Winemaker Notes
The oldest recorded vineyards of the Nahe are located in this part of the village of Norheim. Kirsche means "cherry," so the age-old name of the site likely refers to the wild cherries that grow even today amidst the vines. The site faces due south and its soils are composed largely of grey slate mixed with sandstone.
Professional Ratings
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James Suckling
Very juicy and very animating, this is a beautiful riesling Spätlese that’s light years removed from the cliches for this category. I love the delicacy of this very concentrated, yet light-footed wine that delights and fascinates as it dances its way over your palate and off into the distance.
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Vinous
The 2023 Riesling Norheimer Kirschheck Spätlese benefits from cool nights. Dönnhoff emphasizes that this has no botrytis. A touch of tangerine appears on the nose. The palate brings immense charm to the veil-like lightness. This is all delicacy and elegance, scented with tangerine. It's beautifully restrained and so fresh. Around 50-60 g/L of sweetness against thrilling acid means this is still only medium sweet.
Riesling possesses a remarkable ability to reflect the character of wherever it is grown while still maintaining its identity. A regal variety of incredible purity and precision, this versatile grape can be just as enjoyable dry or sweet, young or old, still or sparkling and can age longer than nearly any other white variety. Somm Secret—Given how difficult it is to discern the level of sweetness in a Riesling from the label, here are some clues to find the dry ones. First, look for the world “trocken.” (“Halbtrocken” or “feinherb” mean off-dry.) Also a higher abv usually indicates a drier Riesling.
