Riesling Lenchen Grosses Gewächs 2022

Wine Description for Riesling Lenchen Grosses Gewächs 2022 by Peter Jakob Kühn

Colour & Appearance

Intense straw yellow in the glass – a Riesling with substance and maturity, which does not hide its 18 months on full lees in the traditional wooden cask.

Nose

Here the full complexity of this extraordinary vineyard site reveals itself: the wine oscillates fascinatingly between reductive and oxidative notes, between the cool minerality of quartz stone and the warmth of soft stone fruit. Floral aromas meet hay, chitin meets lemon – a wonderfully fragrant, delicate Riesling with a wild, unbound character. This is Rheingau with a Jurassic soul.

Palate

Intense and pure, with impressive length and depth. At just 11.5% alcohol, this wine unfolds remarkable power and energy. The vibrant minerality and forceful acidity (7.5 g/l) form the backbone, whilst a mere 1.9 grams of residual sugar contributes a hint of lemony sweetness. The interplay of salt and soft fruit is mouth-watering and precise – a Grosses Gewächs that places elegance above opulence.

Finish

Long, mineral and carried by salty freshness. The acidity carries far without ever becoming aggressive – a wine that invites you to the next sip.

Terroir & Origin

The Oestricher Lenchen owes its name to the slope of the Pfingstbach. The west-facing VDP Grand Cru vineyard site (12-15% gradient, 120-170m altitude) is known for its early morning mists and botrytis susceptibility. The soils of gravelly loess, interspersed with iron-rich quartzites and clay marls, are reflected in the old field name „Eisenberg“. This parcel was planted in 1964.

Grape Variety & Vinification

100% Riesling, hand-harvested, whole-bunch pressing over several hours, spontaneous fermentation and 18 months ageing on full lees in the traditional 1,200-litre wooden cask. No fining, no filtration – pure craftsmanship according to biodynamic principles.

Food Pairing Recommendations

This wine demands sophisticated cuisine: scallops with cauliflower purée, turbot in champagne sauce, veal sweetbreads with morels or aged Comté. The acidity structure also harmonises beautifully with Asian cuisine – such as dim sum or pan-fried monkfish with ginger.

Special Features

Since 2018, Peter Jakob Kühn has been vinifying a dry Grosses Gewächs from this traditional noble sweet vineyard site – a bold statement that demonstrates how versatile great Riesling terroirs can be. A wine with a Rheingau heart and an oxidative soul, combining tradition and innovation.