Riesling Sankt Nikolaus Grosses Gewächs 2022 1500ml Magnum

Wine description for Riesling Sankt Nikolaus Grosses Gewächs 2022 1500ml Magnum by Peter Jakob Kühn

There are wines that do not merely declare their origin but embody it in every nuance. The 2022 Sankt Nikolaus from Peter Jakob Kühn belongs to this rare category. From vines up to 65 years old on the Mittelheim slope, situated directly on the Rhine, emerges a Riesling that displays the estate’s signature – crystalline clarity, biodynamic integrity, unwavering precision – in its purest form. The magnum format lends additional dimension and developmental potential to this already long-lived wine.

Colour & appearance

A shifting interplay between intense straw yellow and pale gold – the visual prelude to a wine that already shows initial notes of maturity without sacrificing its youthful freshness.

Nose

A fascinating dialogue between two poles: lightly reductive notes of smoke and wet stone meet subtle oxidative hints of ripe apple and apple peel. Between them unfolds a complex bouquet of lemon oil, blond tobacco, delicate pastry notes, fresh herbs and ripe apricots. A touch of hops and yeast points to the extended maturation on the lees.

Palate

Here the true stature of this wine is revealed: the attack feels airy and almost weightless, yet beneath lies a grounded stoniness and impressive power. Juicy and profoundly salty, with piquant vitality and a deep, almost tangible energy. The acidity is tautly drawn yet remains charming and never aggressive – a balancing act achievable only from great vineyard sites and experienced hands.

Finish

Long, intense and marked by a mouth-watering salinity that keeps the palate engaged for minutes. The mineral signature of the limestone soil leaves a precise, almost cool trace.

Terroir & origin

The Sankt Nikolaus vineyard in Mittelheim lies directly on the Rhine, by the ferry to Ingelheim, with a gentle south-facing slope. The soil consists of calcareous, sandy loess, interspersed with terrace sediments and rocks of the Alzey Formation – fossil marine sand that imparts the wine’s saline dimension. This is where the estate’s oldest vines, up to 65 years old, are rooted.

Grape variety & vinification

Pure Riesling, cultivated biodynamically according to Demeter guidelines. After careful hand harvesting, the whole clusters are gently pressed over several hours. Spontaneous fermentation proceeds without intervention in the natural must composition. Maturation extends over 16 months on the full lees in traditional Stückfässer and Doppelstückfässer (1,200 and 2,400 litres) – a process that lends the wine depth and complexity without overlaying it with wood aromas.

Food recommendations

The saline precision and structural depth of this Riesling call for equally distinguished partners: pan-fried turbot with beurre blanc, cured char on horseradish, guinea fowl with morel jus or even mature Comté. The magnum bottle makes this wine an ideal companion for festive tables and extended menus.

Special features

The magnum format (1.5 litres) slows the ageing process and preserves freshness over years – ideal for a wine of this structure and longevity. As one of the VDP’s Grosse Gewächse from a site with vines up to 65 years old, this Riesling represents the pinnacle of what the Rheingau has to offer in dry white wines. Biodynamic farming since 2009 and the avoidance of heavy oak allow the terroir to speak unadulterated.