DerFeinschmecker - Die 500 besten Weingüter in Deutschland 2025
Awarded with 5/5 Points as “one of the best wineries”
“What lies behind the, sorry, antiquated label is a small, quiet family winery that produces world-class Rieslings without much fanfare. Of course, the grapes grow in renowned Graacher and Wehlener locations, so to speak as a down-to-earth starting point. Then Christoph Schaefer comes into play, who, together with his wife Andrea, took over his parents’ business almost 10 years ago, and transforms the grapes into exceptional Rieslings with format and special charisma. Residual sweetness is almost always present, it is the touch of genius that wraps itself elegantly around the concentrated, sparkling-clean fruit and encourages it to taste at its best. Supported by an acidity that couldn’t be fresher and more invigorating. Our favorites this year? Actually all the wines put up for tasting, a collection like from the Riesling wonderland.”
Read more: Feinschmecker_Die_500_besten_Weingüter_2025_collage
MOSEL FINE WINES
„The independent Review of Mosel Riesling“
By Jean Fisch und David Rayer, Issue no 73 – October 2024- Auctionguide
2023 Wehlener Sonnenuhr Riesling Auslese (Auction) 99+/100
2023 Graacher Domprobst Riesling Spätlese #13 (Auction) 97/100
2023 Graacher Domprobst Riesling Kabinett #01 (Auction) 96/100
Read more on pages 34-35: Mosel Fine Wines No73 Oct 2024
ROBERT PARKER, THE WINE ADVOCATE
Stephan Reinhardt, 17 October 2024
2023 Wehlener Sonnenuhr Riesling Auslese LGK (Auction) 99/100
2023 Graacher Domprobst Riesling Spätlese #13 (Auction) 99/100
2023 Graacher Domprobst Riesling Kabinett #01 (Auction) 97/100
________________________________________
2023 Wehlener Sonnenuhr Riesling Kabinett 95/100
2023 Graacher Himmelreich Riesling Kabinett 96/100
2023 Graacher Domprobst Riesling Kabinett #03 96+/100
2023 Graacher Himmelreich Riesling Spätlese 99/100
2023 Graacher Domprobst Riesling Spätlese #10 98/100
2023 Graacher Domprobst Riesling Spätlese #05 97/100
2023 Graacher Domprobst Riesling Auslese #14 98/100
Read More: Robert_Parker_Willi_Schaefer_2023_Vintage_Stephan_Reinhardt_17.10.2024
Auctionwines only: Robert_Parker_Auction_Wines_2023_Willi_Schaefer_Stephan_Reinhardt_17.10.2024
MOSEL FINE WINES
„The independent Review of Mosel Riesling“
Von Jean Fisch und David Rayer, Issue no. 71 – June, 2024
“… Christoph and Andrea Schaefer have produced a stunning collection in 2023, defying all the difficulties encountered in this vintage. The wines are pure, vibrating, and energetic, with great depth and freshness. The Kabinett wines are superbly light yet have depth. We have a very slight preference here for the one from the Himmelreich. The Spätlese line-up is dominated by the magnificent Domprobst #05, while the Domprobst Auslese #14 is simply magical (but was produced in frightfully small quantities).”
2023 Wehlener Sonnenuhr Riesling Kabinett 95/100
2023 Graacher Himmelreich Riesling Kabinett 96/100
2023 Graacher Domprobst Riesling Kabinett #03 96+/100
2023 Graacher Himmelreich Riesling Spätlese 99/100
2023 Graacher Domprobst Riesling Spätlese #10 98/100
2023 Graacher Domprobst Riesling Spätlese #05 97/100
2023 Graacher Domprobst Riesling Auslese #14 98/100
Read More: Mosel Fine Wines – 2023 Vintage Report – Weingut Willi Schaefer
MOSEL FINE WINES
„The independent Review of Mosel Riesling“
By Jean Fisch and David Rayer, Issue No. 67 – September 2023- Auctionguide
2022 Graacher Domprobst Riesling Kabinett #01 (Auction wine) 95/100
2022 Graacher Domprobst Riesling Spätlese #13 (Auction wine) 97/100
Read more: Mosel Fine Wines – 2023 Auction Guide – Weingut Willi Schaefer
DerFeinschmecker
The 555 best wineries in Germany 2024
Awarded 5/5 points as one of the best wine producers
“After this current collection, Christoph and Andrea Schaefer’s business would have to climb one step higher in the rating, but the Graacher winery already has the highest score. It’s just perfect Riesling cinema that runs through the palate sip after sip. Refreshingly clear and extremely precisely structured, a juicy, tight minerality, together with a cornucopia full of aromas, harmoniously connected without getting lost in the details. Great! It seems as if the delicately fruity Kabinett Rieslings have wings in their beguiling lightness. The entire 2022 collection is once again a first-class calling card for the entire growing region.”
