The annual Grosses Gewächs preview in Wiesbaden at the end of August showed magnificent Rieslings throughout Germany.
Some producers have been allowing their wines to age before previewing, so I will also be reviewing some 2019s that were shown. As a generalization, 2019 is the more concentrated, structured vintage, and probably will be the longer-lasting. But the 2020s are so seductive for their finesse and harmonious acidity, that I have a slight preference overall for them. But you almost can’t go wrong buying the wines blind.
The Staatliche Hofkeller wines and the Bürgerspital Stein-Berg wine are in the Bochsbeutel bottle that is typical of the region, the other wines, reflecting awareness of shipping and storage issues, are in Burgundy-shaped bottles. (Continue reading here.)