2020 Max Ferdinand Richter Veldenzer Elisenberg Riesling Spatlese

Weingut Max Ferdinand Richter produces world-class Rieslings from some of the most esteemed vineyards in the Mosel, and all production comes from estate holdings. The terroir of their steep vineyard sites is generally grey slate with different compositions of ferruginous (Brauneberg), mineral quartz (Veldenz) or clay (Graach, Wehlen, Mülheim) soils; those deeply influence character and flavour of the wines.
In order to reduce quantity and increase concentration, pruning is severe and in prolific years a green harvest is carried out in August. The vintage is picked much later than that of most growers and is done entirely by hand. Three passes are done to select the best qualities to eliminate all inferior grapes and to keep perfect botrytis bunches or single berries for Auslese qualities and above. The same attention is paid to all vines from the QBAs on up through the Eisweins.

Other Reviews....
Coming from 80- to 90-year-old vines, the 2020 Elisenberger Riesling Spätlese is based on the last grapes harvested by Team MFR, with still moderate must weight. Fermented 100% in casks, this wine shows a clear but still reductive nose with ripe, intense and elegant fruit aromas as well as flint notes. On the palate, this is still an extremely young, vital and tensioned Riesling with ripe and juicy fruit but still many restrictions and serious grip. Promising but far too young to be fairly rated, two-thirds of the 2020 was fermented in casks and one-third in steel. 7.5% stated alcohol. Natural cork. Tasted from AP 1921 in November 2021. Drink 2027 - 2060.
93 points
Stephan Reinhardt - Wine Advocate (Dec 2021)

The 2020er Veldenzer Elisenberg Riesling Spätlese was made from fruit picked at 87° Oechsle and was fermented down to fruity-styled levels of residual sugar (73 g/l). It offers a simply stunning nose made of white peach, apple, pear, passion fruit, and floral elements. The wine is beautifully juicy and animating on the palate and leaves a stunning feel of racy juicy fruits in the long finish. The aftertaste is subtly exotic, multi-layered, hugely animating, and persistent. What a huge success! Drink 2030-2050.
97 points
Jean Fisch & David Rayer - Mosel Fine Wines