2016 Graacher Domprobst Riesling Auslese Goldkapsel Versteigerung Willi Schaefer, Mosel-Saar-Ruwer (0,375l)

Robert Parker's Wine Advocate - 2016 Graacher Domprobst Riesling Auslese Goldkapsel Versteigerung, Willi Schaefer

The 2016 Graacher Domprobst Riesling Auslese Gold Capsule (AP #15, Auction) offers a rich and concentrated bouquet with a lovely smokiness in the background. Rich yet precise, pure and salty on the palate, this is a highly elegant and refined Auslese with delicate acidity, stimulating salinity and mineral freshness in the finish. Fabulous. Tasted March 2018. - Stephan Reinhardt, Apr. 2018

Mosel Fine Wines - 2016 Graacher Domprobst Riesling Auslese Goldkapsel Versteigerung, Willi Schaefer

This Auslese was made from fruit harvested at 109° Oechsle. It delivers an absolutely gorgeous and fruit-driven nose driven by apricot, mango, pineapple, orange peel and a touch of spices, licorice and pear with more airing. The wine is beautifully juicy and exotic on the palate, yet despite the richness and complexity this offers airiness and elegance. The finish is still loaded with quite some residual sugar in need of integration. This Auslese LGK in all but name is a huge success, and a wine to lay down for more than 10 years to reach its drinking window. 2031-2056- Aug. 2017

Vinous - 2016 Graacher Domprobst Riesling Auslese Goldkapsel Versteigerung, Willi Schaefer

This auction bottling from the Fergert portion of Domprobst (toward Wehlen) was raised in glass because, as Christoph Schaefer laughingly put it, “we don’t have a cask that would accommodate a mere 200 liters.” Lack of contact with wood can’t have handicapped it! White peach and quince preserves on the nose also dominate on a glycerol-slicked, creamy, buoyant palate. A subtly cooling infusion of wintergreen and a rich mingling of cashew butter and caramel add to the allure of a sensationally sustained finish that somehow both grips and caresses, while introducing an unexpected influx of animating fresh peach and a mouthwatering suffusion of mineral salts. Willi Schaefer has frequently voiced concern lest his loyal, long-time customers perceive a rare bottling auctioned at a high price as the cream of the vintage skimmed off and out of reach. I am afraid that in this vintage, we “regulars” will simply have to live with that perception and be happy for our annual share of a collection that is nowadays routinely announced on the estate’s price list with an unbroken column of “sold out.” - David Schildknecht, Jan. 2018