Trossen Trabener Riesling Royal Süß Auslese 2020

This Riesling comes from the Trabener Würzgarten, one of the steepest slopes in Traben-Trarbach, in the Middle Moselle. The vines sink their roots into a slate subsoil that stores heat and gives the wines marked minerality. Overlooking the Moselle loop, this slope benefits from the regulating effect of the river, ideal for bringing Riesling to late ripeness. The Trossen family estate, regularly singled out among Germany's best Riesling producers, reserves its most precious grapes here for the Royal range.

The grapes for the Royal range are picked by hand with extremely strict selection, over several successive passes through the vineyard. The bunches stay on the vine until the last moment, reaching full ripeness; some of the berries have even begun to dry on the vine, which brings body and concentration to the wine. Classified as Auslese, this fruchtsüß wine retains a large share of natural sugars, nearly 97 grams per litre, balanced by lovely acidity, for a deliberately low alcohol level.

This wine reveals notes of dried apricot, yellow peach, mango, candied orange peel, linden blossom, honey, slate and candied ginger. The delicate, floral nose unfolds ripe, candied fruit of great purity. The broad, unctuous palate offers an aromatic explosion held together by bright natural acidity that perfectly balances the sweetness. The very long finish lingers on mineral, saline freshness.

Germany has a long and illustrious history of winemaking. The Romans established the country's first vineyards along the banks of the Moselle River, near the present-day city of Trier. By the third century AD, vineyards had spread to various neighboring valleys, primarily those of the Moselle's tributaries. During the Middle Ages, the Christian church, particularly the Cistercian and Benedictine monasteries, had a significant influence on the development of viticulture and the production of quality wine in Germany. Germany has always been renowned for its excellent white wines: slightly sweet, low in alcohol, but always of high quality. However, in recent years, wine drinkers have tended to prefer drier wines. Consequently, the German market has evolved to cater to all tastes with some splendid dry Rieslings and other white wine varieties, such as Pinot Blanc, Gewürztraminer, and Grauburgunder. Warmer summers and milder winters have also favored rosés and reds, with Pinot Noir being the third most planted grape variety in the country. So, take your pick—from traditional Rieslings to great reds, the range is wide and still expanding. The German wine industry lost its way in terms of quality during the 20th century, expanding plantings onto less favorable sites and increasing yields to levels where quality was severely compromised. However, Germany's greatest wine producers were never completely lost, and since the end of the 20th century, considerable efforts have been made to restore Germany's former glory. Yields are now limited by law, and many leading producers have joined forces to form the VDP association (see German Wine Labels). Members of the VDP are bound by a commitment to focus their efforts on quality rather than quantity. In terms of volume, Germany ranks among the top ten countries in the world for annual wine production. Just over 60% of the wine produced is white, and it is widely acknowledged that the white wines from Germany's best vineyards and most reputable producers are among the finest in the world. German red wines are also gaining in popularity and quality, particularly those made from Spätburgunder, the local name for Pinot Noir. The second most popular red grape variety (in terms of planted hectares, at least) is Dornfelder.