Rheingau Grosses Gewächs Riesling 2017 Part V (Johannisberg, Rüdesheim, Lorchhausen): Allendorf, Eberbach, Fendel, Hessen, Johannisberg, Johannishof, Kessler, Künstler, Ress, Wegeler

(Originally published 30 September 2018.)

I found a bit more irregularity here than in the other sectors of the Rheingau, although the producers I consider best made the best wines.




Fritz ALLENDORF

2017 (Rüdesheim) Berg Roseneck Riesling GG
Apple and lanolin nose. Medium-full body, chewy, mandarine orange fruit, some saltiness. Needs time. 90/B+




Hessisches Staatsweingüter Kloster EBERBACH

2017 (Rüdesheim) Berg Rottland Riesling GG
Smooth, clear, round, but not showing much fruit at this time. Needs more time in bottle. 89(+)/B

2017 (Rüdesheim) Berg Schlossberg Riesling GG
Spicy yellow fruits, firm body, energetic. 91+/A-




Friedrich FENDEL

2017 (Rüdesheim) Berg Roseneck Riesling GG
Dense and chewy with unformed yellow fruits. Perhaps a bit hot. 88(+?)/B




Prinz von HESSEN

2017 (Johannisberg) Klaus Riesling GG
Floral nose. Medium weight, smooth texture, yellow and white fruits. 90(+)/B+




Schloss JOHANNISBERG

2017 Schloss Johannisberger Riesling GG
Stony, white fruits, classic Schloss Johannisberg with firm structure and length. 92(+)/A




JOHANNISHOF/J. J. ESER

2017 (Rüdesheim) Berg Rottland Riesling GG
Dark plums in the nose. The mouth has yellow fruits — peach and plum, especially — good acidity, tightly-wound, mineral. Will be excellent. 93(+)/A




August KESSELER

2017 (Rüdesheim) Berg Roseneck Riesling GG
Apple, quince nose with slight cinnamon. Medium-weight in the mouth, smooth texture, good penetration, yellow and white fruits. 92/A

2017 (Rüdesheim) Berg Schlossberg Riesling GG
Clove, allspice nose. Medium-weight body, allspice and yellow fruit flavors. 92(+)/A

2017 (Lorchhausen) Seligmacher Riesling GG
Fresh, crisp nose. The mouth is concentrated and creamy with yellow fruits, especially peach skin. Good length and acidity. 92/A




KÜNSTLER

2017 (Rüdesheim) Berg Rottland Riesling GG
Medium-light, elegant, orange peel, good nervosity. 92+/A

2017 (Rüdesheim) Berg Schlossberg Riesling GG
Mineral, spicy, medium-weight, good length. 92(+)/A




Balthasar RESS

2017 (Rüdesheim) Berg Rottland Riesling GG
Still quite shy in the nose. The mouth is medium-weight, steely, and tight with good penetration and pleasing bitterness on the finish. No residual sugar in this wine, but it is not severe.  92/A




Geheimrat J. WEGELER

2017 (Rüdesheim) Berg Schlossberg Riesling GG
Medium-light, clean, pure, mineral, yellow fruit. 91+/A-

2017 (Geisenheim) Rothenberg Riesling GG
Mineral, pure, medium-weight, penetrating, some citric, also peach, good succulence. 92+/A