Oestricher Lenchen, Spätlese 303, 2022

Spreitzer's 2022 Riesling Spatlese Oestricher Lenchen Eiserberg VDP.Grosse Lage 303 comes from iron-rich Rotliegend soils that are predestined for the production of Pradikatswein. Picked on October 5 with 95 Oechsle (yielding 35 hectoliters per hectare due to halved, perfectly ripe and healthy grapes), the wine offers a clear and savory nose with flinty, finely concentrated and spicy fruit aromas. Gently pressed and predominantly vinified in stainless steel, this is a very elegant, refined yet mouth-filling Spatlese with delicate, saline acidity and very elegant and finessed Riesling fruit. This is a very persistently fine and saline, also juicy and savory Spatlese with a salivating and savory finish. This is already attractive, yet it will gain complexity and class within a decade. This is an excellent and classic Spatlese bottled with 7.5% stated alcohol and 92 grams per liter of unfermented sugar. Though the total acidity (8.3 grams per liter) and mineral character of the Eiserberg uplifts the sweetness easily. This is an excellent Spatleseprobably one of the finest of the vintage in the Rheingau. Natural cork. Tasted in November 2023. Before 1971, the Eiserberg was a legendary site in the Rheingau, especially thanks to Spreitzer's 1920 vintage, when Josef Spreitzer harvested a Trockenbeerenaulese with 303 Oechslea record that was only broken in 2003. Only since the 2020 vintage have the Spreitzers been allowed to declare the old vineyard name Eiserberg on the label again.

DRINKING WINDOW 2030 - 2055

date of review 12/2023