# Schloss Johannisberger Riesling Rosalack Auslese (2023)

- **Producer:** Schloss Johannisberg
- **Colour:** white
- **Type:** dessert
- **Grapes:** Riesling
- **Region:** Rheingau, Germany
- **Style:** Classic
- **Alcohol:** 7.5%
- **Average price:** €105
- **Contains sulphites:** Yes
- **When to drink:** Now or Later
- **Serving temperature:** 7–9 °C
- **Aromas & flavours:** peach, apricot, nectarine, lemon, grapefruit, orange, blossom, cream, vanilla, honey, dried apricot, marmalade, petrol

## About this wine

Schloss Johannisberg is a legendary estate with a history spanning over 900 years, starting as a Benedictine monastery in the 12th century. Located in the Rheingau region of Germany, it is celebrated as the world's first pure Riesling estate, cultivating this noble grape exclusively since 1720. The estate's single vineyard, Schlossberg, is a steep, south-facing amphitheater situated on the 50th parallel north. The 'Rosalack' (Pink Seal) designation has historically represented the estate's exceptional Auslese tier since their pioneering color-coded quality classification system was introduced in 1820.

## Interesting facts

- Schloss Johannisberg is the world's first pure Riesling estate, cultivating only this grape variety since 1720.
- The 'Rosalack' or Pink Seal has designated the estate's exceptional Auslese tier since their historic 1820 color-coding system.
- Nicknamed 'The Fist in the Velvet Glove' for its luxurious sweetness backed by a powerful punch of quartzite minerality.
- The estate's traditional 1,200-liter oak casks (Stückfass) are crafted from oak trees grown in the castle's own forest.

## Food pairing

The pairing strategy relies on contrasting the wine's high residual sweetness and vibrant acidity with rich, savory, or salty elements. The intense acidity cuts through the fat of duck or rich cheeses, while the noble sweet profile beautifully complements fruit-driven desserts and tames spicy glazes.

## Wine making process

The winemaking process for the Rosalack Auslese involves meticulous, multi-pass manual harvesting to select only the finest grapes, incorporating a significant portion of botrytized fruit. The grapes undergo extremely gentle whole-cluster pressing. Fermentation is carried out under temperature-controlled conditions, utilizing either stainless steel tanks or traditional 1,200-liter oak casks (Stückfass) crafted from wood sourced directly from the estate's own forests. The wine is then matured on its fine lees until bottling in the spring following the harvest.