Sometimes there comes along a year that produces simply extraordinary wines for a certain region or country. It’s just the right balance of sun and rain with warm days and cool evenings that create superb fruit that is turned into sublimely fine wines. For Germany, one of those years was 2003, as evidenced by the 2003 Domdechant Werner Hochheimer Kirchenstück Beerenauselese Riesling. The winery explains that 2003 was the best year for Riesling in 50 years, so this “Best Of” wine is one for the ages. This “noble sweet” Riesling is made using the botrytis or noble rot technique that allows the fruit to stay on the vine until the shriveled grapes are loaded with concentrated flavors. The result is a spectacular dessert wine that explodes with elegant, super ripe fruits like pear and peach with a complimentary spiciness. The high mineral content of the winery’s soil and resulting acidity balances this rich wine that offers excellent aging potential.

www.domdechantwerner.com