Very attractive, spicy poached-pear notes to start, with a stream of slate really driving the nose, as well as wild herbs, especially spearmint, and honey. Very complex. The palate has a profound, concentrated core of rich lime and kumquat flavor and the acidity arcs upwards and really clams the fruit, wrapping it in tight. It then unleashes a thunderous mineral phase that blows long through the finish. Spectacular. Drink over the next two decades.

The 2017 Graacher Himmelreich Auslese (Gold Capsule), AP 15 18, is a highly attractive and refined Riesling with beautifully clear and aromatic fruit (yellow plums and nectarines at the moment) intermingled with fine flinty aromas of broken slate. This is the perfection of beauty and finesse, as it is so delicate, highly refined and elegant on the silky-textured and stimulatingly salty palate. If you love Prüm, this is the wine you would probably want to die with. It has the perfect balance of finesse yet is still highly digestible. You'll fall in love with this, no doubts at all. Tasted in March 2019.