Riesling Karthäuserhof Grosses Gewächs 2022

A dry Riesling of slender build and high tension. It relies on precision rather than fullness: forceful acidity, austere tones, a moderate 12.0% ABV and a finish that stays bone-dry.

The grapes grow in the Eitelsbacher Karthäuserhofberg above the Ruwer, a nearly 20-hectare monopole vineyard belonging to the estate. The steep slope faces south-southwest and reaches gradients of up to 55 percent, with soils of iron-rich Devonian slate. As early as 1868, the Royal Prussian government classified the site in the highest category, and the cool nights of the Ruwer valley keep the wines fresh.

Pure varietal Riesling, vinified dry. Albert Behler has run Karthäuserhof since 2012, the seventh generation to do so, and farms it biodynamically: hand work on the steepest parcels, no synthetic intervention, patience over intervention. Mathieu Kauffmann has been part of the house since 2020.

On the nose, lemon and greengage, alongside mint and other garden herbs, layered with smoky mineral notes, a hint of reduction and a touch of liquorice. The palate entry is slender and driving, with forceful malic acidity carrying many austere notes. The bone-dry finish retains bergamot, mint once more, and wet gravel.

Pairs well with pan-fried pikeperch on lentil vegetables, seafood, and delicate veal carpaccio.

Karthäuserhof ranks among the eight oldest wine estates in the world. In 1335, Prince-Elector Baldwin of Luxembourg granted the land near Eitelsbach to Carthusian monks; in 1811, Valentin Leonardy acquired the estate at auction, founding the family tradition that continues to this day.