2020 Willi Schaefer, Graacher Domprobst Riesling Kabinett Nr3, Mosel

Willi Schaefer's approach to Riesling Kabinett from Graacher Domprobst is rooted in generations of precise vineyard work and intuitive cellar practices, prioritizing taste and feel over analytical metrics to achieve elegant, lively wines. The Domprobst site, with its steep, south-southwest facing Devonian slate slopes interlaced with clay and iron, benefits from optimal sun exposure and natural springs that ensure consistent water supply, promoting complete, even ripeness. The 2020 vintage, characterized by cooler September weather, enabled a genuine Kabinett harvest, preserving a natural balance and amiable acidity that eschews extremes. Fermented with natural yeasts in old Fuder casks and undergoing extended lees contact, this Kabinett Nr3 embodies the Domprobst’s inherent mineral tension and structured depth. The outcome is a Riesling possessing remarkable purity and a delicate yet powerful architectural frame.