# Rüdesheim Berg Roseneck "Katerloch" Riesling Grosses Gewächs (2022)

- **Producer:** Weingut Josef Leitz
- **Colour:** white
- **Type:** still
- **Grapes:** Riesling
- **Region:** Rheingau, Germany
- **Style:** Classic
- **Alcohol:** 13.0%
- **Average price:** €47
- **Vegan:** Yes
- **Contains sulphites:** Yes
- **When to drink:** Now or Later
- **Serving temperature:** 10–12 °C
- **Aromas & flavours:** apricot, quince, peach, lemon, grapefruit, pineapple, blossom, ginger, cream, butter, honey, petrol

## About this wine

Weingut Josef Leitz, located in the Rheingau region of Germany, is led by Johannes Leitz, who took over the family's modest 2.9-hectare estate in 1985 at just 21 years old. Under his guidance, the estate has grown into an internationally acclaimed producer. The Berg Roseneck vineyard, first documented around 1200 AD, is named after the wild roses ("Rosenhecke") that grow on its striking granite and quartzite cliffs. Within this Grand Cru site lies the "Katerloch" sub-plot, a steep, amphitheater-like bowl with slopes reaching up to a 65% incline. This unique topography acts as a cool wind-funnel, yielding Rieslings of immense focus, crystalline minerality, and exceptional longevity.

## Interesting facts

- The Berg Roseneck vineyard name originates from the wild roses and rosehips that grow on its striking granite cliffs.
- The Katerloch sub-plot features extreme slopes of up to 65% incline, requiring cable winches to assist with hand-harvesting.
- Johannes Leitz took over his family's modest 2.9-hectare estate in 1985 at just 21 years old, transforming it into a world-class winery.

## Food pairing

This dry Grand Cru Riesling balances high acidity and a dense, creamy texture, making it exceptionally versatile. It cuts through rich, fatty seafoods like lobster and crab, while its pronounced mineral and citrus notes complement aromatic, mildly spicy Asian dishes and fruit-accented poultry.

## Wine making process

The viticulture in the steep Berg Roseneck vineyard is certified sustainable by Fair 'n Green. Due to the extreme 50% to 65% slopes, the grapes are meticulously hand-harvested with the assistance of cable winches. In the cellar, the juice undergoes temperature-controlled fermentation. The wine is then aged for approximately 19 months on its fine lees in traditional, large neutral German oak casks (Großes Holzfass, typically 1200 liters). This extended lees contact naturally stabilizes the wine, integrates its structural components, and imparts a creamy texture without introducing dominant oak flavors.