Westhofener Brunnenhauschen Abst E Riesling, Grosses Gewächs, 2013

For the 2013 Westhofen Brunnenhauschen Riesling trocken Abts E (the spoken term Abtserde is officially not allowed) Keller harvested 40% less compared to 2012 but the 2013 is perhaps one of the greatest dry Rieslings he has produced so far. Lovely pure and fresh limes along with white-fleshed stone fruits (peaches, nectarines), wet chalk, white pepper and tobacco characterize the nose which is fresh, dense and fascinatingly precise. Obviously due to a higher tolerance for a certain amount of botrytis the palate is quite rich, creamy and juicy but less pure and naked than Wittmann's corresponding Brunnenhauschen. However, this is a dense, tightly woven and enormously complex dry Riesling whose taste is persistently dominated by lime and yellow-fleshed aromas as well as a lovely, stimulating piquancy. This is surely a galvanizing and elegant Riesling to keep for another 4 or 5 years at minimum and enjoy it for a decade.

DRINKING WINDOW 2018 - 2024

date of review 10/2014