Golden yellow. Scents of apple blossom, white raisin and quince shine through the honeyed botrytis. Luscious, candied tropical fruit flavors show a velvety texture, with minty acidity keeping the palate fresh. At once dense and light, with mineral salts providing spice on the long, elegant finish. A superb auslese.

In keeping with this estate’s drive for a simpler portfolio of more decisively distinct bottlings, there is no “regular” Auslese counterpart to Loosen’s 2010 Erdener Pralat Riesling Auslese gold capsule. Candied lemon, orange liqueur and honeysuckle in the nose are reinforced on the buoyant palate by a creamy texture and high residual sugar, yet also mingled with fresh citrus and cooling green herbal essences. Pungency of citrus rind and brown spices as well as a hint of white raisin emerge in the luxuriantly yet vibrantly long finish to remind one of the botrytis presence, but this handsome offering is very much in keeping with the move that Loosen and Schug have made in recent years toward less gaudy and opulent expressions of Pralat and toward greater elegance and retention of fresh fruitedness. I would anticipate at least 30 years of delight.