Schloss Johannisberg Gelblack Riesling 2015
Schloss Johannisberg in Germany’s Rheingau is more than just home to some brilliant Riesling wines. It is also the home to some of the Riesling grape’s most important history. Wine culture here has survived for over a thousand years despite political upheaval and wars that waged around it.
- 817 AD: The first documented mention of the vineyards by Louis the Pious
- 1720 AD: Benedictine monks plant the entire domain with Riesling consequently making it the first vineyard in the world planted exclusively with Riesling
- 1775 AD: The benefits of a Spätlese (late harvest) are first recognized at Schloss Johannisberg
- 1858 AD: Schloss Johannisberg presses the first Eiswein
- 1971 AD: Under the German wine law, Schloss Johannisberg is declared an independent appellation that requires no additional geographical designation
Necessity Is the Mother of Invention
Most of all, I love the story describing the discovery of Spätlese at Schloss Johannisberg! In 1775, the courier who annually sought official permission for the start of the grape harvest was delayed by several weeks. By the time he returned to Johannisberg, the grapes had become infected with noble rot. The courageous cellarmaster vinified the rotten grapes anyway, thereby producing a new style of wine – “Spätlese”. Although documents from 1730 report that a few growers “gladly waited for a bit of noble rot in order to increase the sugar level of the grapes,” the year 1775 marked the beginning of a deliberately scheduled late harvest of botrytized grapes.
Schloss Johannisberg’s wines are color-coded which is really helpful. As long as you remember which color goes with which quality level!
Gelblack (yellow seal): QbA
Rotlack (red seal): Kabinett
Grünlack (green seal): Spätlese
Silberlack (silver seal): Großes Gewächs
Rosalack (pink seal): Auslese
Rosa-Goldlack (pink-gold seal): Beerenauslese
Goldlack (gold seal): Trockenbeerenauslese
Blaulack (blue seal): Eiswein
Schloss Johannisberg Gelblack Riesling 2015 Tasting Notes
As much as I love the Spätlese story; that’s not the wine I’m talking about today. So far I’ve only found the Schloss Johannisberg Gelblack trocken in Turkey. However, I am thinking Germany field trip to get the others! And, full disclosure…I love Riesling. You have to like really mess it up to make me not enjoy it.
The nose here explodes with apple, grapefruit, citrus zest, and a hint of white flowers. On the palate it displays Riesling’s characteristic crunchy green apple and mouthwatering acid. Hints of chalky minerals highlight the citrus and balance the beeswax, stone fruit, and green mango.
Really a lovely wine. I cannot wait try the other labels!