2007 Grans Fassian Riesling Trittenheimer Apotheke Spatlese 750 ml

Ask any Sommelier what type of white wine is the most age-worthy of all, and you will undoubtedly hear the same response: German Riesling. This variety has an ethereal ability to effortlessly express an infinite amount of flavors within a delicate frame and the cool, steep hillside slopes of Germany provide the perfect vantage for this noble variety. Riesling has a high amount of natural acidity, which is why this variety is often produced by leaving some sweetness — the acid and the residual sugar interact in a seamless fashion, providing delicacy, freshness, and sweetness without becoming heavy or cloying.

As Riesling ages, it takes on intriguing notes of petrol and honey, while remaining crisp and astonishly fresh. This wine shows the precision of a tightrope walker, exuding the energy of a young wine, but the haunting petrol notes of a wine with over a decade of cellaring. The region of the Mosel within Germany is known for producing Rieslings with the most delicacy, notes of green apple, and a lacey and light texture. Pair this mouthwatering beauty with crab, shrimp, Thai food, curries, and blue cheese. It has the backbone of acidity to continue to improve, so feel free to tuck it in your cellar and forget about it for another decade.

Germany’s excellent 2007 Riesling vintage was an ideal year in which steady, warm temperatures allowed growers the luxury of picking at the perfect moment. The result was a bumper crop of wines characterized by “density with elegance.” Grown from Germany’s heralded 2007 vintage by one of the country’s legendary producers — 13 generations of the Grans family have been making wine in the Mosel for almost 400 years — this transcendent Riesling is a true joy.

Perched on a perilously steep slope on the right bank of the Mosel River, the renown Trittenheimer Apotheke vineyard is comprised of rocky, grey-blue slate soil. During the day, slabs of slate retain heat, then slowly release it at night, producing ideal vineyard temperatures in which grapes have ample time to absorb minerals and nutrients from the soil. The extremely steep, southwest-facing exposure of the vineyard provides vines with significant direct sunlight, leading to perfect ripening, especially in 2007.