2024 Weingut Dönnhoff, Riesling Kabinett, Oberhäuser Leistenberg, Nahe, Germany.
Absolutely immediately out of the bottle and in the glass this 2024 Dönnhoff Kabinett Riesling, from the Oberhäuser Leistenberg vineyard, thrills the senses with gorgeous floral aromatics, slate driven mineral flinty notes and exotic spice to go with precise off dry fruitiness that leans on the drier side with white peach, green apple, quince and tangerine fruit at its core. As I mentioned when reviewing a prior vintage, on March 13, 2024 the noble Riesling grape turned 589 years old, now (590), but, as Wines of Germany USA says, the variety is fresher and more innovative than ever, especially Rieslings from Cornelius Dönnhoff which are some of the best in the world, from this delicious Oberhäuser Leistenberg Kabinett to majestic collection of dry Grosses Gewachs. From its roots as a sweet wine, fit for kings and queens of Europe, to its modern dry, off-dry and sparkling iterations, again as Wines of Germany USA notes, Riesling doesn’t look a day over 500. Cornelius Dönnhoff’s slate influenced Oberhäuser Leistenberg Kabinett, fermented and matured in stainless steel vats and large Germany oak stuckfass, should not be overlooked in Dönnhoff’s stellar collection of Rieslings, as mentioned many times, it always performs in classic and stylish way with its terroir driven purity in the glass. This 2024 really rose to the occasion on Thanksgiving, with stunning performance with a wide range of flavors to deal with from Foie Gras, smoked salmon, cracked crab to Turkey and fixings, it was on point and never missed a beat, I just should have brought two more bottles!
One of Germany’s most lovely wines, the Oberhäuser Leistenberg Kabinett comes from Dönnhoff’s terraced vineyards, with their picturesque steep slopes above the Nahe River this slate driven and distinctive Riesling, one of my favorite wines, is an elegant off-dry Riesling, made with expert precision. These carbon-laced decomposed argillaceous slate soils and steep terraced hillsides provide ideal conditions for Riesling, according to the the winery, the cooler afternoon conditions here at the Oberhäuser Leistenberg vineyard allow for long hang times and lower natural alcohol, making for sophisticated versions of this Riesling grape. I love this Kabinett, in particular with Asian dishes, but as noted above it goes great with a vast amount of different cuisine choices. This is also the original Dönnhoff vineyard site, so for the family it holds a very special place in their hearts, and I can feel the pride in this wine. Made from organic grapes, all grown in this VDP Grosse Lage (Grand Cru) vineyard and certified Fair’n Green, this Riesling, widely admired by the grape’s biggest fans, not just me is pleasing to the palate and made with great respect to the local environment and the planet. The Riesling vines here are old clones sourced from Dönnhoff’s sites in Niederhausen and Schlossböckelheim, helping made this wine and others just that much more cherished by Riesling lovers. As I’ve noted before here at grapelive.com, the Dönnhoff’s, one of the greatest German winemaking families, first came to the Nahe region over 200 years ago, and after establishing a modest farm, they now have some of the world’s most renown vineyards and make some of the world’s best white wines, as this 2024 Leistenberg Kabinett shows.
($28-34 Est.) 94 Points, grapelive