Schloss Johannisberg : Riesling Goldlack Trocken 2023

Characteristics and Tasting Tips for the Riesling Goldlack Trocken 2023 from Schloss Johannisberg

Tasting

Nose
The nose unfolds with richness and complexity, revealing toasty notes of toasted bread, cocoa bean and coffee, intertwined with aromas of freshly cut hay and a subtle, yeasty warmth. Yellow stone fruits, such as apricot and golden plum, gradually bring their fruity generosity, followed by delicate floral notes of jasmine and a spicy base of cinnamon and vanilla. A touch of mint and thyme completes a bouquet of almost ethereal freshness.

Palate
The palate is both full-bodied and strikingly precise, combining salinity, minerality and tension in remarkable balance. A great unctuousness envelops the whole, evoking the nobility of the finest Burgundies. The wine asserts itself with elegance and refinement, carried by a long, lingering finish that leaves a memorable imprint.

The Elegance and Precision of a German White Wine

The Estate

With a winemaking heritage spanning more than a thousand years, Schloss Johannisberg stands as an absolute reference among the great wines of Germany. Founded in the 12th century as a Benedictine monastery, the estate subsequently went through a long period of uncertainty, shaped by the political and economic turbulence that upended Germany over several centuries. Paradoxically, these trials proved to be formative: Schloss Johannisberg was reborn from its ashes in an even more radiant form, with all of its land replanted with Riesling, making the estate the world's first — and one of the most prestigious — walled vineyards entirely dedicated to this grape variety.

The Vineyard

The Riesling Goldlack Trocken 2018 from Schloss Johannisberg comes from an exceptional terroir in the heart of the Rheingau region. Facing due south on a 45-degree slope, between 114 and 181 metres above sea level, the vines of this cuvée enjoy a privileged position. The surrounding forest acts as a rampart against cold winds, while the Rhine, stretching like a mirror at the foot of the estate, exerts a decisive influence on the soils. The 50th parallel north runs directly through the lands of Schloss Johannisberg, offering a substrate rich in quartz and silt that gives the Riesling remarkable minerality.

The Vintage

The year 2023 is considered the warmest ever recorded in Germany, with particularly pronounced heat peaks in June and September. While the warm, humid conditions favoured the development of the grapes, they also demanded meticulous selection to ensure their perfect sanitary condition.

Winemaking and Ageing

After a carefully conducted manual harvest, the berries are brought to the cellar before being fermented in large vessels. The wine is then aged for several months in the estate's underground library, buried nine metres below ground.

Grape Variety

Riesling (100%)