Gunderloch – Nackenheim Riesling – from Rothenberg
The Gunderloch Nackenheim Riesling 2019 is a striking wine, with a racy, fruity elegance from the Rothenberg, the top vineyard of the VDP.Weingut Gunderloch in Rheinhessen.
The Nackenheim Riesling is characteristically shaped by its origin in the best sense. The red slate soils here show a wonderfully unique minerality that is irresistible. Cool and stony, very typical for the Nackenheimer Rothenberg. A crystal-clear Riesling with citrus aromas of lemon zest, lime abrasion, mandarin, and lemongrass, enveloped in a delicate smokiness. A balanced play of restrained fruity sweetness and delicate acidity. A nimble athlete, very focused, gripping and mineral.
Dense and self-contained, the Gunderloch Nackenheim Riesling is a good companion to white poultry, crisp leafy salads, and light fish dishes.
Nackenheim – Wine Preparation
Nackenheim is a small community in Rheinhessen. Grown on the terraces of the Nackenheimer Rothenberg, which lies at the northern end of the Roter Hang and, with 50-75%, is one of the steepest sites on the Rhine front. The red-glowing soils of the Roter Hang are dominated by massive red slate with a very thin weathered soil layer. Here, the Riesling grapes grow in vineyards that capture the sun's rays practically all day long.
The 2019 wine year and its vegetation period started early. Growth was somewhat slowed down by the dry soil conditions. After flowering, the vines received sufficient rain in a mild summer with only a few hot days. The harvest in early September, with beautiful late summer weather, allowed for a calm and very precise picking. The 2019 wines present themselves as light and lively, carried by an elegant, fresh fruitiness.
The vineyards are managed close to nature, gently cultivated and cared for. Gentle pruning, natural fertilization, yield reduction through grape splitting and thinning, selective, manual harvesting in several passes are obligatory here. Fermentation takes place in temperature-controlled stainless steel tanks. The wines remain on the fine lees until spring, which gives the wines stability and good aging potential and supports the development of aromas. The subsequent maturation in 600-liter wooden barrels perfects the characteristic Gunderloch taste: mineral coolness, with bell-clear fruit and vibrating, well-integrated acidity.
Riesling – a wine and its values
- 11.5% vol. alcohol
- 7.5 g/l acidity
- 4.5 g/l residual sugar