2021 Prager Riesling ‘Achleiten’ Auslese 500 mL

Unlike Franz Prager, both Toni & Robert Bodenstein don’t shy away from sweetness in wines if the conditions call for a little bit of balancing residual sugar, although the majority of wines produced at the estate are still bone dry with the hallmark, lacy, filigreed acidity. This seldom seen Auslese from the Prager crew perfectly marries up the purity & acidity associated with Riesling grown on the stunning terraces on the Achleiten vineyard with only a touch of balancing residual sugar (around 35-40g/l) that adds complexity and texture more than an overt sweetness to the final wine. Perfectly clean, botrytis free grapes are selected over several passes through the different plots of Achleiten to make this stunning Auslese that exhibits wonderful floral aromatics coupled with orange zest and ginger. Simply a great, albeit slightly different than normal, expression of the fable rocky Achleiten terroir. – Prager