2019 Willi Schaefer, Wehlener Sonnenuhr Riesling Auslese No 17, Mosel

Willi Schaefer's approach prioritizes meticulous vineyard health and gentle, taste-driven winemaking, employing rigorous hand-harvesting and natural yeast fermentation in old Fuder casks to articulate terroir with precision and clarity. The Wehlener Sonnenuhr, a distinguished VDP.GROSSE LAGE® site, is characterized by its exceptionally steep, south-facing slopes composed primarily of pure Devonian blue slate with negligible topsoil, forcing vines to root deeply and imparting profound minerality and delicate acidity. The 2019 growing season in Mosel featured a warm, dry summer punctuated by heatwaves, yet crucially tempered by a cool May and a cooler, rainy September, fostering thicker-skinned grapes and excellent physiological ripeness. This unique vintage yielded an Auslese No 17 with concentrated density, a firm structural presence, and vibrant, crisp acidity, embodying a rare combination of ripe fruit and tension. The resulting wine reflects the site's renowned filigree elegance and inherent longevity, directly shaped by Schaefer's patient, low-intervention philosophy.