St. Urbans-Hof - Piesporter Goldtröpfchen Riesling Auslese 2005, Mosel, Germany

Introduction: The rediscovered classic in its purest form

Piesporter Goldtröpfchenis one of the most famous and largest single vineyard sites on the Moselle, known for its gentle, south-facing slopes and deep Devonian slate. St. Urbans-Hof, run by the Weis family, is one of the most renowned and innovative producers in the region, interpreting this terroir with great care and modern precision. An Auslese from the classic, high-acid 2005 vintagepromises a Mosel Riesling of elegant sweetness, crystalline structure and long development potential - a harmonious combination of tradition and contemporary cellar technology.

Sensory description (current state, approx. 2024)

After 19 years, this Auslese has transformed its youthful freshness into a mature, complex and fully balanced sweetness. It is a perfect example of a mature, classic Mosel Auslese.

Colour

• A bright, light to medium golden yellow colour with intense greenish-golden reflections. The colour is clear and lively.

Nose

The bouquet is intense, clear and characterised by a beautiful blend of ripe fruit, honey-like botrytis notes and cool minerality.

• Ripe, elegant fruit: Apricot jam, mirabelle plum, yellow peaches, ripe pear, a delicate exotic note of pineapple.

• Honey & ripe notes: Pronounced aromas of honeycomb, beeswax, roasted almonds and an elegant petrol note that is already well integrated.

• Mineral finesse: The typical slatey, cool-salty minerality of the Goldtröpfchen shines through and lends structure and freshness to the sweetness. Notes of wet pebbles and chalk.

• Harmony: The nose is wonderfully balanced - the sweetness is fragrant, the acidity lends vibrancy, the minerality gives depth.

Palate

The palate confirms the image of a balanced, silky and feather-light Auslese Riesling.

• Texture: Delicate, juicy and with a floating elegance. The residual sweetness is considerable, but is perfectly supported by the lively acidity and acts as a supple, perfumed fullness, not as heaviness.

• Acidity: Lively, precise and the supporting framework. The excellent acidity structure of the 2005 vintage is intact and gives the wine its necessary tension, salty freshness and enormous length. It is the guarantee for its lasting vitality.

• Flavour: A precise reflection of the nose: ripe apricot and honey, interspersed with a salty, slatey minerality and a delicate spicy complexity.

• Finish: Very long, clean and salty. The aftertaste of honey, slate, a cool mineral note and refreshing citrus bitterness lingers for a pleasantly long time.

Vintage & terroir

2005 vintage on the Moselle

• An outstanding, classic and acid-accentuated vintage. A long, cool autumn allowed for slow ripening with an excellent acid structure. The wines are known for their precision, clear fruit, mineral intensity and great ageing potential - a vintage for purists.

Piesporter Goldtröpfchen site

• One of the large, gently sloping terraced sites on the Moselle. The deep, weathered Devonian slate stores heat and imparts a fine, salty minerality to the wine.

• Character: In contrast to the extremely steep slate slopes, the Goldtröpfchen often produces more accessible, fruit-emphasised wines that are ready to drink earlier, but still possess the typical Mosel elegance and mineral foundation.

The signature of St. Urbans-Hof

• Modern-traditional approach:careful work in the vineyard, selective harvesting, gentle pressing, temperature-controlled ageing in stainless steel and large wooden barrels for freshness and fruit.

• The aim is to produce clean, aromatically precise and balanced wines that show the character of the Goldtröpfchen in an accessible form.

Maturity & ageing potential

Current drinking maturity

The wine is already fully mature and at the peak of its drinking pleasure. It has lost its youthful sharpness and offers perfect harmony. It can be drunk now with great pleasure.

Development potential

• Peak: Now until 2030.

• Ageing potential: With optimal ageing, it can retain its form for another 5-10 years, but will slowly lose its freshness and fruit intensity. It is a wine for medium maturity.

Rating & recommendations

Rating: 92-94/100 points

An Auslese of great class, elegance and drinking pleasure. It represents the Piesporter Goldtröpfchen and the 2005 vintage in a beautiful, balanced and fully mature form.

Recommendations for enjoyment

1. Decant: Not necessary. Gentle pouring and unfolding in the glass is ideal.

2. Serving temperature: 8-10°C.

3. Glass: A large, tulip-shaped Riesling glass.

4. Food pairing: A perfect dessert wine or accompaniment to fine food:

   • Fruity desserts: apricot or peach tart (not too sweet).

   • Cheese: Blue cheese (Roquefort, Gorgonzola) or mature mountain cheese.

   • Foie gras.

   • Simply on its own, as an aperitif or to round off a meal.

Conclusion

The St. Urbans-Hof Piesporter Goldtröpfchen Auslese 2005 is a timelessly beautiful and impressively drinkable Mosel Riesling. It combines the ripe, honey-like sweetness of an Auslese with the lively, savoury freshness for which the Mosel is famous. This wine is not a spectacular powerhouse, but an example of perfect harmony and classic Mosel elegance. Opening a bottle today is a rewarding experience and a moment of great satisfaction. Highly recommended for lovers of mature, elegant sweet wines.