2023 Schloss Johannisberger Blaulack Trockenbeerenauslese

The 2023 Riesling Schloss Johannisberg Purpurlack Trockenbeerenauslese was picked on the last day of harvest from fully botrytized and dried-out berries. Clear honey, candied tangerine peel, lemon oil and overtones of cumin combine on the nose, which comes with a beautiful lift. Candied peach takes over on the palate but crackles with electric acidity running right through–you can almost hear it and certainly feel it. This is so dense and alluring that it is nearly impossible to describe such an essence, such an elixir. There’s endless intensity here, with 275 g/L of sweetness and a mind-bending, vibrant 17 g/L of acidity. (Luscious)

The first impression is a bit deceptive, because this comes across as a great riesling TBA, but it is way more than that, thanks to the electric acidity that takes this enormous concentration and honeyed richness and shines an almost blinding searchlight on it. And this doesn’t even tell you that the wine has a truly incredible density of dried mango and papaya aromas. Gigantic finish that is so fresh and pure your mind struggles to make sense of it. From organically grown grapes.