From: Nahe, Germany
Varietal: Reisling
Tasting Notes: Focused, stony aromas of lemon, tart nectarine, and crisp pear float from the glass. Lithe on the palate, this wine strikes a wonderful balance of nuanced acidity alongside flavors of citrus, stone fruit, white flower, and minerality derived from the slate soils where the wine originated. The finish lingers with sophisticated elegance.
“Some people think only the Mosel can produce stunning Kabinetts, but this is pristine and pure, so racy and uplifiting. You barely feel the natural grape sweetness, but its a vital element of this wine. Super-clean finish. From organically grown grapes with Fair'n Green certification. Drink or hold.” –James Suckling, 94 points
Pairing: For seafood options, look no further than ceviche, sashimi, prawn cocktail, fresh crab with a side of lemon and butter, or even oysters. Vietnamese-style pork chops or roasted chicken with fish-sauce butter would pair beautifully, or for more vegetarian options, we’d recommend spicy stir-fried vegetables or a simple crudité platter with creamy lemon-herb dip. Of course, Thai, Japanese, or Vietnamese cuisine pairs wonderfully with Riesling’s like this one (we recommend light to medium-spiced dishes). Some examples include tofu or chicken larb, Thai-style sweet and salty shrimp or crab cakes, crab cake banh mi sandwiches, pork katsu with pickled cucumbers and shiso (check out the recipe below), kakuni (braised pork belly), or karaage fried chicken.
Pork Katsu With Pickled Cucumbers and Shiso
By Melissa Clark
About. Many thanks to the importer, Skurnik Wines & Spirits, for the following details.
The Dönnhoff family first came to the Nahe region 250 years ago, establishing a traditional farm in the village of Oberhäusen an der Nahe, which included livestock and vegetable gardens in addition to some grape growing. Oberhäusen and this part of the Nahe river valley is very pastoral; it feels far away from the relative hustle and bustle of the Rheingau and wine tourism. This is not Napa Valley. The countryside is serene and beautiful, marked by steep hillside vineyards in the succession of villages following the river from Norheim to Niederhausen, through Oberhäusen, ending in Schlössbockelheim.
The estate was started by Helmut Dönnhoff’s grandfather, Hermann, in the 1920s. Helmut took over from his father, Hermann Jr. in 1966; at that time there were only 4 hectares under vine and still quite a bit of farmland, which was rented out. In 1971 the farmland was sold and Helmut turned his full attention to producing quality wine. He worked the vines in Oberhäusen, expanding slowly and naturally.
His successes followed hard work, commitment, and the understanding that “the vineyards speak for themselves – you just have to hear them.” Helmut, who has spent years honing his skills, finding the right sites, and developing a personal philosophy for winemaking, says, “I express myself clearly and so do my wines.”
Helmut is a very instinctive winemaker with a natural touch that he’s clearly passed on to his son Cornelius, who joined him at the winery 2007. The Dönnhoffs believe in craft and workmanship with the understanding that “winemaking alone cannot bring quality; it can only retain the available quality.” In the 40+ years that have passed since Helmut began his work some things have changed and shifted, but the commitment to excellence and transparency above all has remained constant from one generation to the next. “It has been a long road,” remarks Helmut, looking back at 44 vintages and a period when his wines were not always as internationally recognized and lauded as they are now.
The Estate has grown to 25 hectares but both father and son feel that this is as large as they want to be; more growth would mean less time in the vineyards and cellar, where they feel most at home and in their element. Cornelius is as thoughtful as his father and the two share the same view on winemaking, viticulture, and taste in wine; balance and “Das ganze ding muss klingen – The whole thing must be sound” are at the center of their philosophy. With the addition of Norheimer Kirscheck and Dellchen in the mid-1990s and Roxheimer Höllenpfad in 2010, the estate is comprised of nine different single vineyard sites, all classified as Grand Cru. The fact that Dönnhoff selects only three sites to produce Grosse Gewächse-style wines is natural when discussing wine with the family. “We have to think of what we can do for the vineyard – each one has a special talent,” says Cornelius.
Grapes are handpicked at the height of ripeness rather than by sugar levels, and each site is fermented individually with native yeasts. The winery was designed to have total capacity in either oak or steel, allowing Dönnhoff to vinify and age wines according to what they feel the wines need, not what they have room for. The oak here is Stückfass (1000 Liter), made from an incredible cooper in Bad Kreuznach called Hösch, not well known outside of Germany. The wood for Dönnhoff’s casks comes from the Lemberg forest, directly across from the Leistenberg vineyard. The staves are twice as thick as the average 1000L cask and are seasoned outside for 7 years at the minimum, often for 12 years, which results in a very neutral barrel. Regardless, Riesling never goes in a new cask here – the first three passes are used for Weiss and Grauburgunder. If a wine has had enough oxygen in oak it will go into barrel and vice versa. Many tasters assume that all of Dönnhoff’s wines are 100% in steel as there is never perceptible oak flavor.
Decisions for elevage are made by taste and taste alone – analytics are ignored. “I make wines for myself, not for the market,” says Helmut. The estate recently became part of Fair’n’Green, a new sustainable certification that is supported by both the German Government and the Frauhofer Institute, one Europe’s top research organizations. This certificate doesn’t involve money from any of the wine growers involved; it is not a marketing tool, but a way for growers to share information and improve wines and vineyards for the future generations.
Oberhäuser Leistenberg, where the grapes for this wine were grown, is a steep, southeastern facing slope in a small side valley of the Nahe just outside Oberhausen. The name is a double play on words. “Leisten” means “achieve” in German, and the Leistenberg perpetually lives up to its name. “Lei” is also a regional word for slate, and these warm, decomposed clay slate soils and steep terraced hillsides provide ideal conditions for Riesling to thrive. The morning sun dries the grapes, keeping them healthy, while the afternoon sun is not so direct, allowing the grapes to ripen over a long period without becoming overripe. A perfect vineyard for Kabinett wines!
