Friedrich-Wilhelm-Gymnasium, Riesling Kabinett, Graacher Himmelreich, Mosel, Germany 2007

100% Riesling

This 2007 is fragrant and richly ripe, with notes of summer peaches and orange peel, an elevated acidity, and a refreshing minerality.

The Friedrich-Wilhelm-Gymnasium winery was founded in 1561 by the Archbishop of Trier to support a Jesuit high school (gymnasium) of the same name. The ancient Roman city of Trier is the cradle of German winemaking, and lies in the heart of the prestigious Mosel region. Through the centuries since, wine production from the vineyards helped to support the school, which still exists.

Today the estate consists of 61 acres of superb vineyards, located on the steep slopes of the Middle Mosel and Saar — all dedicated exclusively to Riesling. Some of these elite sites have been farmed continually by the winery for three and even four centuries. Filigreed aromas and textbook Mosel structure, marked by elegance, fruitiness and stony minerality, are the hallmarks of the estate’s Rieslings.

The Graacher Himmelreich ("Kingdom of Heaven") vineyard is in the village of Graach, and one of its three sites classified by the German VDP as Grosse Lage, the qualification used for Germany's best sites. The vineyard is large and steep, on soil of weathered clay and blue slate. The blue slate produces wines with great minerality and ability to age.