Winemaker Notes
The Robert Weil estate produces this medium-bodied dry Riesling as an entry-level wine that captures the typical density and power of the Rheingau region while remaining more approachable than their single-vineyard offerings. Aged in large, neutral oak casks for added roundness, the Riesling Trocken delivers a charming, fruit-driven profile with balanced, tangy flavors and versatile food-pairing potential, making it endlessly enjoyable.
Professional Ratings
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James Suckling
This very successful entry-level dry Rheingau riesling marries white peaches, lemons and white currant fruit with wet stone minerality, elegant acidity and fine tannins on the barely medium-bodied palate to create a captivating composition. Drink or hold.
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Vinous
The 2023 Riesling is chiefly from Kiedrich, with a smaller addition from elevated sites in Hallgarten, hence its inherent freshness. It was fermented mostly in stainless steel, with a small portion of wood. Freshly sliced green apple and vivid pear jump from the glass with purity and brilliance. The slender palate is possessed by vivid juiciness and beautiful balance without frills, presenting clarity, poise and utter freshness.
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.
Practically one long and bucolic hillside along the northern bank of the Rhein River, the Rheingau stretches the entirety of the river’s east to west spread from Hocheim to Rüdesheim.
Variations in elevation, soil types, and proximity to the Rhine cause great diversity in Rheingau Riesling. Some of the better Rieslings in warmer years come from the cooler and breezier sites at higher elevations. In cooler years, sites closer to the river may perform better.
In the village of Rüdesheim, slopes are steep and soils are stony slate with quartzite; Rieslings are rich and spicy, intense in stone fruit and show depth and character with age. World class Rieslings come from farther east on the river through Geisenheim, Johannisberg, Winkel, Oestrich and past Erbach as well, where soils of loess, sand, and marl alternate. Long-living, floral-driven and mineral-rich Rieslings come from the best of these sites.
Rheingau growers became early activists in promoting the dry style of Riesling, low yields and the classification of top vineyards, or Erstes Gewächs (first growths). Proximity to the metropolitan markets of Mainz, Wiesbaden, and Frankfurt keeps Rheingau in high reputation. While dry wines are the style here, Rheingau isn’t short of some amazing Auslesen, Beerenauslesen, and Trockenbeerenauslesen.
Rheingau doesn’t mess with many other grapes—in fact 79% of its total area is dedicated to Riesling. But it produces some fine Pinot noir, especially concentrated in Assmannshausen, a bit farther west from Rüdesheim.