Georg Breuer - Rüdesheimer Bischofsberg Riesling Trockenbeerenauslese Goldkapsel 1993, Rheingau, Germany

Introduction: The gilded apotheosis of the Rheingau

This bottle represents the absolute pinnacle of German viticulture from a spectacular era. The Rüdesheim Bischofsberg is one of the steepest and most prestigious sites in the Rheingau, with a southern exposure and gravelly-slate soils. Georg Breuer, under the direction of Bernhard Breuer, was one of the absolute avant-garde of the Rheingau in the 1990s and was known for powerful, mineral-influenced and extremely long-lived Rieslings. A Trockenbeerenauslese (TBA) with a gold capsule from the 1993 vintage- one of the greatest vintages for noble sweetness of the 20th century - is therefore not just a sweet wine, but a liquid monument: the combination of a vintage of the century, a magnificent terroir and the unconditional quality standards of a visionary winery.

Sensory description (with perfect storage)

After more than 30 years, this TBA has transformed its youthful, often overwhelming sweetness into an incredible, multi-layered complexity. It is not a simple dessert wine, but a meditation on time, concentration and mineral depth.

Colour

• A deep, opaque mahogany gold to amber gold colour with olive green reflections. The colour shows the extreme concentration and the long, oxidative ageing.

Nose

The bouquet is of breathtaking intensity, density and complexity. It is the realm of the "Rancio Noble " - the noble oxidation note - fused with the essence of noble rot.

• Concentrated dried fruit & jams: Raisin mustard, date jam, dried figs, prune purée, apricot jam.

• Noble oxidation (rancio): Precious aromas of walnut, hazelnut, old Oloroso sherry, cedar box, honeycomb and moist humus.

• Botrytis & exoticism: Intense notes of grass honey, saffron, ginger, carambola and a noble mushroomy nuance.

• Mineral core: Despite all the sweetness and ripeness, the characteristic gravelly, slatey minerality of the Bischofsberg shines through as a salty, smoky undertone.

• Freshness: A ghostly, life-saving hint of blood-red orange or lemon zest.

Palate

On the palate, the wine is a paradox of extreme concentration and floating lightness.

• Texture: Fat, oily, syrupy and of infinite density, but never sticky or heavy thanks to the lively acidity . It coats the palate like liquid velvet.

• Acidity: The absolute secret of its longevity and greatness. The famous, electric acidity of the 1993 vintage cuts through the sweetness like a diamond, giving the wine transcendent tension, freshness and almost infinite length and keeping it alive.

• Flavour: An orchestrally powerful confirmation of the nose: a symphony of dried fruit, nuts, exotic spices, honey and a salty minerality.

• Sweetness: The sweetness is not a simple sugary sweetness, but a flavour dimension of richness, warmth and infinite complexity.

• Finish: Eternal, almost infinitely long. The aftertaste of honey, walnut, saffron, orange peel and a salty stoniness can linger for over half an hour, leaving the palate in a state of euphoria.

Vintage & terroir

1993 vintage in Germany

• A legendary vintage of the century for noble sweetness, especially in the Rheingau. Perfect conditions for noble rot (Botrytis cinerea) - damp, foggy mornings and sunny afternoons in autumn - led to fantastic grapes with extreme concentration and brilliant, high acidity. The wines are famous for their immortality.

Rüdesheimer Bischofsberg site

• A large site (Erste Lage) with extremely steep, south-facing slopes. The soils are deep, fine slate and pebble slate with clay content.

• Character: Gives the wines a combination of rigour and finesse: mineral character, powerful structure and at the same time elegant, fragrant fruit. Ideal for storable, large-format sweet wines.

The signature of Georg Breuer (Bernhard Breuer)

• Philosophy: Absolute concentration on terroir expression and longevity. Late harvest, strict selection, spontaneous fermentation, long ageing in large wooden barrels.

• Gold capsule: Denotes the absolute best barrel selection, the ultimate cuvée of the vintage.

Maturity, condition & risk

Current drinking maturity

The wine has reached its long-awaited optimum plateau. The tertiary flavours are fully developed, the acidity is intact. It is now at the peak of its complexity.

Critical condition criteria

1. Provenance: Everything is crucial. Storedabsolutely cool (10-12°C), dark, horizontally and unshaken for life.

2. Fill level: Must be"high shoulder" or better.

3. Cork: A weak point after 30+ years.

Risk on opening

• High. Despite perfect storage, the wine may beover-oxidised or spoiled by cork defects.

• The financial and historical value of a sealed bottle is very high.

Rating & recommendations

Rating (for a perfect bottle): 98-100/100 points

A TBA of absolute world class and historical significance. It is a reference for the Rheingau and the 1993 vintage, a wine that epitomises the apotheosis of noble sweetness.

Recommendations for the ritual of enjoyment

1. Treatment: Do not decant. Pour carefully, separate from the deposit if necessary.

2. Serving temperature: 10-12°C. Never colder.

3. Glass: A medium-sized, tulip-shaped dessert wine glass or sherry copita.

4. Accompaniment: Alone, as a meditation. Possible, discreet accompaniments:

   • Foie gras (classic).

   • Strong blue cheese (Roquefort).

   • Simple, dry almond or nut biscuits.

   • Pure, in silence and concentration.

Conclusion

The Georg Breuer Rüdesheimer Bischofsberg TBA Goldkapsel 1993 is one of the great German wines of the 20th century. It is the result of a perfect constellation of climate, terroir and human genius. This wine is not simply sweet; it is a profound, complex and moving sensory experience that redefines the boundaries of sweetness, acidity and minerality. Opening such a bottle is not an everyday act, but a solemn, historic event for any wine lover. A priceless treasure for the collector, an unforgettable, transcendent experience for the connoisseur. An absolute legend.