Hessische Staatsweingüter Kloster Eberbach - Rauenthaler Baiken Riesling Eiswein-Beerenauslese Auction Wine 1975 ex VDP Auction 2014

Hessian State Wineries, Kloster Eberbach – Rauenthaler Baiken Riesling Eiswein-Beerenauslese 1975

1. Introduction

This wine is an extraordinary rarity from the Hessian State Wineries of Kloster Eberbach: the Rauenthaler Baiken Riesling Eiswein-Beerenauslese from the 1975 vintage. The combination of Eiswein and Beerenauslese – that is, a Beerenauslese made from naturally frozen grapes – makes this wine a rare speciality within the Prädikat wine category. The 1975 vintage produced wines in the Rheingau with great ageing potential, which are still found today in exceptional condition.

2. The Winery: Hessian State Wineries Kloster Eberbach

The Kloster Eberbach State Wineries, based in the historic Cistercian monastery of Eberbach in the Rheingau, look back on a history spanningalmost 900 years and are among Germany’s most renowned wine-growing estates. The estate cultivates around 200 hectares of vineyards, primarily planted with Riesling and Pinot Noir, and is renowned for wines characterised by mineral elegance, fruitiness and exceptional ageing potential.

A special feature of the estate is the regular auctions held in the monastery’s lay dormitory, a tradition dating back to 1806. It is there that exclusive rarities such as this Eiswein Beerenauslese are offered for sale.

3. The vineyard: Rauenthaler Baiken

The Rauenthaler Baikenvineyard is one of the most prestigious Riesling sites in the Rheingau. The vineyard, situated above the Rhine village of Rauenthal, benefits from steep slopes and a unique microclimate that promotes exceptional grape ripening. Wines from the Baiken are renowned for their great depth, their mineral structure and their enormous ageing potential. The Baiken not only produces outstanding Kabinett and Spätlese wines but also Beerenauslese and Eisweine that are acclaimed worldwide.

4. The 1975 vintage

For the Rheingau, the 1975 vintageproduced wines of great longevity and elegance . The climatic conditions allowed for concentrated grape quality, which is still evident today in remarkable freshness and vitality. Tastings confirm that even after 50 years – the bottle was tasted in 2025 – the wine still seemed‘young’.

5. Specification: Eiswein-Beerenauslese

The designation ‘Eiswein-Beerenauslese’ is a rare combination of two quality classifications:

• Beerenauslese (BA): a selection of fully ripe, botrytised grapes with a high must weight.

• Eiswein: The grapes are harvested and pressed during a natural frost (at least -7 °C), leaving the frozen water behind and resulting in a highly concentrated sweetness.

The combination of both methods results in a wine of extreme concentration, high residual sweetness and, at the same time, a lively acidity profile. The wine was bottled as an auction wine (from the VDP Auction 2014) and bears the number #20.

6. Tasting notes and ratings

The 1975 Rauenthaler Baiken Riesling Eiswein-Beerenauslese has been tasted by several renowned critics and collectors and consistently described as an extraordinary experience:

• CellarTracker user ‘Sotto325’ (2015) described it as ‘Truly one of the great wine experiences one can encounter’. At 50 years old, this “unusual botrytised ice wine” presents itself as “abarely sweet, non-viscous, perfect fusion of the tropical flowers and fruits that define great Prädikat Riesling”. It displays a “dark cognac colour”, a structure of acidity that is still very well balanced , and a “smoky overlay” that provides a lovely balance.

• A Chinese tasting note (2025) describes the bouquet as “熟橘果酱, 西梅干, 杏脯, 焦糖, 蜜渍橙皮” (marmalade made from ripe mandarins, prunes, dried apricots, caramel, candied orange peel) as well as “甘草, 贡菊, 蜂蜡, 些许栎树蜜, 木质藏甜茶” (liquorice, chrysanthemum, beeswax, oak honey, woody sweetness). On the palate, it unfolds as “fresh, round, soft, rich” (fresh, round, soft, concentrated) with “high acidity” that perfectly balances the residual sweetness.

• James Suckling also tasted the wine and noted “Lots of baked mandarin orange character and plenty of juiciness”.

7. Market and Availability

Wines of this quality and age rarely reach the open market. They are usually offeredvia auctions or exclusive rare wine offers from the monastery:

• At the 2014 VDP auction, the wine was offered at €395.00 per 0.75-litre bottle.

• An auction lot at Spectrum Wine (2018) designated #20 was estimated at $120.

• The wine is now extremely rare; the odd bottle occasionally turns up at auction.

8. Conclusion

The 1975 Rauenthaler Baiken Riesling Eiswein-Beerenauslese from the Hessian State Wineries at Kloster Eberbach is a wine of exceptional rarity and quality. The combination of one of the finest Rheingau vineyards, the excellent 1975 vintage and the rare Prädikat combination of Eiswein and Beerenauslese makes it a highly sought-after collector’s item for connoisseurs of great German Rieslings. Even after more than 50 years, it displays impressive freshness, balance and complexity – a living testament to the fine art of Rheingau viticulture.