The Poetry and Precision of Willi Schaefer

8/23/16 -

(Photos by Cari Bernard) It's no secret that the Rieslings of the Mosel (Saar and Ruwer) are some of the most articulate expressions of terroir in the world. At their finest, they are filigreed, detailed, mineral, and pure. The region is home to a number of sensational growers: J.J. Prüm, Egon Müller, Fritz Haag, Von Schubert, Lauer, not to mention one of our favorites - Willi Schaefer. This 4 hectare estate in Graach produces some of the most poetic, age-worthy, terroir specific examples of Riesling from three vineyard sites. The blue Devonian slate vineyards of Graacher Himmelreich and Graacher Domprobst produce wines that are charmingly pretty and pungently mineral, respectively, while Wehlener Sonnenuhr’s blue/grey slate soil produces wines with richer texture and a spicy character. We are pleased to offer today a number of aged bottles just entering maturity which will give pleasure now and for years to come. John McIlwain