The 2023 Riesling Sankt Nikolaus Grosses Gewächs by Peter Jakob Kühn impressively showcases the stylistic purity and complexity of top-tier Rheingau terroir.
Bottler: Winery Peter Jakob Kühn, Mühlstraße 70, 65375 Oestrich-Winkel / Germany
In the glass
Colour
Luminous straw yellow with clear green highlights.
Nose
Crystal-clear and cool-toned with bergamot, kaffir lime, grapefruit and green pear, underpinned by herbs such as lemon balm, lemon thyme and sage, along with a hint of fine pastry spice.
Palate
Razor-sharp, electric acidity meets vibrant herbal freshness; remarkably lean and gripping on the palate, underpinned by a deep, tranquil minerality.
Character
Energetic, linear and composure itself – a timeless Riesling filled with inner balance and subtle radiance.
Pairing
Pairs wonderfully with pan-fried pike-perch on herbal foam, delicate veal carpaccio, or Asian-inspired mackerel ceviche.
Notes
Produced according to biodynamic Demeter guidelines from the estate’s oldest vines (45 to 65 years old) right on the banks of the Rhine; spontaneously fermented and aged for 16 months on the full lees in wooden casks.
Tasting note
Colour & Appearance
Luminous straw yellow with sharp green reflections, extremely bright and refined in the glass.
Nose
An aristocratic, purist bouquet reminiscent of the freshness of a cool mountain stream. Citrus zests such as bergamot, kaffir lime and grapefruit meet delicate traces of green pear. Revealed behind these are ethereal meadow herbs – lemon balm, lemon thyme and sage – backed by a whispering hint of shortbread.
Palate
Slender, highly elegant and yet driven by tremendous inner strength. At just 12% alcohol, a microscopic 3.3 g/l residual sugar and a polished acidity of 7.2 g/l, the wine leaves a gripping, racy trail on the palate. The cool herbal freshness dictates the dynamics, supported by a calm, deep minerality.
Finish
Persistent, crystal-clear and of remarkable length. The aftertaste remains vibrant, mineral and energetic.
Terroir & Origin
The Sankt Nikolaus parcel is located in the Rheingau directly on the riverbank, gently sloping towards the south. The soil consists of lime-rich, sandy loess with fossilised terrace sediments. At 45 to 65 years old, this site is home to the estate’s oldest vines, which are cultivated in accordance with Demeter guidelines.
Grape Variety & Vinification
100% Riesling. Following gentle whole-bunch pressing, spontaneous fermentation takes place using natural yeasts. The generation of Peter Bernhard and Viktoria Kühn age the wine for 16 months on the full lees in traditional oak casks (Stückfass and Doppelstückfass).
Food Pairings
An inspired match for pan-fried pike-perch on lentils, scallop sashimi or ceviche with coriander.
Key Features
A stylistic masterpiece of biodynamic viticulture: despite its delicate stature, the ancient vines lend this monumental Riesling a breathtaking depth entirely devoid of opulence.
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