Weingut Willi Schäfer - Graacher Domprobst Riesling Auslese Goldkapsel 1995, Mosel, Germany

Introduction: The jewels of the humble master

The Willi Schäfer wineryin Bernkastel-Graach is one of the most iconic and smallest top producers on the Moselle. For connoisseurs, the name stands for absolute precision, mineral purity and an almost uncanny balance between intensity and lightness. Graacher Domprobstis one of the great steep slopes of the Middle Moselle, whose deep, slatey soils produce Rieslings of great depth and savoury minerality. An Auslese with a gold capsule from the 1995 vintage- one of the densest and most concentrated years of the 1990s - is therefore a rare jewel from the hand of a perfectionist. This is not a loud wine, but a silent giant.

Sensory description (with perfect cellaring)

After almost 30 years, this Auslese has transformed the powerful density of its youth into a complex, elegant and fully mature personality. It is a wine of breathtaking presence with a floating texture.

Colour

• A radiant, intense golden yellow with greenish-golden hues. The colour hints at maturity and extract, but appears vital and clear.

Nose

The bouquet is intense, concentrated and a fascinating blend of ripe, almost tropical fruit, pronounced minerality and refining notes of maturity.

• Concentrated, ripe fruit: Apricot jam, preserved mirabelle plums, yellow peaches, honeydew melon, an exotic note of pineapple.

• Dominant petrol & ripe notes: Strong, elegant petrol and paraffin aromas fused with beeswax, honeycomb, toasted almonds and a delicate floral underlay (acacia).

• The minerality of the Domprobst: An intense, smoky, slatey, almost salty minerality permeates the bouquet and anchors it in the terroir.

• Harmony: The nose is a perfectly interwoven whole - the sweetness is perfumed, the acidity noticeable, the minerality carries.

Palate

The palate confirms the image of a perfect, dense and yet feather-light Riesling.

• Texture: Dense, juicy and with a velvety, concentrated sweetness. The residual sweetness is considerable, but is carried by the acidity and minerality and acts as a supple fullness, never as a heavy burden.

• Acidity: Brilliant, vibrant and the structural centrepiece, the acidity is laser-like, electric and of enormous length despite the ripeness and density of the vintage. It cuts through the sweetness, gives the wine its hovering tension, salty freshness and guarantees its lasting longevity.

• Palate: A precise reflection of the nose: a big wave of ripe apricot and honey, infused with smoky slate, petrol and spicy complexity.

• Finish: Exceptionally long, complex and savoury. The aftertaste of honey, slate, petrol and a refreshing, almond-like bitterness lingers for minutes, leaving an invigorating, clean impression.

Vintage & terroir

1995 vintage on the Moselle

• An outstanding, very concentrated and powerful vintage. A warm, sunny autumn resulted in grapes with a high must weight and extract and well preserved acidity. The wines are dense, somewhat heavier than the classic vintages (e.g. 1990, 1996) and take a long time to mature. They are considered "slow-movers" with enormous potential.

Graacher Domprobst site

• One of the deepest and most mineral-rich sites on the Moselle. The grey Devonian slate soils are deeply weathered and store heat.

• Character: Gives the wines a combined fullness and mineral rigour: spicy density, smoky depth and a salty note. Ideal for storable, large-format Auslese wines.

The signature of Willi Schäfer

• Minimalism and precision:Tiny yields, extremely careful harvesting, gentle pressing, long, slow fermentation in large old barrels, late bottling.

• Gold capsule: Marks the absolute best and most concentrated barrel selection of the vintage - even more intensity and ageing potential.

• The result is wines of rare purity, perfect balance and almost inexhaustible development potential.

Drinking maturity & ageing potential

Current drinking maturity

The wine has only recently reached its optimum drinking windowand is now at the peak of its complexity. It is mature and accessible, but still has the structure for many more years.

Development potential

• Peak: Now until 2035.

• Ageing potential: With optimal cellaring , well into 2045 and beyond. This Auslese will age like a Großes Gewächs: the fruit will recede, the mineral and petrol complexity will become even more dominant.

Rating & recommendations

Rating: 96-98/100 points

A Riesling of absolute world class and a reference wine for the Graacher Domprobst and the 1995 vintage. It unites the rare combination of opulent density and floating elegance in perfect harmony.

Recommendations for enjoyment

1. Decanting: Not necessary. Careful pouring and development in the glass over 30-60 minutes is ideal.

2. Serving temperature: 8-10°C.

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

4. Food pairing: A wine for the finest accompaniment or on its own:

   • Foie gras (classic combination).

   • Strong blue cheese (Roquefort, Gorgonzola).

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

   • Simply pure, as a contemplative meditation.

Conclusion

The Willi Schäfer Graacher Domprobst Auslese Goldkapsel 1995 is a wine of monumental beauty and quiet authority. It is the result of a great vintage, interpreted by a winemaker who knows how to perfect every nuance, no matter how small. This wine does not overwhelm with loud opulence, but captivates with its infinite depth, salty-mineral precision and timeless balance. Opening a bottle is a privileged event and a lesson in Moselle greatness. An absolute collector's item and an unforgettable taste experience for every connoisseur. A silent triumph.