Schloss Johannisberg : Riesling Orangelack Kabinett 2025

Characteristics and Tasting Tips for the Riesling Orangelack Kabinett 2025 from Schloss Johannisberg

Tasting

Nose
The nose opens with generous, sun-drenched notes of hay, ripe peach and apricot, lifted by delicate touches of Mediterranean herbs and fresh-cut grass, lending an aromatic dimension that is both mouthwatering and herbaceous.

Palate
The palate is juicy and invigorating, driven by flavors of ripe peach and mirabelle plum. A slight grapefruit bitterness and a quince freshness balance the whole, while a silky, melting texture adds the finishing touch to this elegant Kabinett, whose appeal rests entirely on a subtle and harmonious interplay between sweetness and acidity.

A generous, structured German white wine

The estate

With a winemaking heritage spanning more than a thousand years, Schloss Johannisberg stands as an essential name among the great German wines. Founded in the 12th century as a Benedictine monastery, the estate later went through a period of turbulence, marked by the political and economic upheavals that shook the country. Paradoxically, these vicissitudes paved the way for a brilliant renewal: the entire vineyard was replanted with Riesling, making the estate the world's first — and one of its most illustrious — enclosed vineyards devoted entirely to this grape variety.

The vineyard

This Riesling Orangelack from Schloss Johannisberg is a Rheingau wine that faithfully captures the essence of Kabinett, a category of German wines, dry or off-dry, prized for their vibrancy, balance and low alcohol.

The vintage

The 2025 vintage stood out for contrasting yet favorable weather conditions, with a warm, dry spring giving way to life-saving rains that supported the vines. Particularly early ripening allowed the hand harvest to be completed by mid-September. Despite restrained yields, the quality of the grapes proved exceptional.

Winemaking and ageing

Hand-picked, the grapes undergo a rigorous selection before being vinified in stainless steel tanks. Ageing takes place on fine lees in 1,200-liter casks, made from oak sourced from the estate itself.

Blend

100% Riesling