AJ Adam, Riesling Hofberg Spatlese, 2023

AJ Adam has quietly turned Dhroner Hofberg into one of the Mosel’s most exciting vineyards, and his 2023 Spätlese shows exactly why. The site’s steep slopes and smoky slate soils give the wine tension and minerality, while the long ripening season brings all the ripe, juicy fruit you want in a great Spätlese. This vintage delivers that classic Mosel seesaw: ripe peach, apricot, and pineapple up front, then zesty lime and crushed stone on the finish. There’s sweetness, sure—but it’s beautifully countered by high-wire acidity and a long, saline lift. It’s a wine that drinks effortlessly now but will age like a dream. Chill it down, pour generously, and let the fruit and acidity do the talking—on its own, with spicy food, or alongside salty cheese or pâté.