This is driven by superbly fresh, almost green flavours of apple, spices and smoke. The sense of freshness carries over onto the lean and zesty palate. The high levels of dry extracts make the wine gain in intensity and presence in the very long and energetic finish.

This vineyard is so steep that, long ago, stone steps were built into the hillside to help workers reach the vines. The iron-infused, red slate soil produces wines that are muscular and complex, with an intense mineral finish. Wines from Erdener Treppchen are more like a powerful, hard-body rock climber than the graceful ballet dancer of Wehlener.

The Spatlese (late picked) designation means that the grapes get an extra week or two of hang time, which helps them develop higher ripeness and deeper flavours than Kabinett.
The Erdener Treppchen Spatlese, from a grand cru vineyard in the village of Erden, is a fruit-driven Riesling that combines extraordinary concentration and length with bracing minerality.