Kunstler
— Portfolio —
ESTATE RIESLING TROCKEN 2024
Bottle Shot
Dry Riesling sourced from various estate owned sites, the soils being heavy limestone bedrock with loess, loam, sand and gravels. Hand harvested, then gently destemmed, chilled and pressed, the must is fermented in majority stainless steel with around 30% fermented in large neutral oak. The wine then ages on fine lees for six months before being bottled. Classified in the VDP system as Gutswein
HOCHHEIMER HÖLLE RIESLING TROCKEN “IM NEUENBERG” 2023
Bottle Shot
From the south facing 48ha Holle vineyard, meaning ‘steep hill’ in Middle High German, 85% of this vineyard is classified Erstes Gewachs of which Kunstler holds 9.6ha. East of Hochheim the hillside vineyard is at a 15% decline towards the Main River. The subsoils of this vineyard comprise of heavy clay marl with high levels of calcium carbonate, contributing to the mineral powerhouse of these wines with loamy loess topsoil providing a counterbalance, giving the vines plentiful water and aeration. Destemmed then pressed and settled the must is fermented cool in majority stainless steel with 30% large neutral oak. After primary fermentation the wine is racked and returned to be aged on fine lees for 6 months before bottling.
“What an amazing nose of ripe apricots, wet earth and smoke. At once seriously concentrated with ample ripeness, but also very bright and uplifting. This is a stunning medium-bodied dry riesling that is precise at the very long, savory finish. From organically grown grapes with Fair Choice certification. Drink or hold. Screw cap.” – 96 Points – James Suckling
HOCHHEIMER STIELWEG ‘ALTE REBEN’ RIESLING TROCKEN “OLD VINES” 2023
Bottle Shot
Destemmed then pressed and settled the must is then fermented cool in majority stainless steel and 80% large neutral oak. After primary fermentation the wine is racked and returned to be aged on fine lees for 6 months before bottling. The fruit is sourced from 50 year ‘Alte Reben’ or old vines on the Stielweg vineyard. Kunstler holds 4.7ha of this 24ha south facing vineyard. The vineyard is defined by heavy loamy and clay soils with low calcium carbonate content and high sand content producing long lived wines with delicate playful and fresh acidity.
“This astonishing wine has gigantic flinty and citrusy complexity next to the deep stone fruit character. Incredible concentration for a non-GG dry German riesling. Everything fits beautifully on the full-bodied palate. Off-the-scale power and energy in the finish, but everything remains fine and precise. From organically grown grapes with Fair Choice certification. Drink or hold. Screw cap.” – 97 Points – James Suckling
KOSTHEIM WEIß ERD GG RIESLING TROKEN 2023
Bottle Shot
Weiß Erd, literally meaning white earth, is one of the few vineyards anywhere in the Rheingau classified 100% as Erstes Gerwachs or above. Kunstler holds 1.3ha of the total 7.4ha vineyard. The wines here are distinctly shaped by its white calcareous marl soils, south facing and only 90m above sea level on a gentle incline, perfect to capture maximum sun exposure. This wine, classified as VDP Grosse Lage, is destemmed, pressed and cool fermented as the other wines but occurs in 100% large old oak casks.
“The interplay of explosive citrus fruit aromas, savory character and chalky power in this wine is extraordinary. Fantastic concentration and precision on the medium-bodied palate. Fabulous energy and vitality at the finish are accentuated by the salty minerality that gives yet another push to the blood orange finish. From organically grown grapes with Fair Choice certification. Drink from release. Screw cap.” – 98 Points – James Suckling
HOCHHEIM KIRCHENSTÜCK GG RIESLING TROKEN 2023
Bottle Shot
Kunstler owns 2.4ha of this 15.1ha historic vineyard which derives its name from the proximity to the Catholic Church and was known as far back as 1271 as the Kirchanger (parcel near a church). South facing and protected to the north by Hochheim from cold northern winds. Hand picked then destemmed and pressed, 100% of the wine is fermented in old large neutral casks. After ferment is racked to fine lees and aged in large oak. The soil composition is varied, with heavy limestone in some spots, loamy loess in other with light sand layers deposited on the deep subsoils.
