Monzinger Halenberg, Riesling, Eiswein, 2008

Harvested on 30th December like many of the Eisweins in 2008. Frank Schonleber explained that it is so rare to wait for the Eiswein-destined berries to ripen and shrivel without picking up any rot, noble or ignoble. The grapes were harvested at -12 degrees, they had to wait for the berries to melt in the press, as they were to hard to crush initially. This is an incredible wine made from largely non botrytis, healthy berries. Honeyed and viscous with strong apricot and peach character, excellent Halenberg terroir notes of salt and mineral come through impressively well, too, despite the density of fruit on offer here, lovely aromatic white peach touches, long creamy yet wonderfully steely on the finish, there is a lemon zest raciness but it is seamless at the same time, this is pitch perfect, not a note out of place. 250g/l residual sugar.