Riesling Sankt Nikolaus Grosses Gewächs 2023

A dry Riesling that needs no volume to make its point. The nose is crystal clear and pure in tone, with fruit unfolding through bergamot zest, kaffir lime, grapefruit and freshly cut green pear. Alongside these sit damp herbs: lemon balm, lemon thyme, sage, chervil. Above it all lies a cool, stony plane, along with a barely perceptible spice note and a hint of butter biscuit.

The Sankt Nikolaus parcel sits directly on the banks of the Rhine, sloping gently to the south. The subsoil consists of calcareous, sandy loess with terraced sediments from the primordial sea. The vines are 45 to 65 years old, the oldest at the estate. Peter Bernhard and Viktoria run the estate, founded in 1786 in Oestrich-Winkel, in the twelfth generation, farming its 21 hectares according to Demeter biodynamic principles.

Riesling. The whole clusters are pressed gently and slowly, with fermentation occurring spontaneously using natural yeasts. Ageing lasts sixteen months on full lees, in traditional 1200-litre oak casks (Stückfass) and 2400-litre double casks (Doppelstück).

Remarkably slender and racy, yet powerfully gripping despite the low 12.0% ABV. The acidity is precise and razor-sharp: 3.3 g/l residual sugar meets 7.2 g/l acidity. Herbal freshness defines the entire arc, driving the wine forward with vital energy, underpinned by a fine, calm minerality. The finish remains persistent and clearly defined.

The label carries the Demeter logo. The same restraint applies in the cellar as in the vineyard: spontaneous fermentation, no fining, minimal use of sulphur.