In this stretch of the Nahe, very good wines with the exception of Crusius’s puzzling Bastei, but Dönnhoff’s two wines here clearly stand apart.
Dr. CRUSIUS
2020 (Traisen) Bastei Riesling GG
Apple blossom nose. Medium-weight body, some burn (?!), some power, chewy texture, fruit not yet developed. 88(+?)?/B-
2020 (Traisen) Mühlberg Riesling GG
Fairly big wine but without the structure and precision of the Steinberg below. Nectarine fruit. 91/A-
2020 (Traisen) Steinberg Riesling GG
Powerful white peach nose. Dense, firm, powerful, intense with spicy minerality. 93(+)/A
H. DÖNNHOFF
2020 (Norheim) Dellchen Riesling GG
Spicy, pure, precise, excellent structure, penetration, nectarine skin fruit. 95/A+
2020 (Bad Kreuznach) Krötempfuhl Riesling GG
Apple nose. Crisp, nervy, light, elegant, penetrating. A jewel. 95/A+
GUT HERMANNSBERG
2019 (Traisen) Bastei Riesling GG
Structured, big-boned wine with power. Some minerality, good depth, needs several years. 92+/A
2020 (Altenbamberg) Rotenberg Riesling GG
Precise, pure, dense, texture just short of gritty, but very tightly-knit. Powerful. 93/A