THE JEFFERSON CLUB -August 2020
This month, we explore a pedigreed estate in Germany’s Rheingau region: Weingut Kunstler’s Hochheimer Holle GG Riesling 2018.
kunstler hochheimer holle riesling 2018
Producer: Weingut Kunstler
Winemaker: Gunter Kunstler
Region: GER, Rheingau, Hochheim, Holle Vineyard
Grape Varietal: 100% Riesling
Viticulture: clay and limestone with multiple layers of loose brown loam; 23.2 acres of 15 degree sloped vineyard
Method: cold-settling after 48 hours; fermented at low temperatures for 6-8 weeks in stainless steel or neutral oak; aged on the fine lees (sur lee)
Serving Suggestions: serve at 40-45 F
Age: drink 2020-2038
Nose: tropical fruit, white flowers, crushed rock
Palate: rich texture, heavy fruit, lingering acidity
Finish: pineapple, citrus, smoke
fun fact
During his heyday touring the wines of Europe while representing this nation, Thomas Jefferson became enamored by the wine of the Rhein. In fact, he took back over 100 vine cuttings of Riesling from Rheingau to his estate in Monticello.
Why I am excited about this wine
I will always, always recommend a deliciously dry Riesling to have during the heat of summer. Many people misunderstand Riesling; the classic blue “hock” bottle of the 70s-80s gave a lasting, though not accurate, portrayal of the classic German grape. In modern days, Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc have the limelight for white grapes; however, during the peak of the wine exchange from Europe, the wines of Rheingau and Mosel outshown even those of the Medoc. During the 1800s, many white wines from the Rhine sold for higher dollars than the original “First Growths” of Bordeaux.
Subsoil of Hochheimer Holle
About Weingut Kunstler
The winemaking legacy of Weingut Kunstler dates back to 1648. The Kunstler family had their start in the vineyard slopes outside Vienna, but after World War II, the family was forced to re-establish their estate in Hochheim Main / Rheingau. Since 1994, Weingut Kunstler has been a prominent member of the VDP (Verband Deutscher Prädikatsweingüter), an elite group of German grape growers dedicated to preserving the culture of historic vineyard sites across German soils (click here to learn more!).