“This mind-blowingly elegant dry Rheingau riesling has incredibly deep citrus and floral aromas that make it hard to move on to actually tasting it. But then you descend into the deepest depths of this great terroir, the creaminess so beautifully balanced by the stony minerality and saltiness. Together, they pull you off into the dawn. From organically grown grapes with Fair Choice certification. Drink from release. Screw cap.” – 99 Points – James Suckling
HOCHHEIM KIRCHENSTÜCK GG RIESLING TROKEN 2021
Bottle Shot
Kunstler owns 2.4ha of this 15.1ha historic vineyard, planted in 1969 and derives its name from the proximity to the Catholic Church and was known as far back as 1271 as the Kirchanger (parcel near a church). South facing and protected to the North by Hochheim from the cold northern winds. Hand picked, destemmed then pressed, 1/3rd fermented in stainless steel and the other 2/3rd of the wine is fermented in old large neutral casks. After ferment is racked to fine lees and aged in large oak. The soil composition is varied, with heavy limestone in some spots, loamy loess in other with light sand layers deposited on the deep subsoils.
“A dark and mysterious wine with a very warm and generous heart! Stunning concentration and richness, too! This doesn’t hesitate for a moment, but ploughs straight across your palate like a steam roller. The finish is at once creamy and grounded with a treasure trove of minerality. From organically grown grapes with Fair’n Green certification. Drink or hold. Screw cap” – 98 Points – James Suckling
ERBACHER MARCOBRUNN GG RIESLING TROKEN 2023
Bottle Shot
This 7.1ha vineyard is completely south facing and lies 90 – 110m a.s.l just a small distance away from the Rhine River. The soil is comprised or tertiary marl, deep loess loam with mica and parts of the soil are highly calcareous. Destemmed then pressed and settled the must is then fermented cool in 100% large neutral oak. After primary fermentation the wine is racked and returned to be aged on fine lees before bottling.
“Welcome to the hardcore dry riesling zone. It doesn’t get more radical than this when it comes to power and minerality. But if you wait a bit, the Mirabelle plum character is really extraordinary. Massively compact but somehow light and delicate over the full-bodied palate. Then, when you think the storm might be over, the lightning strikes and the thunder booms. Expansive finish. From organically grown grapes with Fair Choice certification. Drink from release. Screw cap.” – 99 Points – James Suckling
HOCHHEIMER HÖLLE GG RIESLING TROCKEN 2021
Bottle Shot
East of Hochheim the hillside vineyard is at a 15% decline towards the Main River. The subsoils of this vineyard comprise of heavy clay marl with high levels of calcium carbonate, contributing to the mineral powerhouse of these wines with loamy loess topsoil providing a counterbalance, giving the vines plentiful water and aeration. Destemmed then pressed and settled the must is then fermented cool in 100% large neutral oak. After primary fermentation the wine is racked and returned to be aged on fine lees before bottling.
“What a breathtakingly beautiful nose of apricot this amazing dry riesling has! Staggering power and intensity, yet it remains so bright and invigorating as it charges off across your palate like a rocket heading for the outer solar system. From organically grown grapes with Fair’n Green certification. Drink or hold. Screw cap.” – 99 Points – James Suckling
BERG SCHLOSSBERG GG RIESLING TROKEN 2021
Bottle Shot
This 25ha site of which Kuntsler has 0.1ha is the steepest hillside vineyard in the entire Rheigau climbing a gradient up to 70% from 120 – 160m a.s.l The soils here are dominated by quartzite soils with veins of clayey slate on which only the hardiest of vines thrive leading to wines with fine minerality and unmistakable acidity with enormous cellarability. Destemmed then pressed and settled the must is then fermented cool in 100% large neutral oak. After primary fermentation the wine is racked and returned to be aged on fine lees before bottling.
“A great masterpiece of dry riesling filigree! Totally crystalline and super-silky, this has a truly extraordinary texture on the palate. How can a wine be this stony, yet also offer a ravishing spectrum of exotic fruit and floral aromas. Staggering finesse at the extremely long finish. From organically grown grapes with Fair’n Green certification. Drink or hold. Screw cap.” – 98 Points – James Suckling