Within Kiedrich’s Gräfenberg Grand Cru lies a small 0.5-hectare parcel once known as the Gräfenberg-Lay. Sitting in one of the steepest portions of the vineyard, the Lay is located at the transition between Gräfenberg and Turmberg and is known for having the highest concentration of phyllite slate on the hill. The vines here are now between 40 and 60 years old. This site was originally purchased by Dr Robert Weil in the 19th century, using the dowry from his marriage to Emilie von Vacano (a descendant of the Vacano family in Lombardy). The wine from this parcel, called Monte Vacano (the Hill of Vacano) was always produced and bottled alone. It was used only for celebratory occasions and never released for sale. Following Weil's death in 1921, the tradition of Monte Vacano fell dormant, and the fruit was incorporated into a regular Gräfenberg bottling. Compared to the Gräfenberg GG, Monte Vacano trades power and richness for exceptional purity, elegance and detail. Resurrecting the old custom, 2021 marks the fourth Riesling in a century made solely from this special lieu-dit. It was harvested in October, and the grapes were whole bunch-pressed into two ancient refurbished Stückfässer (1,200-litre casks) where the wine fermented wild and spent almost two years on lees before bottling.

From one of the most modern wineries in the Palatinate wine growing region in the south west of Germany comes Nett Reverse De-alcoholised Riesling from the 5th generation award winning Weingut Bergdolt-Reif & Nett. Reverse refers to the delicate removal of alcohol or the "reversing" the alcohol.

The Korrell Paradies Eiswein Riesling (Noble Sweet) 2021 375ml is a true gem from Nahe, Germany. This vintage, produced by the esteemed Korrell family, showcases the epitome of German winemaking. On the nose, aromas of ripe peach, apricot, and honeyed florals dance delicately, inviting you in for a taste. The wine's pale straw color glistens in the light, giving a hint at its luscious sweetness. On the palate, this ice wine offers a burst of concentrated flavors, with notes of candied citrus, golden raisins, and a touch of spice. Its acidity balances out the sweetness, creating a harmonious and lingering finish. This Riesling is a true representation of the terroir it was grown in, and a testament to the skill and dedication of the Korrell family. Enjoy now or cellar for future indulgence.

This Riesling showcases vibrant flavors of lime, lemon zest, and crisp green apple. Subtle floral aromas intertwine with a clean minerality, delivering a refreshing, well-structured palate.

Organic. This is a special ‘Degree Oechsle’ bottling crafted from a selection of extremely dried-out grapes. Müller-Catoir recommends drinking this wine at a temperature of around 10 to 12°C from a large red wine glass, to tease out the wine’s extraordinary aromatic complexity. Alcohol 6%; acidity 12.3 g/L; residual sugar 443.6 g/L.

“Even had one not tasted the corresponding Beerenauslese, the deep bronze color; notes of leather and dried mushrooms; and nasal prickle of Muller-Catoir’s 2008 Gimmeldinger Schlossel Rieslaner Trockenbeerenauslese would make clear that you’ve traveled far deeper into the realm of botrytis than this grape will normally take anyone. Orange marmalade, peach preserves, and fresh lemon inform a plate of Eszencia-like, almost gelatinous viscosity, with a correspondingly uncanny sense of lift and of huge residual sweetness practically canceled out. The sharpness of citrus, pungency of citrus oil and botrytis spice; and piquancy of toasted nuts lend indelible and invigorating intensity to the finish, while nut brittle, glazed apricot, and peach preserves uphold a confectionery yet not hugely sweet persistence. At 400 grams residual sugar and 19 grams of acid, your mind can scarcely wrap itself around the analysis of this concentrate, much less around its performance. It’s almost too early to treat it as wine. There have been other remarkable examples of such Rieslaner essences in this estate’s history – though perhaps never one this intense – and experience suggests it will be worth following this one for more than three decades.” 96 points, David Schildknecht, The Wine Advocate (tasted 2010)

WEINGUT ROBERT WEIL Kiedrich Grafenberg Grosses Gewachs Riesling Trocken

Thörle Schlossberg Riesling, Rheinhessen This single vineyard wine comes from the Schlossberg Vineyard at Saulheim in the north-eastern sector of Rheinhessen, the largest of Germany’s 13 major wine-producing regions. The vineyard lies at an elevation of between 170 and 235m and is the coolest of Thörle’s three top sites. The deep clay and limestone soils effectively store heat and water. The amphitheatre-like Schlossberg has a unique microclimate, protected from winds by the surrounding hills, yet with a direct, tunnel-like connection to the Rhine which enables a constant supply of warm air to Schlossberg even on cold autumn days. Schlossberg Rieslings have finesse and are commonly mineral, delicate and earthy, with good acidity. They are Thörle’s most elegant wines. The Thörle family has been making wine at Saulheim in Germany's Rheinhessen region since the 16th century. Christoph Thörle and his brother Johannes have been running the estate since 2006. The vineyards are managed organically. These three flagships, single vineyard wines are naturally fermented, with some skin contact, 90% in stainless steel, 10% in barrel.