We aim to have all wines be vintage specific. In the case the listed vintage is out of stock and you note you would like that particular vintage, we will inform you via email for approval to go ahead.
James Suckling – “Wonderfully floral and animating, but also peachy and succulent. This could almost be from the world-famous Wehlener Sonnenuhr site on the Mosel thanks to the scintillating interplay of fruit and acidity, with zero perceptible alcohol. Long, wet stone finish with tons of energy.” - Stuart Pigott, JamesSuckling.com
About This Wine
We tasted Weil’s dry Kabinett in Germany last year and immediately requested an allocation (not that we received anywhere near as much as we would have liked). Compared to the Rheingau Trocken, this release is drawn exclusively from a selection of the coolest and highest slopes of Kiedrich, principally the steep, southwest-facing Wasseros vineyard that abuts the Gräfenberg vines. Another difference is that the fruit is harvested a little earlier, gifting a wine at least a degree lower in alcohol but no sweeter. The style is a lighter, more filigreed expression with a caressing lightness of touch that dances on the palate. It was raised exclusively in stainless steel.
The style is a lighter, more filigreed expression with a caressing lightness of touch that dances on the palate. It was raised exclusively in stainless steel.
Type | White Wine |
---|---|
Varietal(s) | Riesling |
Country | Germany |
Region | Rheingau |
Brand | Robert Weil |
Vintage | 2021 |
About German Wines
Germany is the world’s northernmost fine wine producing region and thus requires its vines to endure some of the coldest temperatures. Fortunately, the country’s star variety, Riesling, does well in cooler climates and can survive even these freezing winters.
Germany Riesling is classified by ripeness at harvest which is also used to indicate the wine’s level of residual sugar. Picking earlier means the grapes have less time to ripen and the corresponding wines will be on the drier side; while picking later gives the grapes the opportunity full ripen and produce a lusciously sweet Riesling. The classifications from driest to sweetest: Kabinett, Spätlese, Auslese, Beerenauslese, Trockenbeerenauslese and Eiswein (ice wine). While not as common to age white wines outside of Chardonnay, top tier German Rieslings can be aged for decades.
Other notable white grape varieties produced in Germany include Müller-Thurgau (a cross between Riesling and Madelaine Royale in the search for varieties that could withstand the extreme temperatures), Grauburguner (Pinot Gris) and Weissburguner (Pinot Blanc). The cooler German climate leads to earlier harvesting in general and gives German wines a distinctive character of higher acidity.
Historically red wine has always been harder to produce in the German climate. However, Pinot Noir grown in slightly warmer pockets of the country, has been highly successful in recent times. Going by the German name, Spätburgunder, German Pinot Noir can be elegant, structured and have vibrant acidity.