Schloss Johannisberg - Riesling Auslese Rosalack 1933

Schloss Johannisberg – Riesling Auslese Rosalack 1933

1. General information

The Schloss Johannisberg – Riesling Auslese Rosalack 1933 is an extremely rare historical gem from the world-famous Rheingau. It is a Riesling with the ‘Auslese’ quality classification, bearing the ‘Rosalack’ (pink seal) label , which denotes a specific quality level at the Schloss Johannisberg winery.

The wine is offeredby the retailer Jahrhundertweine.de in two variants:

• Barrel No. 70: €745.00 (or €993.33 per litre)

• No barrel number specified: €575.00 (or €766.67 per litre)

The bottle size is 0.75 litresin each case .

2. Product details

3. Historical background – The Schloss Johannisberg winery

Schloss Johannisberg is one of the world’s most significant and time-honoured estates. First mentioned in a document as early as 817, it is regarded as the cradle of German Riesling. The 35-hectare, contiguous single vineyard – one of the oldest in Germany – consists exclusively of south-facing Riesling vines on quartzite-rich Taunus slate. This terroir gives the wines their characteristic balance between mineral intensity and ripe fruit.

The winery is renowned for its historic milestones:

• 1775: ‘Invention’ of the Spätlese

• 1787: First Auslese

• 1858: First Eiswein

The Kabinett wines, as well as the rare Rosalack and Goldlack wines – which are produced only in exceptional vintages – have achieved particular renown . The 1933 Rosalack falls into this exclusive category.

4. The significance of the designation ‘Rosalack’

Schloss Johannisberg uses a colour-coded capsule system to distinguish between the various quality classifications:

The term ‘Rosalack’ therefore denotes the ‘Auslese’ quality classification – a wine made from selectively harvested, overripe grapes with a high natural sugar content and a noble sweet character.

5. Classification of the 1933 vintage

The 1933vintage is of exceptional historical significance for German wines – it dates from the era of the Weimar Republic and the early days of National Socialism, and is one of the oldest Rieslings still available on the market. The Schloss Johannisberg winery is renowned for the exceptional ageing potential of its wines – vintages such as 1921, 1949, 1959, 1971 and 1976 demonstrate this impressively.

The fact that, after almost 90 years, this wine is still being offered with a fill level of ‘into neck’ (practically right up to the cork) speaks volumes for its excellent storage conditions.

6. Taste profile (general for Rosalack Auslese wines)

Although there are no current tasting notes available for the specific 1933 vintage, the typical profile of a Schloss Johannisberg Rosalack Riesling Auslesecan be described as follows:

• Nose: Precise and expressive, with aromas of candied citrus fruits, lime tart, acacia honey, dried apricots and a subtle spicy note

• Palate: Full-bodied, with lively acidity, a dense texture, perfectly integrated sweetness and a fresh citrus note

• Finish: Elegant and long

However ,with a Riesling that isnearly 90 years old, it is highly likely that distinct ageing aromas such as petrol, honey, dried fruit and spicy complexity will be present, overshadowing the original fruit profile.

7. Conclusion

The Schloss Johannisberg – Riesling Auslese Rosalack 1933 is an extremely rare historic Riesling from one of the world’s most renowned estates. At nearly 90 years old , in excellent condition (particularly the Barrel No. 70 variant) and hailing from the 1933 vintage, it is a significant collector’s item and a testament to German wine culture.

Owing to its age, rarity and documented historical background, this wine is traded less as a wine for enjoyment and more as a historical artefact and rarity for specialist collectors and auction houses. The two bottles available at Jahrhundertweine.de (prices: €745.00 for the well-preserved Barrel No. 70 bottle and €575.00 for the bottle with a damaged label) bear witness to a wine era that has almost vanished.