2020 Himmelspfad Silvaner Grosses Gewachs 13 21

Full flute bottle 1,507 g. From the hottest part of the Langenberg in Retzstadt on shell limestone facing directly south. The old walls in the vineyards store even more heat. And the gradient of 65% can make viticulture quite a challenge here. Vines are almost 60 years old. Certified organic. Nose is quite muted at the moment – much more so than its stablemates. But the palate is like a rich lemon-cream dessert, a sensation you could bury yourself in. I'd suggest decanting this if you want to serve it in its youth. But ideally wait until 2022 when some more interesting aromas are likely to have developed. On the finish there's a certain interesting stoniness. Fine wine. (JR)

The 2020 Retzstadt Himmelspfad Silvaner GG opens with a clear, rich and quite intense yet stony/mineral bouquet with fresh oak (from a Stockinger barrel) and yeasty aromas that initially cover the white, fresh fruit aromas. Full-bodied, intense and vital on the palate, this is a finessed but complex and elegant Sylvaner with a very good and salty, firm and finely piquant finish. Still young but promising. 13% alcohol. Tasted in August 2021.

Same Silvaner signature as the Rothlauf, with more spice. Cardamom and white pepper, pineapple; ripe citrus and white stone fruit. More approachable in its youth than the Rothlauf, with a creamy palate cinched tight within a phenolic corset, and laced with a delicate stony edge. Crisp acidity with a delightful juicy finish. (PS)