Franken 2017 and 2016 Grosses Gewächs Riesling Part II: Castell, Fürst, Schwane, Stein/Knoll, Weltner, Wirsching

(Originally published 11 October 2018)

Here, too, the remarkable quality and consistency of the 2017 vintage in Riesling continues (but there are exceptions in posts to come).




Fürstlich CASTELL’sches Domänenamt

2016 (Castell) Schlossberg Riesling GG
Medium-weight. Some creaminess. Not a blockbuster but satisfying. 91/A-




Rudolf FÜRST

2017 (Bürgstadt) Centgrafenberg Riesling GG
Very dusty nose. Silky, medium-weight, moderate structure, some lemon, sense of opulence on the palate. 91(+)/A-




Zur SCHWANE

2016 (Volkach) Ratsherr Riesling GG
Intense chalk in nose. Chalky, mineral, medium-weight, elegant, penetrating. 92+/A




Weingut Am STEIN/Ludwig KNOLL

2017 (Stetten) Stein Rielsing GG
Chalk with butter hints. Depth, intensity, chalkiness, breadth. Impressive, as always from this biodynamic producer. Note that there is also a (Würzburg) Stein from this producer, but I have not tasted it for 2017. 93/A




WELTNER

2017 (Rödelsee) Küchenmeister  “Hoheleite" Riesling GG
Intense lime nose and mouth; pure, medium-weight mouth, balanced, harmonious, dense and concentrated. 93/A




Hans WIRSCHING

2016 (Iphofen) Julius-Echter-Berg Riesling GG
Dusty nose. Round, almost chewy with a little succulence. Good lemon-lime minerality. Long. 92/A

2016 (Iphofen) Kronsberg Riesling GG
Dusty, chalky nose. Some sensuality, smoothness in palate, restrained minerality. Good completeness. 92/A