Graacher Himmelreich, Riesling, Spätlese, 2022

Name: Graacher Himmelreich, Riesling, Spätlese
Brand: Willi Schaefer
Price: 34.93 GBP

Available Vintages

all 2022

justerini & brooks tasting note

Christoph explained that the majority of the grapes were best suited for Kabinett level wines, so this bottling represents a small, meticulous selection. The results are really quite striking as there is no trace of weight here, it is completely finessed and interlaced with complex white fruits, minerals, freshly squeezed lime and salt. You might say it’s the fine wine version of a Margarita!

critic reviews

93/100Anne Krebiehl,Vinous

The 2022 Graacher Himmelreich Spätlese is as tender as the Kabinett but with a slightly sweeter citrus depth. The lemon is the chief notion but with heightened purity and much precision. Subtle creaminess intensifies and adds tingling kumquat spice. Exquisite lightness lays on the palate like a veil, filling the mouth with tender freshness. The finish has some lemon zest; with all its tartness, the sweetness seems to disappear towards the finish. Lovely and light, with exquisite balance. (Sweet)

DRINKING WINDOW 2025 - 2060

date of review 02/2025

96/100Stephan Reinhardt,Robert Parker Wine Advocate

Sourced in the same parcel as the legendary 1976 Auslese and picked rather early, the 2022 Graacher Himmelreich Riesling Spatlese opens with a clear, precise and elegant nose of white fruits and flinty notes of coolish crushed slate. Intense and lush on the palate, this is mouth-filling and charming, very long and mineral/saline Spatlese that doesn't show exceptionally high acidity but a ripe one that is completely interwoven with the mineral/phenolic structure. This is a hedonistically juicy but weightless and finessed, stimulating and saline Spatlese from the Himmelreich, which didn't produce an Auslese in 2022. All the fully ripe and golden berries went into the Spatlese. 7.5% stated alcohol. Natural cork. Tasted at the domaine in May 2023.

DRINKING WINDOW 2028 - 2060

date of review 05/2023