Winemaker Notes
The wine shows a perfect balance between ripeness and minerality, fruit and acidity as well as density and elegance. Typical for the vineyard side the smell is on one hand side embossed through the soils mineralic aromas – smoke, pepper, Flintstone, hay, tea and spices – on the other hand through the typical aromas of the grape variety Riesling – citrus, apple, peach and apricot. Also on the palate it has the same balance between soil and grape variety: The soil creates the mineralic spicy notes, the variety the fruitiness. The wine – like all Rebholz wines – has a really high aging potential.
Professional Ratings
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Wine Spectator
Floral, round and rich-tasting, with laser-precise acidity keeping this intact and harmonious. Very attractive, showing wonderful energy throughout. Mineral elements emerge midpalate and are carried to the balanced, integrated and refreshing finish. You can almost drink this now. Best from 2020 through 2029.
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Jeb Dunnuck
I also loved the 2016 Riesling Kastanienbusch Grosses Gewächs, which has terrific balance and elegance. Tart citrus, white peach, mint, and salty minerality all flow to a medium-bodied Riesling that has a tight, backward, vibrant style on the palate that’s just begging for short-term cellaring. I love its purity and it’s the real deal.
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.