Riesling Karthäuserhofberg Auslese VDP Grosse Lage 2018

The Karthäuserhof is a magical place. And not primarily because of its idyllic location. It is the eighth oldest vineyard in the world and has been the cradle of world-famous Rieslings for centuries. It was founded in 1335 by Carthusian monks, who received the estate as a gift from Elector Balduin of Luxembourg and ran it as a winery until secularisation. The Karthäuserhof has been privately owned by the same family since 1811.

The Karthäuserhofberg monopole vineyard covers almost 20 hectares and faces south-south-west. It lies at an altitude of up to 254 metres above sea level and has a slope gradient of up to 55% in the steepest parcels. The microclimate just before the Ruwer flows into the Moselle and the soil characterised by pink-copper-coloured Devonian clay slate have shaped the Rieslings from here for decades.

The 2918 Auslese is made for eternity. A slim 8.5 vol. alcohol meets 93.5g/l residual sugar and a decisive 7.4g/l acidity.

After the manual harvest, the grapes only have a short journey ahead of them. In the end, it is a Château 😉. The crushed grapes are then fermented in steel tanks at 16-19°C in a controlled process. Filtration and bottling followed at the end of March 2019.

Brilliant straw yellow colour with golden inclusions

A hint of pineapple flows from the glass. Sweetly juicy to delicately grilled. Ripe khaki and some mango complement this exotic fruit roundelay. Ripe local pears and some kaffir lime complement this perfectly. At times, the 2018 selection is reminiscent of Earl Grey tea. A cool, dark note mingles with the fruit, which is probably clearly due to the Devon slate. Lemon thyme, mint and eucalyptus provide sufficient cooling accents. A hint of blackberry bush combines an earthy, woody character with the green flavours.

And what a sensation it is on the palate. Far from cheesy or fruity sweet. The 2018 Auslese from the Karthäuserhofberg offers a very subtle, quiet experience. Timeless, elegant, but at the same time full of complexity, aromatic density and, above all, length. Its quiet flavour lingers on the palate for minutes. Its sweetness seems to evaporate, making room for the exotic fruit of mango and khaki that is now burgeoning again. Convincing in its character, never overpowering and beautiful. The fruit is wonderfully counterbalanced by an attractive acidity structure and fine minerality. The fruit sweetness can be perceived in a disorganised manner. Its ethereal nuances set refreshing accents in the finish.