Winemaker Notes
This site has always been the most pure of Rebholz's sites. The salty-mineral notes, typical of this site, remind them of the gravel of the hillside, followed by the delicate scent of white peach and ripe citrus fruits. After a short time, the wine opens up and the yeasty notes typical of a young Riesling come to the fore. The wine is also characterized by a fine salty-mineral acidity, its infinite length and very complex, elegant finesse demand another sip. Like all Rebholz wines, this wine has great aging potential.
Professional Ratings
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James Suckling
Intensely smoky with laser-beam straightness and abundant power, this youthful dry riesling GG needs plenty of aeration to gradually open up. Then you get notes of licorice and dried orange peel. Vibrates in an extraordinary way on the compact, medium- to full-bodied palate, then builds to a monumental finish that is still really tight. From biodynamically grown grapes with Respekt certification. Drinkable now, but best from 2026.
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Vinous
The 2023 Riesling Siebeldinger Ganz Horn Grosses Gewächs is exclusively from old vines (around 50 years old) on Triassic sandstone and gravel conglomerate. Reduction and golden Mirabelle fruit unite on the nose, suggesting much ripeness, but the palate pulls it all into immensely zesty focus. A lovely tanginess and pithiness lay on the tongue, making the mouth water even more with a phenolic veil, beautifully racy and taut. (Bone-dry)
Range: 94-96 -
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
From vines planted on colored sandstone soils between 1980 and 1985, the Siebeldingen Riesling trocken 2023 Ganz Horn GG opens with a deep, intense, herbal and saline bouquet with intense flinty as well as the fine sur lie notes that characterize the nose. Bottled in June 2024, the 2023 grand cru is intense, savory and saline on the elegant and balanced palate that reveals a creamy, very elegant and balanced texture. The finish is savory, saline and spicy, with cumin notes. This GG is from the oldest vines and was picked almost two weeks earlier than the vom Buntsandstein Riesling, right after the selections for Trockenbeerenauslese and Auslese. 12% stated alcohol. Natural cork.
The Rebholz estate, in the southern Pfalz region of Germany, is a pioneer in organic and natural winemaking. The estate has been certified organic since 2005 and practicing biodynamic since 2006. However, even as far back as 1951, Eduard Rebholz (1889-1966), who received the title Ökonomierat, an honorary title conferred upon a deserving agriculturist, was commenting on his natural approach: "You will receive only natural wine from my cellar, wine that is the result of intense and loving cultivation of the vines and of similar vinicultural methods (no chaptalization, no artificial addition of a Süßreserve or similar fundamental structural changes that alter the native character of the wine and, in my eyes, mean that it is no longer a natural product."
This tradition continues with the current generation; Birgit and Hansjörg Rebholz together with their children Hans, Valentin and Helene work as close to nature as possible. In an effort to promote a healthy ecosystem and to protect the environment, they forgo the use of herbicides, synthetic fungicides and mineral fertilizers. They use only organic and biodynamic techniques and materials that promote healthy plants, helping the vines grow strong and prosper naturally. While these methods involve more time and effort, it is a price they are willing to accept in order to best protect and preserve the biodiversity within their vineyards
The earliest recorded history of winegrowing by the Rebholz family in Siebeldingen dates back to 1632. From beer brewer to village mayor, family members have held a wide range of titles over the years. The single constant: always at least one winemaker in the family. Around 100 years ago the Rebholz clan took the estate house, first built in the 16th century, as their family home. The Rebholz family only began bottling their wine following the Second World War, as an alternative to delivering entire barrels to local inns and restaurants.
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.
This sunny and relatively dry region served for many years as a German tourist mecca and was associated with low cost, cheerful wines. But since the 1980s, it has gained a reputation as one of Germany’s more innovative regions, which has led to increased international demand.