Well done, Dönnhoffs!
We’re delighted to announce a double whammy for these Riesling legends from the Nahe.
Father and son Cornelius and Helmut Dönnhoff are celebrating after landing twin accolades from Germany’s highly respected Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung (FAZ) newspaper.
Cornelius has been crowned Winemaker of the Year, while father Helmut won the Lifetime Achievement Award.
FAZ wine critic Stephan Reinhardt writes: “The Rieslings of the family business have been style-defining for 50 years and are revered worldwide.
“In this respect, Cornelius had a splendid but not easy legacy when he joined his charismatic father Helmut’s business and took it over completely a few years ago.
“To be always a bit ahead of their time, father and son have just as much in common as an enthusiastic winemaker’s heart. Drinking both their wines is and remains like coming home.”
2020 Dönnhoff Nahe Riesling $36
Dönnhoff Nahe Riesling is Cornelius Dönnhoff’s classic off-dry Riesling that is a great introduction to the Nahe – fresh, juicy, pure and moreish.
Juicy, sweet green apple and spice, with a slight smokiness. It’s direct, juicy, and while not overly complex, is lovely to drink. Finish is of moderate length, with something of a sugared almond aftertaste. Good.
90 points. Gary Walsh, The Wine Front
2020 Dönnhoff Estate Riesling $43
MAGNUM $103
Characterful dry Riesling from vines aged 15 to 30 years old on the steeply sloping vineyards of the middle Nahe region. The vines grow in stony, weathered volcanic soils of porphyry and melaphyr in particular, with certain amounts of slate and quartzite. Fermented and matured in stainless steel vats and large oak barrels. It’s wonderfully fresh and well defined, elegant with a tingling minerality. A delicious wine for every day with moderate alcohol and very soothing acidity.
Lemon zest tang, lime and apple sorbet, a firm chalky feel, a pleasant amount of bitterness and grip, and a juicy finish of good length. Lots of crunch and energy. And flavour. Very good.
92 points. Gary Walsh, The Wine Front
2020 Dönnhoff Oberhäuser Leistenberg Kabinett $54
Steep, southeast-facing slope with grey clay slate soil. The morning sun dries the grapes, keeping them healthy; while the afternoon sun is not so direct, allowing the grapes to ripen for a very long time without becoming overripe. A perfect vineyard for Kabinett wines!
The vines are 25 to 30 years old and yield about 50hl/ha. 100% selective hand harvest. Fermented and matured in stainless steel vats and large oak barrels. This is a Riesling with well-defined, spicy fruit, very elegant with a wonderful balance between fine fruit sweetness and firm acidity.
All just so. The interplay between sugar, fruit, acidity and mouth-feel is so bang on. Lime, green apple sorbet and floral perfume, glide and stony grip, super length with the tussle between flinty texture and sweetness so jolly invigorating. Beautiful wine.
94 points. Gary Walsh, The Wine Front