Gunderloch Rothenberg Riesling Spatlese 2021
Gunderloch Rothenberg Riesling Spatlese
Region: Rheinhessen, Germany
Vintage: 2021
Bottle size: 75cl
Grape: Riesling
ABV: 7.5%
Light gold in colour, this spätlese is rich and complex with notes of quince, marmalade and elderflower honey. On the palate, a juicy core of mango, papaya, ripe nectarine and green tea is supported by mouthwatering acidity, rich mouthfeel and medium sweetness.
The fruit for this spätlese is sourced from a small parcel in the Rothenberg Grosse Lage (Grand Cru). It is the most northerly of the top sites in the Roter Hang. The area is named after its distinctive iron-rich red soils formed over 280 million years ago. This combination of red clay and slate lends a distinctive character and complex minerality to the wines. The vines are planted on east and south-east facing slopes, overlooking the Rhine. The morning and midday sun reaches this particular site through an opening towards the Upper Rhine Plain and brings a warm microclimate which remains throughout the day. The parcel is managed organically and sustainably, with practices such as no-till and dry farming, hay mulching and indigenous cover crops. The vines are on average 50 years old.
The grapes were harvested by hand, undergoing rigorous selection. On arrival at the winery, the grapes were crushed and macerated on the skins for 24 hours. The must then underwent a slow and gentle basket press and the juice was left to settle overnight and racked off the sediment. Fermentation took place in 600 litre stainless steel tanks at a controlled temperature of 16°C. The fermentation was halted by chilling once around 80g/l of residual sugar was reached. The wine was then aged on the fine lees until bottling.
Gunderloch are one of the Rheinhessen’s most respected producers, known for their complex Rieslings derived from the distinctive, red soils of Roter Hang. Though the estate has over 130 years of history, including a pivotal role in the founding of the Verband Deutscher Prädikatsweingüter (VDP), its reputation has been shaped by a willingness to adapt in pursuit of continued quality. As sixth-generation winemaker Johannes Hasselbach explains, “this is an old estate with a long history, but we have to evolve because when nature changes, so do the wines”.
https://www.gunderloch.de