2006 Schloss Lieser Niederberg Helden Riesling Beerenauslese #11

Schloss Lieser is named for the large manor home on the property. The country house was built in 1975 by Baron von Schoriemer. The estate started producing wine in 1904 and the founding family ran the business until the 1970s, when it was bought and sold several times, then fell into decline. In 1992 Thomas Haag was appointed General Manager and Cellar Master by the owners and he started producing excellent wines. In 1997 Haag and his family purchased the estate. Today the 32-acre estate produces 8,000 cases a year and is considered one of Mosel’s gems. It focuses on Riesling, and about 30% of the Riesling is dry, with 70% sweet. Haag is winemaker, running the estate with his wife and three children, two of whom are involved in winemaking.

Mosel-Saar-Ruwer is Germany’s most prestigious wine region and it is comprised of the vineyards surrounding the Mosel River and its tributaries, the Saar and Ruwer. This region is the northernmost of Germany’s primary viticultural areas, located on the western edge of Germany just above the northeast corner of France. Internationally Mosel Rieslings are considered among the finest white wines in the world. In Germany and elsewhere, the region’s name is often shortened simply to Mosel, and in fact since 2007 Mosel has been the formal name of the region for viticultural purposes. The references to Saar and Ruwer were dropped for ease of marketing. The distinctively crisp, mineral tasting, acidic Rieslings produced in Mosel are attributed partly to the region’s slate soils and extremely vertiginous vineyards. Many vineyards are on 60 to 80 percent cent inclines along the three rivers. Riesling grapes represent more than half of all the grapes grown in Mosel, followed by Muller-Thurgau, a white wine grape related to Riesling, and Elbling, an indigenous white wine grape often used for sparkling wines.