Oestricher Lenchen, Spätlese 303, 2020

100th anniversary bottling, as signified by a special label. Technically the Lenchen Grosse Lage has two clearly defined plots – the Lenchen itself and the Lenchen Eiserberg, which is the southwest facing part where the soils are much redder (Eiser means Iron). This iron-rich component adds a huge amount to the blend and adds to the distinctive character of Spreitzer’s 303. Indeed, in the whole Rheingau there are only three red soil sites: Schloss Johannisberg, Rothenberg and Lenchen Eiserberg. Similar in profile to the Rheinhessen’s Roter Hang, the Eiserberg produces wines with spicy, flinty notes, red fruits and high levels of salty minerality. Picked at 100 Oeschle with zero botrytis in 2020. 100 Oechsle could technically qualify for a lower level Auslese but in the current climate “this is about right for a Spätlese”, according to Andi Spreitzer. Juicy, animated flavours of pink grapefruit, lemongrass and guava notes pirouette across the palate, soon to be accompanied by hints of grass, lavender and white flowers. The higher ripeness level is extremely well balanced here, and the wine is incredibly refreshing, for with its 95g/l residual sugar comes 10g of acidity! 7.5%.