Winemaker Notes
One of the three grand cru Rieslings made at Gunderloch (Hipping, Pettenthal, Rothenberg). The Pettenthal site has sandier soils and smaller rocks than Rothenberg with a deep topsoil. The wine is 100% aged in 600L neutral barrels, a welcome trend at this estate in the last few years. Indeed, this wine is a prime example of the new and exciting direction in which Johannes is taking this estate--more work in the vineyard and less in the cellar, natural fermentations, more relaxed character in the wines, lighter structures and more transparency overall.
Professional Ratings
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
From a cooler side valley of the cru, the 2019 Riesling trocken Pettenthal GG is pure and flinty on the nose as well as displaying coolish terroir aromas. Lean and rich at the same time, this is a coolish, pure and silky-textured, salty Riesling with enormous grip yet also tannins. The finish is slightly austere. This is still a baby, and I am curious where the wine is going to. Will it reman austere or gain some texture? Tasted at the domain in August 2020. Rating: 93+
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.
