Velich Welschriesling TBA, Austria 2001 375ml

From the vineyards near Lake Neusiedl in Austria’s Burgenland, this 2001 TBA made from Welschriesling is a stunning discovery. Trockenbeerenauslese—an ultra-concentrated sweet wine made from individually selected, botrytized grapes—is already a labor of precision; finding one with over two decades of age, still fresh and vivid, is another thing entirely. Dried apricot, candied orange peel, saffron, and roasted hazelnut rise from the glass, with a rich, glossy texture that remains finely balanced. It’s the kind of bottle that reminds us just how vast and full of surprises the world of wine can be.