2015 Weingut Donnhoff Trocken, Riesling, Tonschiefer, Dry Slate, Nahe Germany.
The Donnhoff 2015 Rieslings are going to be out of this world, they look set for a legendary future, especially the trocken wines in this vintage, which will have more depth and richness than the 2014 wines, and they were pretty nice, but 2015 is something special, you can already see it even from the cask samples. The 2015 Estate offerings were amazingly complete and lovely, both the Estate Trocken and the Estate QbA, which is just off dry, showed well, though in particular the 2015 Tonschiefer Trocken Dry Slate Riesling from blocks of fruit from the Oberhauser Leistenberg and it’s sandy slate soils really stood out and will be a fantastic value in dry Riesling when it’s released this late Spring or early Summer. Donnhoff is one of the great estates in the wine world, based in the Nahe, the vineyards are set in an array of gorgeous terrors and it offers a mixed palate of soils from slate to volcanic with areas of sand and loam as well as bits of quartzite and clay, this why Donnhoff can put out so many glorious wines from super dry to Eiswein and each with it’s own character and groove. The 2015 Tonschiefer Dry Slate Riesling is forward and lush with spicy mineral and brisk vibrancy with tangy lime, quince and subtle tropical notes and zesty wet shale/flinty stoniness as well as classic white peach, apricot and green apple fruits. The nose needs time to develop, but adds rosewater, saline/brine, citrus blossom and almost a white cherry note. The extract is gripping and tangy acidity make this Riesling sing, this is very exciting stuff that will certainly impress on release and age beautifully for a decade and a half easily. Look for this Donnhoff or get your order in on it, this is a wine you are going to want to own, especially at the price, and I cannot wait until this summer to try more of Donnhoff’s 2015 wines, this is a vintage to go nuts on, no question! (Tasted from tank sample)
($28 Est.) 92 Points, grapelive