The 2019 AP #14 Auslese from the Domprobst is a bit more botrytized in personality than the AP #11 from the same vineyard, but like all of these Schaefer wines in this vintage, it is beautifully pure, precise and energetic on the palate. The bouquet wafts from the glass in a beautiful young blend of pear, fresh apricot, white cherry, a fine foundation of salty minerality, orange zest, honeycomb, violets and apple blossoms. On the palate the wine is deep, fullish and vibrant, with a dreamy core of fruit, fine mineral undertow, ripe, buried acids, with laser-like focus, stunning complexity and grip and a long, electric finish. This is absolutely effortless in its shimmering beauty. 2027-2085+.

The 2019 Graacher Domprobst Riesling Auslese #14 is ripe, deep, coolish, fresh and flinty yet darker-toned than the sibling Auslese with AP 11 or namely the Himmelreich Auslese. Sweet and lush as well as piquant and finessed on the palate, this is a very clear, precise and salty-crystalline yet highly refined and even mouth-filling Auslese with utterly balanced finesse yet also tight grip and tension. Still very young but with a lot of energy and aging potential. 7.5% alcohol. Tasted from AP 14 20 in June 2020. 2019 is a great vintage for this tiny icon producer in Graach. Christoph and Andrea Schaefer were even able to select a (dry) Grosses Gewächs from the Himmelreich, and I am curious to taste the result as soon as possible. However this wine will show, the sweet predicates are hard to beat. They are absolutely brilliant and possibly include some of the finest I have tasted here. Just look at the several selections from the family's Domprobst holdings! A great Kabinett, three highly finessed Spätlesen, three savory Auslesen and even a Beerenauslese! Namely, Schaefer's Spätlesen (Domprobst #5 and #10) and Auslesen (Domprobst #14 and Himmelreich) are extraordinary, and you don't have to go to the auction in Trier in September to prove it. Due to the cold autumn and the healthy grapes, there was even time to sort for a Beerenauslese in the Domprobst, which is another highlight of the vintage and based entirely on healthy yet overripe grapes. (SR)