Old vines, young Ruwer
An Ortswein (village wine) that behaves like a Großes Gewächs (GG – the VDP's dry wine from a Grand Cru site) – and costs around €25. Our first Riesling of the Week comes from Karthäuserhof.
The Ruwer is the smallest and perhaps the quietest of the three valleys on the Mosel. Karthäuserhof has stood there for almost 700 years, and the Alte Reben (old vines) Riesling from Eitelsbach shows why it deserves your attention: cool fruit, plenty of drive, and a salty, slaty spice that lingers for a long time.
Falstaff rated the 2023 vintage at 93 and 94 points. For a wine in this price bracket that is remarkable – and exactly the kind of bottle that makes a magazine worth doing.
In the glass
Summarised from the press reviews
Ripe stone fruit such as mirabelle plum and vineyard peach, together with citrus zest, floral tones and a cool, spicy undertone of wet stone. The palate is dry, with lively acidity, a noticeable mineral drive and remarkable depth for an Ortswein; the finish is long and fresh.
Value for money
For around €22 to €25 you get site character from one of Germany's most famous monopole vineyards – the GG from the same hill costs €60 from the estate, and the gap in critics' ratings is considerably smaller than the gap in price.
Goes well with
Veal sweetbreads, halibut or mushroom risotto
Home of Riesling editorial team · researched on 24 September 2026 · prices as of 24 September 2026
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This is our first Riesling of the Week. From now on, a new one will be added every week.