Dr Hermann - Erdener Prälat Riesling Auslese Goldkapsel 2016 375ml

Report: Dr Hermann - Erdener Prälat Riesling Auslese Goldkapsel 2016

1st winery & site:

• Weingut Dr Hermann: Family business, known for concentrated, mineral Rieslings from extremely steep sites. Focus on traditional cultivation and precise work in the vineyard.

• Erdener Prälat: One of the most legendary vineyards on the Moselle, even worldwide. South-west facing, extremely steep slope (up to 70°), deep Devonian slate soil. The name ("Prälat" = prelate) refers to former church property.

• Terroir influence:The Prälat slate stores heat and gives the wine mineral tension, depth and distinctive smoky stone notes. The steepness guarantees maximum sun exposure.

2. the 2016 vintage on the Moselle:

• Challenging start: cool, wet spring with risk of late frost and fungal pressure.

• Ideal autumn: A long, warm and dry late summer/autumn allowed for perfect physiological ripeness while maintaining a vital acid structure. Ideal for high-quality Prädikat wines.

• Auslese Goldkapsel (GK): Indicates a special selectionwithin the Auslese. The grapes were overripe, possibly with a significant proportion of noble rot (Botrytis cinerea), which brings additional complexity, concentration and sweetness. The "gold capsule" is a voluntary quality symbol of many top producers for their best barrels/vineyard wines.

3. sensory description (characteristics of the vintage & site):

• Colour: Bright, intense golden yellow with greenish reflections (typical of youthful Mosel Rieslings).

• Nose : Explosive and complex. Ripe peach, apricot, mirabelle plum, pineapple and mango, overlaid with clear botrytis notes (honey, marzipan, dried fruit, saffron). Underneath: Intense mineral flavours(struck flint, smoke, wet slate), delicate flowers (acacia, herbs) and a tingling citrus freshness (cedar lemon, grapefruit).

• Palate: Opulent and yet light as a feather. An intense richness of ripe stone and tropical fruit and honey meets razor-sharp acidity and an impressive mineral salinity/spiciness. The botrytis adds texture (silky) and exotic spice. The sweetness (high!) is perfectly integrated, never sticky. The interplay between fruit, mineral, acidity and noble sweetness is breathtakingly balanced. Extremely long, multi-faceted finish that vibrates with minerality and fruit for several minutes.

• Texture:Dense, but amazingly elegant and easy to drink thanks to the acidity and minerality. Typical Prälat: Powerful concentration with the lightness typical of the Moselle.

4. specialities & quality:

• Terroir exponent: the wine is a prime example of the unique combination of ripeness and freshness, fullness and elegance that Erdener Prälat can produce in top years.

• Botrytis influence:Clearly noticeable, giving the wine an exotic dimension and additional complexity without masking the clear slate minerality.

• Balance:The great art of this wine lies in the absolute harmony between high residual sugar, lively acidity, mineral strength and aromatic intensity.

• Longevity: A wine with enormous development potential(at least 20-30+ years). The acidity and minerality guarantee freshness, while the concentration and botrytis provide substance. It will gain considerable complexity in the cellar.

5. ratings & reputation (extract):

• General: the 2016 Prälat GK from Dr Hermann is unanimously regarded as one of the great wines of the vintage and a reference wine for the site.

• Points (examples):

  • 98/100 Robert Parker's Wine Advocate (Stephan Reinhardt): "...purer, more intense and complex... a grandiose prelate... Endless mineral reverberation..."

  • 97/100 James Suckling: "...so much slate and fruit... fantastic tension and length..."

• Reputation: Confirms Dr Hermann's position as one of the leading producers of the Prälat and the entire Mosel.

6. price & availability:

• Price segment: premium(for a German Riesling). On release in the upper double-digit euro range per bottle (0.75 litre), depending on the retailer. Value development usual for top vintages and sites.

• Availability:Produced in limited quantities as Spitzen-Auslese GK. Can be found at renowned wine merchants, specialised dealers for German wines or directly at the winery, but no longer available everywhere.

7 Drinking recommendation & service:

• Maturity:

  • Now:Already an overwhelming experience due to its youthful vigour and freshness. Needs large glasses and plenty of air (long decanting can work wonders).

  • Future:Will develop even more complexity, nuances (petrol, ripe spice) and a more harmonious integration of sweetness over the decades.

• Temperature: Cool, but not ice-cold (approx. 8-10°C).

• Glass: Large, slender Riesling glass (e.g. Zalto Universal).

• Accompaniment:Classic with strong blue cheese (Roquefort, Gorgonzola), foie gras or fine desserts (apricot tart, crème brûlée). Can also be enjoyed on its own as a fascinating "meditation wine".

8. conclusion:
The Dr Hermann Erdener Prälat Riesling Auslese Goldkapsel 2016 is a spectacular top wine that demonstrates the magic of the great 2016 Moselle vintage and the unique class of the Erdener Prälat terroir in its purest form. It combines apparent opposites: opulent fruit and noble sweet botrytis notes with breathtaking mineral precision, cutting acidity and feather-light elegance. A wine of monumental depth, endless finish and enormous ageing potential - a reference not only for the Moselle, but for Riesling worldwide. An experience for connoisseurs and collectors.