# Rüdesheimer Berg Schlossberg Riesling GG (2018)

- **Producer:** Weingut Josef Leitz
- **Colour:** white
- **Type:** still
- **Grapes:** Riesling
- **Region:** Rheingau, Germany
- **Style:** Classic
- **Alcohol:** 12.5%
- **Average price:** €55
- **Vegan:** Yes
- **Contains sulphites:** Yes
- **When to drink:** Now or Later
- **Serving temperature:** 10–12 °C
- **Aromas & flavours:** peach, apricot, lemon, grapefruit, apple, blossom, ginger, fennel, butter, toast, honey, petrol, dried apricot

## About this wine

Weingut Josef Leitz, located in Germany's historic Rheingau region, is celebrated globally for crafting exceptional, terroir-driven Rieslings. The Rüdesheimer Berg Schlossberg is the estate's premier Grand Cru (VDP.Grosse Lage) vineyard, renowned for its dramatic, steep slopes overlooking the Rhine River. This vineyard's unique microclimate and slate-rich soils yield wines of extraordinary minerality, structure, and longevity. Under the visionary leadership of Johannes Leitz, the estate has championed the preservation of these historic, steep-slope vineyards, ensuring that each bottle reflects the pure, uncompromising character of its origin.

## Interesting facts

- The Berg Schlossberg vineyard is one of the steepest in the Rheingau, featuring gradients of up to 70 percent.
- The vineyard is named after the ruins of Ehrenfels Castle, a historic 13th-century fortification overlooking the Rhine.
- The red slate soils of this site act as a natural heat reservoir, absorbing warmth during the day and radiating it back to the vines at night.

## Food pairing

The high acidity and intense minerality of this dry Riesling cut beautifully through rich, fatty dishes like pork belly or butter-sauced seafood. Its vibrant citrus and stone fruit notes complement delicate sweet-and-sour profiles, while its structural weight allows it to stand up to moderately spiced Asian cuisine without being overwhelmed.

## Wine making process

The grapes for the Berg Schlossberg GG are harvested entirely by hand from old vines clinging to the steep, slate-dominated slopes of Rüdelsheim. Following a gentle pressing, the juice undergoes a slow, temperature-controlled fermentation using native yeasts to preserve the delicate primary fruit and intense mineral character. The wine is then aged on its fine lees in a combination of stainless steel tanks and traditional large oak casks (Stückfass) for several months. This extended lees contact imparts texture, complexity, and structural integration without overshadowing the wine's natural acidity.