2020 Rothenberg GG Wurzelecht [55 21]

The Nackenheimer 2020 Rothenberg GG Wurzelecht offers a clear, deep and intense yet pure, fresh and spicy, initially pretty reductive, in any case distinctive bouquet with currently rather challenging yeasty and phenolic notes. Silky, round and elegant on the palate, this full-bodied, intense and tightly structured Rothenberg from old, ungrafted vines reveals a lot of concentration, power, mineral spiciness and freshness, yet it remains still taut and piquant on the long and complex, sustainable and salty finish that reveals fine tannins. Still not really a pleasure to drink, this 2020 should develop in the bottle over the years, but it still doesn't catch me like the 2019 did when it was young. 12.5% alcohol. Natural cork. Tasted in Wiesbaden in August and at home in September 2021.

The famous red slate at 90–140 m elevation with a south-east orientation and enclosed by a stone wall. Some of the oldest (ungrafted, or würzelecht ) Riesling vines in Germany. Biodynamic, spontaneous fermentation. RS 2.5 g/l, TA 7 g/l. Restrained, even closed, nose. Lots – masses – going on on the palate but it's very much still unresolved. Salty finish and lots of molecules buzzing around in the mouth but nothing resolved yet. Hugely promising though! Very exciting wine. (JR)