I had this at the estate alongside the 25 and 15, and the 25, 17, and 15 Dellchen early last month. I imagine they opened it up to 8 hours before? Contrastingly, I actually found it approachable enough and varied in primaries for that age, likewise some other 20 GGs. My issue was the yeastiness.
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Yes, they say so themselves.
GGs aren’t everyone’s style either. They are often “big” wines that are difficult to match with meals.
Time will tell what you like and don’t like.
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Are you sure about that? Deservedly or not, they consistently rank among top German dry Riesling producers, I cannot imagine them talking themselves down. And domestic market doesn’t care much for Praedikat wines…
I merely meant to say that sweet wines are their specialty. I was careful not to imply that their dry wines are sub-par or bad, because I do like them anyway! To paraphrase Anne Dönnhoff, she essentially said that ‘noble sweet wines are the historical DNA’ of the estate.
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I had the 19 Donnhof Hermansshohle this week and it was stunning. Electric more than rich. Lemon but much more than that.
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For once, Sarah is wrong. Well, half-wrong! I love the GGs with age. But their greatest wines are the prädikat wines.
Lol. Nope, not wrong - I made no assertions about whether people liked them. In fact, you’ve even proved my point! I only said they aren’t great, and that some people would disagree. Right on both counts! 
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They are great, and some misguided people disagree.
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What did that read as in the glass? And was it specific to the 2020?
- 2020 Dönnhoff Hermannshöhle Riesling Großes Gewächs - Germany, Nahe (03/07/2026)
Nahe 2026: Tasting at Dönhoff (Oberhausen, Nahe): The same mineral/fruit exoticism, potent vanilla on nose, good tropical fruit and Dr Oetker oats with dark syrup; again vanilla finish as well; (91 points)
Dönnhoff GGs spend relatively longer on lees in (doppel) stück compared to others in Nahe. Perhaps that shown more in 2020?
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2024 Dr. Heidemanns-Bergweiler Dry Riesling
My first Riesling, so I don’t have much of a reference point yet. I had wanted to start with one of the less expensive Dönnhoffs, but the Riesling selection at my Total Wine was pretty abysmal, so I grabbed this instead. I’ll probably try a Kabinett next.
Strong apple on the nose with a faint oily, petrochemical aroma in the background—not heavy or crude-like, more of a light aromatic petroleum character. I’m assuming this is what people mean when they talk about petrol in Riesling.
Lots of bright green apple on the palate, maybe some lemon peel, with sharp but smooth acidity and a very slight drying sensation on the finish. Despite being labeled dry, it comes across more fruity than austere to me, with an almost sweet impression lingering alongside the acidity. Very mouthwatering and keeps making me want another sip.
So far, pretty good introduction to Riesling, I think.
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An insider would say Pigo. As good as always, maybe a bit softer than recent editions. I preferred it on day 1, with green notes coming to the fore on day two. A guilt free enjoyment at 7.5% alc.
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2006 Vollenweider Goldgrube spatlese… Slightly protruding and very crumbly cork, and darker colour than I’d have expected… but its wonderful! Quince, mango, baked pear, peach, wild flowers… not a lot of acid (this is the first 2006 I’ve drunk but I believe it was a hot vintage?) but no oxidative notes, fresh, sweet, went beautifully with soya Laab and thai green curry
I’ve had more dodgy corks with Vollenweider than any other winemaker, but every single bottle has been delicious
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2006 is a funny vintage. There was a ton of botrytis, and even “clean” wines have some. That’s in part what is causing many to change color earlier than expected.
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I’m still not clear what the yeastiness was in the glass. What was the character you were picking up that you had an issue with?
Interesting, thanks
I picked up a couple of cheap 2006 Vollenweider auslese in the same sale, curious to taste those
Christoph Raffelt, a well-respected wine critic based in Hamburg and the author of the blog Originalverkorkt, attended this week’s VDP GG tasting in Wiesbaden. He listed the following Rieslings as his favorites:
– 2024 Götzenberg, Rainer Schnaitmann
– 2025 Schäwer, Ökonomierrat Rebholz
– 2025 Kreuzberg Battenfeld-Spanier
– 2025 Scharlachberg, Wagner-Stempel
– 2024 Goldloch, Schlossgut Diel
The best collections for him, including non-Rieslings, are as follows:
– Rudolf Fürst
– Wittmann
– Kühling-Gillot and Battenfeld-Spanier
– Dr. Heger
– Schlossgut Diel
– Peter Jakob Kühn
– Rainer Schnaitmann
He pointed out that some VDP members, such as von Othegraven, whom he really wanted to taste, didn’t provide samples.
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Favorites for what? Drinking now? Long-term potential? I’ve never had the Rebholz Schäwer but interesting to see it shoot to the top of their internal hierarchy, at least in his view. (They still price the Kastanienbusch higher)