Winemaker Notes
2018 was a glorious vintage in the Rheinhessen. Kirchspiel is historically the highest rated Grand Cru in the village of Westhofen. It’s combination of limestone soils and perfect southeast exposure lead to rich, dense, and intense bone dry Rieslings with distinct earthiness. 100% Certified Biodynamic. Aromas and flavors tend toward the exotic side in 2018: Mango, papaya, apricot marmalade, lime zest, with palpable minearlity from the limestone.
This is a serious dry Riesling that can stand up to full flavored dishes like a garlic roast chicken, Asian spice pork chops, even lobster.
Professional Ratings
-
James Suckling
The fabulous interplay of concentration, chalky minerality and creaminess from long maturation on the lees makes this rich and super-elegant Kirchspiel very sensuous and hard to resist. Hard to pull yourself away from the extremely long, silky finish with its breathtaking chalky complexity. From biodynamically grown grapes.
-
Wine Spectator
Lean and tightly wound, featuring intense minerally and savory notes up front. This firmly structured version will need time to relax and allow all its elements to shine. The potential is revealed midpalate, where orchard and stone fruit flavors emerge, followed by a long, stony aftertaste. Best from 2023 through 2033.
-
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
From an east-facing cru and picked at the very end of the harvest (on September 27th), the 2018 Kirchspiel Riesling GG is fascinating, precise, fine and piquant on the palate, with great intensity and finesse and a long and delicate finish. Tasted at the domaine in March 2020.
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.
