Riesling Pettenthal GG 2022

A Riesling that doesn't argue its case through fruit, but through its place: smoke, stone and extract define the picture. The wine feels vibrantly alive and precise, its arc of tension reaching far into the future.

The Pettenthal lies on the Roter Hang in Nierstein and is shaped by Rotliegend, a red weathered rock made of slaty clay and sandstone, with loam and clay in its flatter section. The higher the site, the more barren the soil. Kühling-Gillot's central parcel sits at around 140 metres and has a gradient of more than 70 percent — the steepest site in all of Rheinhessen. Humus is scarce here, forcing the vines to root deep into the rock.

Riesling, hand-picked after strict selection. The must ferments spontaneously, and the wine is aged gently in large oak casks. Dry, 12.5% ABV.

On the nose, first a hint of blossom and citrus zest, then lemon balm, yeast and crushed stone, rising from the glass like a veil of haze. On the palate it stays smoky before turning taut and powerful: little fruit, but plenty of stone, extract and deep minerality. An energetic backbone of acidity holds the elegant texture together.

Kühling-Gillot has worked biodynamically since 2005. Preparations 500 and 501 are used regularly, lunar phases set the rhythm of vineyard work, and in the cellar spontaneous fermentation, minimal use of sulphur and no fining agents follow suit. Carolin Spanier-Gillot and Hans Oliver Spanier run two VDP estates with a shared philosophy: the cellar accompanies the wine, it doesn't correct it.