2016 Westhofener Kirchspiel Grosses Gewachs
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Tasting notes
Partly pressed in a basket press (60%), the 2016 Kirchspiel Riesling GG opens with a clear, fresh, chalky and intensely fruity nose. This is a rich, juicy, concentrated and fresh dry Riesling from calcareous soils that reveals a lot of tension, salt and vitality. Fine tannins here. Great concentration, juiciness and lingering salinity, with great grip and tension. An impressive wine!
Critic scores
Average Score
David Schildknecht, Vinous
Stephan Reinhardt, Wine Advocate
More reviews and scores
Welcome to the Riesling fjord! Enormously deep, but also extremely elegant this is the perfect riesling answer to the Grand Crus of Burgundy. If you're in doubt just let this wine roll over your palate and pay attention to the gigantic finish. Drink now, though this also has tremendous ageing potential.
Among Keller`s Grosse Gewächse, the Kirchspiel is often regarded as Cinderella before she went to the ball, less hyped than her sisters, but her beauty obvious to the observant. Her gentle perfume of elderflower and fine citrus aromas certainly invites you to make her acquaintance. On the palate, gooseberry and grapefruit cause a certain tingle, further stimulation of the taste buds being provided by a sprinkling of fresh green herbs and a cool, salty tang. Truly invigorating style of Grosses Gewächs. (MS)
The nose here is surprisingly subdued, offering intimations of citrus and crushed stone. But the wine delivers a veritable mouthful of chalk along with juicy, oregano-laced lime, grapefruit and white peach. Firm in feel but not austerely hard, it finishes with a vivid sense of energy and a piquant peach kernel glow that never turns into outright bitterness or precludes a striking sense of transparency to stony and alkaline nuances.
About the producer
Based in the Rheinhessen, Keller is one of the finest Riesling producers in the world, and has set the benchmark for German Pinot Noir.