Weingut Karthäuserhof, Riesling Spätlese, VDP Grosse Lage, Trier, Mosel, Germany, 2022

Producer Profile

The Karthäuserhof is a magical place. And not primarily because of its idyllic location.

It is the eighth oldest winery in the world and has been the cradle of world-famous Rieslings for centuries. It was founded in 1335 by Carthusian monks who received the estate as a gift from Elector Baldwin of Luxembourg and ran it as a winery until secularization. The Karthäuserhof has been owned by the family since 1811, now in its seventh generation. Mathieu Kauffmann, Technical Director and Alsatian native is responsible for the vineyard care and vinification of the wine and his belief in an ecological approach to farming is going to shape the philosophy of Karthauserhof into the future.

Viticulture

The grapes for this special quality Prädikatsweine come from their exclusive Karthäuserhofberg site. It faces south by southwest and covers almost 20 hectares with a slope of up to 55%. The unique microclimate and the iron-concentrated, pink-copper-coloured Devonian slate make it the perfect place to produce high-quality Rieslings.

Winemaking

The grapes are harvested by hand, then gently pressed and fermented in stainless steel with temperature control. The wine then matures for six to eight months on the lees. The residual sugar at the time of bottling is around 67.4 g/l.

Oak Ageing

Time: 6 Months
Type: 1200 - 1800 Litre Oak
% wine oaked: 100
% new oak: None

Tasting Note

The spiciest, wildest nose of all Karthäuserhof wines with the densest, juiciest fruit. Very pure, no trace of honey or over ripeness, just a lot of fruit and wet stone, coated with melty texture and fresh acidity. Long fruit reverberation without any dominance of sweetness. Great ripening potential.

Food Matching

Oysters as well as fresh fruits such as peach and fruit-based desserts.