2018 Johannisberger "Auf der Höll" Riesling dry | VDP. ERSTE LAGE

VDP.ERSTE LAGE designates prime vineyards with a distinctive character , offering optimal growing conditions . Harvest quantities are strictly limited to preserve quality . History demonstrates that VDP.ERSTE LAGE produce wines of exceptional quality . This dry Riesling from Johannisberg has a delicate minerality that reveals the quartzite soil . It's ideal as a food accompaniment to fresh vegetables , white meat dishes , fish , poultry, or shellfish .

vintage

We look back on one of the warmest years ever recorded in the Rheingau. The year started early with high temperatures in April and early bud break on the vines, about two weeks earlier than the 30-year average. This lead increased to 2.5 weeks by flowering. During the subsequent ripening process in the summer, a record lead of three weeks was achieved. The peak summer months of July and August saw a sustained heatwave with almost constant temperatures of 30 to 35°C. Rainfall from mid-June onwards was almost non-existent. An absolutely positive aspect this year was that neither hail, storms nor fungal diseases had a negative impact on the quality of the grapes. Due to the early ripening, our Rieslings were harvested between September 17 and October 5. The health of the grapes and the consistently dry weather gave us a relaxed autumn with qualities ranging from QbA to the finest Auslese. The highlight of the harvest was the selection of a few botrytis-infected berries, which yielded the quality of a high-quality Trockenbeerenauslese. Our excitement, however, lasted until January 22, 2019, when, in the early morning hours at minus 10°C, we harvested an ice wine with 160° Oechsle from the Johannisberger Goldatzel vineyard, perfecting the exceptional 2018 vintage.