Westhofener Kirchspiel Riesling Großes Gewächs

In the glass

Summarised from the press reviews

Still very reserved on the nose in its youth, with lemon, chervil, white peach and a faintly leesy undertone. The palate is cool, finely creamy and yet firmly built: a little phenolic grip, chalky acidity and a salty limestone streak give it length. A precise, rather slender Kirchspiel that should only really open up after a few years in bottle.

Value for money

€69 is no bargain price, but similarly highly rated top GGs often cost considerably more. The 2024 does demand patience, though: leave it for a few years and you get a great deal of site character and ageing potential for your money.

Goes well with

Veal cheeks, turbot with herb butter or mature Comté

The estate

The Wittmann estate in Westhofen is one of the pioneers of modern dry Riesling in Rheinhessen. Philipp Wittmann runs the family business, which has been certified organic since the late 1980s and biodynamic since 2004. The vineyards in the Wonnegau lie mainly on clay marl with limestone; Große Lagen such as Morstein, Brunnenhäuschen, Kirchspiel and Aulerde define the estate’s reputation.