Winemaker Notes
Always a pleasure and always great value for Riesling-lovers, the grapes for Jean-Baptiste are grown on the lower terraces of Gunderloch's three top vineyard sites: Nierstein Hipping, Nierstein Pettenthal and Nackenheim Rothenberg (all grand cru sites). Technically a feinherb style, or "balanced off-dry" at about 22-24g/l RS every year.
Professional Ratings
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James Suckling
The gateway drug into the estate, and for many young wine drinkers into riesling, expressing delicate white stone fruits, jasmine and a spicy, slatey undertone. The palate is delightfully refreshing and energetic with a playful off dry style with ageability, but so much early drinking appeal. Mostly Pettenthal with some Hipping with 25 g/L of sugar and 9 g/L of acidity. A staple in the riesling world and the estate. Drink or hold.
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Vinous
The 2025 Riesling Jean Baptiste Kabinett is named in honor of the estate founder, and the fruit comes chiefly from Pettenthal, from parcels closest to the river, shaded by the slope itself in the afternoon. The wine is made in stainless steel only. A beautiful flintiness still lingers on the red apple peel and lemon nose. The palate is absolutely rounded, beautifully lively and utterly full of fruit, but even more so, full of joy. This just slips down far too easily with its rounded charm this year. The 2025 boasts 25 g/l of residual sugar and 8.1 g/l of acidity. (Medium)
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.
