Germany — wine
Pfalz
Germany's second-largest wine region, sheltered by the Haardt Mountains from Atlantic rainfall. The warmest of Germany's Riesling regions — capable of producing Burgundy-rivalling Spätburgunder (Pinot Noir) and Weissburgunder (Pinot Blanc). The Mittelhaardt, home to Forst and Deidesheim, produces Riesling GGs (Grosses Gewächs) of extraordinary power and concentration. Dr. Bürklin-Wolf's Kirchenstück is one of Germany's greatest single-vineyard expressions.
Benchmark products
Vintage assessments
| Year | Rating | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | — | Outstanding German year; Pfalz Riesling of remarkable full-bodied precision and spice; excellent Spätburgunder |
| 2022 | 91 | Another warm vintage; Pfalz handled the heat well. GGs show immediate power. Rebholz's sandstone terroir preserved freshness. |
| 2021 | — | Classic vintage; the Haardt foothills produced Riesling of excellent structure and Pinot Noir of fine aromatic character. |
| 2020 | — | Benchmark year; Bürklin-Wolf and Christmann produced Riesling GG wines of exceptional mineral precision. |
| 2019 | 95 | Equal to 2015 for the Pfalz — Kirchenstück GG of extraordinary depth. The decade's finest Pfalz vintage alongside 2015. |
| 2018 | — | Excellent vintage; the warmth produced Pfalz Riesling of unusual richness; Auslese wines of extraordinary concentration. |
| 2017 | 94 | Hot, powerful vintage — Pfalz GGs of considerable density and richness. Rebholz's Kastanienbusch showed particular precision from the sandstone terroir. GG drinking windows begin immediately. |
| 2015 | 95 | Benchmark Pfalz GG vintage — Kirchenstück, Jesuitengarten, and Ungeheuer from Bürklin-Wolf achieved extraordinary concentration balanced by the site's natural acidity. The basalt terroir's heat retention was perfectly calibrated. |