Donnhoff 2018 "Felsenberg" Riesling Grosses Gewachs GG, Nahe, Germany
Dönnhoff 2018 "Schlossböckelheimer Felsenberg" Riesling Grosses Gewachs GG, Nahe, Germany
The Dönnhoff family first came to the Nahe region over 200 years ago, and after establishing a modest farm slowly evolved into a full-fledged wine estate. Helmut Dönnhoff has been making the wine since 1971, and now his son Cornelius works alongside in the winery and in their 25 hectares of Erste Lage, or grand cru vineyards. Their holdings represent some of the best in the Nahe and all of Germany.
Vinification: Grapes are always picked by hand at Dönnhoff over 2-3 passes through each vineyard. To preserve laser-like focus and clarity in the wines, the grapes are pressed as soon as possible – within 3 hours of picking. Wines are fermented in traditional German casks (1200 L stuck and 2400 L doppelstuck) as well as stainless steel with spontaneous fermentations. Donnhoff’s cellar is unique in its capacity to hold all of its production entirely in stainless steel or in cask, allowing for the ideal elevage for any wine at any point during a vintage.
Terroir: Vineyard Schloßböckelheim Felsenberg, red volcanic igneous rock, a melange of porphyry and melaphyr.
Slope: 50-60%. Aspect: South, Southwest. Age of Vines: Approx. 25-35 years
A very old and famous site, splendidly located on a steep southern slope. The vines grow under extreme conditions in weathered volcanic porphyry soil. The stony ground heats quickly during the day, and that warmth produces characteristic Rieslings with a racy fruitiness and mineral acidity, internationally recognized for their distinctive flinty aromas. At the heart of this fantastic vineyard stands our Felsentürmchen (“small rock tower”). The mineral-rich Felsenberg grapes undergo an intense selective harvest and their wines bear the symbol of the Felsentürmchen.
Classified VDP. GROSSE LAGE
