Balthasar-Ress- Rudesheim Berg Schlossberg Auslese Trocken Riesling 2000

With a slope of 70 percent, the Rüdesheimer Berg Schlossberg can call itself the steepest vineyard in the Rheingau. At an altitude of 120 to 160 meters above sea level, the vines of this site cling to the stony, poor soils and are held together all around by the strong vineyard walls. Taunus quartzite and phyllite slate give our Great Growths of this site their characteristic signature of minerality and acidity. The vineyard faces due south and receives the extra reflection of sunlight from the Rhein River.

Soil Type(s): Taunus quartzite and phyllite, stony poor soils

The grapes are picked by passing through the vineyard several times between early and mid October, harvested by hand and carefully transported to the winery in small boxes. This is followed by a cold soak maceration period of up to 12 hours before the wine is fermented using spontaneous native yeast. Fermentation is allowed to continue all the way to full dryness. The wine is aged mainly in used barriques and 600L barrels for a period of 18 months. The rest of the aging takes place in bottle in the cellars of the winery. The different lots are blended by the cellar master over a period of several weeks. Dry vinified selections develop an intense flavor and higher alcohol content.

Auslese Trocken is an exceedingly rare style of wine coming from Riesling and only really made in Germany. It is quite difficult to get the vinification of such high sugar content juice to go all the way through to being fully dry. It is a real treat at this age profile, being both rich, powerful, savory, spicy, and full of umami.

Ox Cheek, Onion Melt, French Onion Soup, Veal Steaks, Goose Filet, Potatoes, Tarte Flambée, Roasted Quail, Peking Duck, Drunken Noodles

• German, Alsatian, French, Chinese, Thai