{"product_id":"willi-schaefer-graacher-himmelreich-riesling-auslese-9-2012-75-cl","title":"Willi Schaefer Graacher Himmelreich Riesling Auslese 9 2012","description":"\u003cp\u003eFrom one of the Mosel’s most revered estates, the 2012 Willi Schaefer Graacher Himmelreich Riesling Auslese #9 is a benchmark sweet Riesling that captures the finesse and purity of this famed vineyard. Marrying concentration with delicacy, it offers the rare combination of intensity, crystalline freshness, and effortless drinkability. Sourced from the steep slate slopes of Graach’s Himmelreich, this Auslese reflects a long tradition of meticulous, low‑intervention winemaking at one of Germany’s finest addresses for Riesling.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTasting Notes\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eIn the glass, this Auslese shows a bright, luminous golden hue that hints at both its sweetness and its depth. The nose is exquisitely detailed and lifted, opening with pink and yellow grapefruit, candied citrus peel, and ripe stone fruit, wrapped in floral notes and a fine veil of honeyed botrytis. Subtle hints of crushed slate and wet stone add an elegant mineral edge beneath the fruit.\n\nOn the palate, the wine is at once rich and incredibly precise. Concentrated citrus and orchard fruits—grapefruit, white peach, and yellow plum—interplay with honey, subtle spice, and a distinct saline minerality. The sweetness is beautifully balanced by racy, mouthwatering acidity, making the wine feel lighter and less sweet than the residual sugar suggests. The finish is long, vibrant, and full of tension, with layers of salt, citrus zest, and delicate grip that linger. Still youthful, the 2012 vintage has excellent aging potential; properly cellared, it will continue to develop greater complexity, honeyed nuances, and tertiary notes over the next 15–25 years or more.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eProduction\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe fruit for this Auslese comes from the Graacher Himmelreich, one of the Mosel’s classic steep vineyards, characterized by blue Devonian slate, excellent drainage, and ideal sun exposure that together create a cool, slow ripening environment for Riesling. The grapes are carefully hand‑harvested in multiple passes (selective picking), allowing the team to choose perfectly ripe and partly botrytized berries at the optimal moment. In the cellar, Willi Schaefer follows a traditional, minimalist approach: gentle pressing, natural settling of the must, and slow, cool fermentation—often with indigenous yeasts—in stainless steel and large old Mosel fuders. The wine is then allowed to rest on its fine lees to build texture and complexity, with no unnecessary intervention, preserving the vineyard’s purity and the vintage’s character.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFood \u0026amp; Serving\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThis Auslese is a superb companion to a wide range of dishes, especially those that play on contrast between sweetness, spice, and richness. Pair it with blue cheeses such as Roquefort or Stilton, rich pâtés, foie gras, or Asian cuisine with a touch of chili and aromatic spices (think Thai or Vietnamese dishes). It also shines with fruit‑based desserts—citrus tarts, stone fruit crumbles, or simple poached pears—as well as on its own as a contemplative dessert in the glass. Serve well‑chilled, ideally at 8–10°C (46–50°F). Decanting is not necessary, but opening the bottle a little in advance and allowing it to warm slightly in the glass will help reveal its full aromatic spectrum.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eProducer\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe Willi Schaefer estate is a small, family‑run winery in Graach an der Mosel, long regarded as one of Germany’s reference points for classic, finely balanced Riesling. With holdings in top sites such as Graacher Himmelreich and Domprobst, the domaine has built its reputation on meticulous vineyard work, low yields, and an unwavering commitment to expressing terroir through elegant, nuanced wines. Generations of the Schaefer family have refined a gentle, traditional approach in the cellar, resulting in Rieslings that are celebrated for their purity, clarity, and impeccable balance between sweetness and acidity. Consistently lauded by critics and collectors alike, Willi Schaefer’s wines are considered among the Mosel’s most coveted and ageworthy expressions of Riesling.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Willi Schaefer","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":54253008683345,"sku":"PS-7730910003400","price":95.54,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0874\/0614\/9969\/files\/graacher-himmelreich-riesling-auslese-9-2012-75-cl-0.png?v=1784104347","url":"https:\/\/bottlehero.com\/products\/willi-schaefer-graacher-himmelreich-riesling-auslese-9-2012-75-cl","provider":"Bottle Hero","version":"1.0","type":"link"}