Read more: Bucheintrag_DerFeinschmecker
DECANTER
November 2023
Producer profile: Willi Schaefer, Clive Pursehouse, US editor
“The Schaefers are a true Mosel Riesling winemaking dynasty – local documents date the family’s involvement in vineyards back at least as far as 1590. Today it’s Christoph Schaefer running the show…”
… That such a small place could be home to some of the world’s greatest wines and, in fact, one of the finest producers of Riesling on the planet, might be a bit surprising. However, if you know anything about these steep Devonian slate slopes and the reputation of Weingut Willi Schaefer, you’ll understand that Graach indeed sits on hallowed ground.“
“Willi Schaefer: top-flight Rieslings in high demand”
Willi Schaefer, Graacher Domprobst Riesling Auslese 1975 98/100
At 48 years this Auslese shows an unbelievable depth of colour: a deep golden nectar. There is great richness of fruit, balanced with verve and freshness. Aromatics of ripe golden nectarine, honey, ginger and bruised apples give a sense of its evolution. The palate surprises with lively lemon Starbust, and complementary peach syrup, honey and candied ginger.
Willi Schaefer, Graacher Domprobst Riesling Auslese 2013 98/100
The 2013 vintage was a trying one in the mosel but, 10 years later, this wine is stunning. Gorgeous petrol aromas, with notes of cardamom and grilled peach. Sweet fleshy fruit flavours of ripe pineapple, peach and candied ginger alongside rich honeyed pear balanced by gorgeous acidity and an intense mineral core.
Willi Schaefer, Graacher Domprobst Riesling Spätlese 2018 96/100
This Spätlese, with seven years of bottle age, is a thing to behold. A beautiful intensity of aromas that offer grilled pineapple and salinity. The palate is unbelievable: toasted marshmallows, juicy grilled pineapple, honeyed ginger, an intense tasting experience. Perfectly balanced purity of fruit with crystalline minerality.
Willi Schaefer, Graacher Domprobst Riesling Kabinett 2022 95/100
This balances perfectly the richness of the slate terroir with fresh, zesty fruit. Aromatics show some slightly reduced notes of flint, pencil lead and streaks of graphite. The palate matches this intensity with flavours of crushed stone, graphite and spice, and a zesty hint of greengage. There is an overall ethereal character that gives the wine so much freshness and laser focus.
Willi Schaefer, Graacher Himmelreich Riesling Kabinett 2022 94/100
Great elegance and focus. The aromatics of lime zest and pronounced notes of spiced pear intermingle with notes of freshly cut nectarine. The Himmelreich vineyard is all about fruit character for the Schaefer wines. The palate is a blend of cardamom, nectarine flesh and honeyed pear. Its fleshy, textured fruit balances intensity with what Christoph calls ‘a light impression’.
Willi Schaefer, Graacher Riesling trocken 2022 94/100
A rare dry Schaefer Riesling. ‘The only one’, Christoph tells me. Crystalline and focused. Brilliant stony aromatics mingle with hints of ginger and beeswax. The palate is finely etched, with petrichor and flinty, crushed-slate mineral flavours backed by lemon zest. There is a great intensity here – it has fresh saline and is upright, yet it has an oak-influenced roundness of character.
Read more: Decanter_Nov2023_Willi Schaefer
LA REVUE DU VIN DE FRANCE
November 2023
Les plus grands botrytis d'Europe, Jérémy Cukierman MW
"For the Schaefers, modesty and discretion are essential. But make no mistake: This tiny family estate, which has existed since 1121, is at the forefront of German winemaking. On the historic terroirs of the town of Graach on the Moselle, Andrea and Christoph Schaefer create some of the purest wines in the country. Thanks to the heritage of old, sometimes hundred-year-old and unrooted vines, attentive and careful management of the vineyards and great finesse in winemaking, vintages of incomparable energy and brilliance are created. Their Riesling Graacher Domprobst Auslese 2006 is the archetype of a great wine full of emotions: deep, light and mouth-watering."
VINUM WEINGUIDE DEUTSCHLAND 2024
Awarded 4,5/5 Stars
“That was fantastic precision work that Andrea and Christoph Schaefer offered us… Even in the dry segment, which is covered by one wine, the Graacher Riesling completely convinced us. Finest cabinet style, sparkling clean with wooden barrel influence. If the Himmelreich reveals charming open fruitiness in the wines shown, the Domprobst impresses with its depth and powerful appearance… The Spätlese Graacher Domprobst -13-, the auction wine, seems to us to be a dignified successor… with the 2022 vintage”
2022 Graacher Riesling trocken 91/100
2022 Graacher Riesling feinherb 91/100
2022 Graacher Himmelreich Riesling Kabinett 93/100
2022 Graacher Domprobst Riesling Kabinett #03 95/100
2022 Graacher Himmelreich Riesling Spätlese 95/100
2022 Graacher Domprobst Riesling Spätlese #05 98/100
2022 Graacher Domprobst Riesling Kabinett #01 (auction) 95/100
2022 Graacher Domprobst Riesling Spätlese #13 (auction) 96/100
Read more: Seiten aus Weinguide
Half of our wines find themselves in the TOP TEN – What a compliment!
