Riesling Hallgarten Hendelberg Kabinett 2023

Wine description for Riesling Hallgarten Hendelberg Kabinett 2023 by Peter Jakob Kühn

Colour & Appearance

Pale, luminous straw yellow with silvery reflections – the wine presents itself crystal clear and with an almost youthful freshness.

Nose

The nose is of striking purity and precision. Lemongrass and verbena open elegantly, followed by juicy grapefruit with its invigorating zest and crisp green and yellow apples. Beneath runs a fine veil of stone smoke and salt stone – unmistakable terroir vocabulary of the slate slope.

Palate

On the palate, this Kabinett unfolds with that effortless elegance which distinguishes the designation at its finest. Acidity and residual sweetness are in perfect balance – neither dominates the other, both serve the whole. The wine feels light-footed yet powerful, with white-fleshed stone fruit, a hint of citrus and a fine, almost floury minerality that recalls freshly broken slate. A subtle yeast note lends depth and complexity.

Finish

Long, saline and carried by lively acidity. The finish closes with citrus-fresh invigoration and a lingering hint of stone minerality – invigorating and quaffable to the very last moment.

Terroir & Origin

The Hallgartener Hendelberg ranks among the most characterful vineyard sites of the Rheingau. Gravelly slate soils with quartzite and phyllite slate inclusions, a steep south-southwest exposure of around 40 % gradient and elevations up to 300 metres ensure cool nights, intense sunshine and pronounced minerality that is directly reflected in the glass.

Grape Variety & Vinification

Pure Riesling, hand-harvested and gently pressed as whole bunches. Spontaneous fermentation and ageing on full lees in traditional wooden cask lend the wine texture and depth. Bottled in spring 2024. With 10.5 % vol., 21.3 g/l residual sugar and 7.3 g/l total acidity, the balance is virtually textbook.

Food Pairing Suggestions

An ideal companion to Asian cuisine of all kinds – whether Vietnamese summer rolls, Thai curry or dim sum. Equally convincing with smoked salmon, goat’s cheese with honey or simply with an apple cake with vanilla cream. Also of striking quality as an aperitif.

Special Features

Peter Jakob Kühn has managed his vineyards for years according to the principles of biodynamic viticulture. This Kabinett impressively embodies why the designation should be understood as an independent wine form and not as a precursor – a wine of intellectual appeal and sensual pleasure in equal measure.