possible tasting notes)
Such a wine is a living museum piece. If stored intact, an extremely complex bouquet may have developed:

• Colour: Deep gold to amber, possibly with orange reflections.

• Nose: An overwhelming intensity of aromas is to be expected: dried apricots, honeycomb, almonds, orange marmalade, cooked quinces, sandalwood and a characteristic note of cassis or blackcurrant (typical of ripe Scheurebe). The botrytis imparts notes of saffron, ginger and a noble, mushroom-like spiciness. Decades of ageing have probably added additional tertiary flavours such as caramel, toffee and wax.

• Palate: Opens with a monumental, honeyed richness, which is nevertheless supported and kept in balance by a lively, almost unbelievable acid structure. The texture is viscous, almost oily, but never heavy or sticky. The range of flavours from the bouquet is repeated on the palate with even greater intensity. The finish is long and complex and leaves an impression of great purity and concentration.

Technical details & storage

• Alcohol content: Very low, probably between 5.5% and 7.5% vol.

• Residual sugar: Extremely high, probably well over 250 g/litre.

• Potential:If stored properly(dark, constant temperature of 10-12°C, horizontal bottle), this wine has an almost unlimited lifespan. It is one of the longest-lived wines of all.

• Condition: The value and the enjoyment experience depend absolutely crucially on the state of provenance and storage.The fill level, the condition of the cork and the labelling are of the utmost importance. An open or low fill level reduces the value considerably.

Conclusion & rating
The Dr Bürklin-Wolf Wachenheimer Mandelgarten Scheurebe Trockenbeerenauslese 1970 is a wine of the century.

• For the collector: A high-priced icon and a coveted collector's item of historical value.

• For the connoisseur: A unique, probably unforgettable taste experience that epitomises the entire art of noble sweet winemaking. It is a meditation wine for special occasions, to be savoured in small quantities over hours.

• Overall:a timeless document of a great vintage, a rare grape variety and the craftsmanship of a top winery. Tasting it is like travelling back in time and is proof of the eternity of great wines.

Note:This report is based on general knowledge of wines in this category, estate and vintage. The actual flavour profile of an individual bottle may vary depending on storage conditions and should be tasted with the appropriate reverence and patience.