5. Kategorie Riesling Kabinett
2022 Graacher Domprobst Kabinett #01 95/100
9. Kategorie Riesling Kabinett
2022 Graacher Domprobst Kabinett #03 95/100
3. Kategorie Riesling Spätlese
2022 Graacher Domprobst Spätlese #05 98/100
6. Kategorie Riesling Spätlese
2022 Graacher Domprobst Spätlese #13 96/100
2. Kategorie ZEHN JAHRE DANACH Riesling Spätlese 2013
2022 Graacher Domprobst Spätlese #09 Auktion 94/100
JAMES SUCKLING - STUART PIGOTT
A Supernova Kabinett and Crittenden’s Savagnin Wonders: Weekly Tasting Report (Aug 2-8)
Thursday, August 10, 2023
“Senior Editor Stuart Pigott made the first of three trips to the Mosel over the past week to taste the young 2022 vintage wines and was amazed by what he found: many leading winemakers stunned by their own wines.
The summer of 2022 was hot and arid, causing the vines to shut down and stopping photosynthesis. Then rain came and the vines jerked out of their slumbers to continue the ripening process. …
The positive side of the vintage is most prominently on show in the Kabinett category of Mosel riesling, which is known for its low alcohol content, delicacy and crispness. There were many stars in this category and one mighty supernova, the Willi Schaefer Riesling Mosel Graacher Domprobst Kabinett (Auction Wine) 2022, which married the classic characteristics of Kabinett with truly phenomenal concentration.
There was just one Fuder barrel of this wine, or just over 1,300 bottles, but there’s a lot more of the regular bottling of this wine, the Willi Schaefer Riesling Mosel Graacher Domprobst Kabinett. “We are really delighted how the Kabinett wines turned out in 2022,” winemaker Christoph Schaefer said. …”
Single Fuder, or best barrel, bottlings have a long tradition in the Mosel going back to at least the second half of the 19th century. It is the exact opposite of the Bordeaux tradition of making just a couple of wines (first and second) in each vintage with large bottlings.
2022 Graacher Riesling trocken 93/100
2022 Graacher Riesling feinherb 95/100
2022 Graacher Himmelreich Riesling Kabinett 95/100
2022 Graacher Domprobst Riesling Kabinett #03 98/100
2022 Graacher Himmelreich Riesling Spätlese 96/100
2022 Graacher Domprobst Riesling Spätlese #05 97/100
2022 Graacher Domprobst Riesling Kabinett #01 (auction) 100/100
2022 Graacher Domprobst Riesling Spätlese #13 (auction) 98/100
Read more: James_Suckling_StuartPigott_Willi_Schaefer_2022er
ROBERT PARKER, WINE ADVOCATE
Stephan Reinhardt, May, 2023
2022 Graacher Riesling trocken 93/100
2022 Graacher Riesling feinherb 92/100
2022 Graacher Himmelreich Riesling Kabinett 93+/100
2022 Graacher Domprobst Riesling Kabinett #03 94/100
2022 Graacher Himmelreich Riesling Spätlese 96/100
2022 Graacher Domprobst Riesling Spätlese #05 96/100
2022 Graacher Domprobst Riesling Kabinett #01 (auction) 95/100
2022 Graacher Domprobst Riesling Spätlese #13 (auction) 98/100
Read more: 2022er_Robert_Parker_WineAdvocat
MOSEL FINE WINES
„The independent Review of Mosel Riesling“
Von Jean Fisch und David Rayer, Issue no. 66 – June, 2023
“… The Estate produced a superb collection of wines in 2022, which indeed shines through elegance, transparency, and this incredible sense of precision and subtlety which has made the success of the Estate over the years. The Domprobst wines have a slight edge over the Himmelreich ones but all are terrific and hugely representative of their terroir. In addition, the ‚simple‘ Graacher Trocken is anything but ‚simple’ but a hugely complex dry wine which would proudly be given the label GG at many Estates. Lovers of Willi Schaefer wines will hail 2022 as a huge success. The major issue will be to be able to lay one’s hands on some of these gems: happy hunting!”
2022 Graacher Riesling trocken 92/100
2022 Graacher Riesling feinherb 89/100
2022 Graacher Himmelreich Riesling Kabinett 92/100
2022 Graacher Domprobst Riesling Kabinett #03 94/100
2022 Graacher Himmelreich Riesling Spätlese 93/100
2022 Graacher Domprobst Riesling Spätlese #05 95/100
Read more: Mosel Fine Wines – 2022 Vintage Report – Weingut Willi Schaefer