As former winemaster of Joseph Phelps Vineyards, Walter Schug was a pioneer of botrytis affected late harvest Rieslings in the 1970’s. This bottling under his own SCHUG label reflects nearly 60 years of winemaking experience in both the US and Germany. Botrytis cinerea, the noble rot, affected the grapes after late season rains, concentrating the sugar while leaving the acidity in perfect balance. It has pronounced flavors of apricot and spiced pears, with a high residual sugar content that is balanced by a refreshing burst of acidity on the finish. It is the perfect match for delicate desserts, including almond cookies, crème brûlée and poached pears.