Joh. Jos. Christoffel Erben Ürziger Würtzgarten Riesling Spätlese 2015

Ürziger Würtzgarten or the “Spice Garden” is one of the most distinct vineyards in the world. Unlike the blue slate found elsewhere in the region, this is a steep, amphitheater-like slope of weathered red volcanic soil and red slate. It gives the wines a wild, exotic personality—think less green apple and more blood orange and pulverized spice.

The 2015 Spätlese is hitting a phenomenal sweet spot right now. 2015 was a powerhouse vintage—ripeness was easy to come by, but the best growers managed to trap a lightning bolt of acidity inside all that fruit. This wine is a lesson in tension.

This isn’t just a bottle of dessert wine; it’s a bottle of history from old, ungrafted vines. Open it with spicy Thai takeout!