Germany — wine

Rheingau Wine Region

The historic heart of German Riesling — a narrow band of south-facing slate and quartzite slopes along the Rhine's north bank, from Hochheim to Rüdesheim. The Rheingau's unique aspect (the only place the Rhine flows westward, giving south-facing slopes) and continental climate produce Riesling of extraordinary power, structure, and ageing capacity. The great estates — Schloss Johannisberg, Kloster Eberbach, Breuer — have produced benchmark German Riesling for centuries. The region's reputation declined in the late 20th century but is now strongly reviving.

Year Rating Notes
2022 Very warm year by Rheingau standards; wines of excellent ripeness with slightly lower acidity. Good for earlier-drinking styles; GG wines show impressive depth.
2021 Outstanding Rheingau year — long, cool growing season produced Riesling of extraordinary mineral precision. Georg Breuer's Berg Schlossberg and PJK's Lenchen both at their finest.
2019 Very warm, excellent year — the finest Rheingau vintage since 2015. Berg Schlossberg GG from this vintage is considered among the best Rheingau wines of the modern era.
2018 Outstanding — extremely warm year produced Riesling of unusual concentration and richness. PJK Lenchen GG 2018 received 96 points — the estate's highest score to date.