2022 Donnhoff Hermannshohle Auslese (375ml)
Grape
Riesling
Its Origins
Hailed by the likes of Robert Parker and Hugh Johnson and named Gault Millau Winemaker of the Year in 1999, Helmut Donnhoff is regarded in German Riesling circles as a super-star. And if you’re thinking that term is somehow an oxymoron, you’d probably find Helmut agrees. With the affable humility and deep deference to his vineyards of someone whose family have been making wine since 1750, Donnhoff believes that “winemaking alone cannot bring quality, it can only retain the available quality.” Wine is made in the vineyard, and from taking the helm in 1971 to the present day Helmut has grown the family holdings from 4 hectares to a still modest 20 hectares of lovingly managed vineyards. 80% of these are Riesling (many of them Erste Lage or Grand Cru) with the other 20%, reflecting Nahe’s less austere climates and more mixed clay and volcanic soils, given to Pinot Gris and Pinot Blanc. But Riesling is king, with Helmut Donnhoff’s many classics from the steeper slate soils having themselves played a prominent role, over the last forty years, in formalising Nahe’s reputation as Germany’s third region for consistently premium and Grand Cru wines.
What The Critics Say
97/100 JamesSuckling.com, Stuart Pigott
"What a nose of floral honey and dried flowers this fabulous Auslese has. In spite of the abundant richness what makes this stand out is the invigorating mineral freshness. And the further back the wine rolls over your palate the more amazing it becomes. Enormous aging potential. From organically grown grapes with Fair'n Green certification. Drink or hold."
96/100 Vinous, Anne Krebiehl MW
"The 2022 Riesling Niederhäuser Hermannshöhle Auslese takes a while to open up. Finally, it does with a serene sense of ripe apricot, followed by a lovely citrus spectrum, ranging from lime and lemon, the merest overtone of candied lemon to tangerine with some crushed chamomile thrown in. Again, the palate is defined by Riesling rather than botrytis, bringing a rich but toned sweetness, intense, stealing your heart with its stealthy charm. It's fluid, smooth, serene, bright and laden with citrus and grapefruit spice on the long finish. (Sweet)" Drink 2028 - 2050
97-100/100 Heiner Lobenberg
"The cooler, humid summer has certainly produced botrytis again. So it is a selection of the most sun-ripened, golden yellow berries, highly ripe but with only dry, perfect Botrytis in certain proportions. Pressed on the basket press. The botrytis grapes are at the bottom, followed by the golden yellow berries. The juice from the clean grapes runs through the botrytis cake underneath and releases additional fine aromas. It's something so delicious on the nose, so much pressure and melting from ripe yellow fruit. Candied citrus zest, overripe grapefruit, passion fruit, vanillin and cotton candy. The mouth is so incredibly delicious, almost beguiling in its juiciness, almost mouth-watering. How can this elite achieve such a drinking flow?! The Hermannshöhle has produced a stringent, outstanding line from the GG to the Spätlese and Auslese." Drink 2023 - 2069
| Variety | Riesling |
|---|---|
| Region | Nahe |
| Closure | Cork |
| Volume | 375ml |
| Alcohol | 7.50% |
| Maturity | 2023 - 2069 |
This Wine Goes Well With
Taste
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