Dellchen, Riesling, Grosses Gewächs, 2023
Bright and lifted with a tight structure and dancing citrus, mandarin and freshly squeezed pink grapefruit. Slender and animated in feel with a bewitching mineral finish. Dellchen is the rare vineyard that combines two entirely different soil types, with up to 2m of slate over volcanic bedrock, on a steep 70% gradient. Picked in micro plots and raised in a combination of traditional German fuder and stainless steel.
critic reviews
At least since the magical 2020 vintage, this grand cru is becoming another Donnhoff (and Nahe) icon wine next to the estate's Hermannshohle GG. The 2023 Norheimer Dellchen Riesling trocken GG is bright and clear on the elegant and finely juicy as well as spontaneously inviting nose that indicates perfectly ripe and healthy Riesling fruit that is fully intermingled with the terroir-driven flinty notes. Perfectly round and finessed on the palate, this is a full-bodied, dense and finely juicy, then utterly saline and savory as well as buoyant Dellchen that pairs purity with intensity and a long, complex and promising finish. This is superbly balanced and full of joy. 12.5% stated alcohol. Natural cork. Tasted in August and October 2024.
The 2023 Riesling Norheimer Dellchen Grosses Gewächs is grown on porphyry with a shale cover. The vines are sheltered and have underground aquifers. A tender lemon zest note holds traces of white summer blossom, wet stone and a touch of chervil—beautifully tender. The slender palate, likewise, is lemon-dominated, bright, sunny and friendly in its citric smile. The 2023 is agile, tingling and slender with a subtle stoniness. This is as wonderfully pervasive, tart and palate-cleansing as lemon sorbet. (Bone-dry)