Old values & new design
The estate wines of Gut Hermannsberg receive the same meticulous craftsmanship and attention as its top wines. This is not surprising, given Gut Hermannsberg's magnificent portfolio of vineyards, which includes no less than seven Grosses Gewächs sites. Cultivation, vine care and processing are intensive and elaborate for all wines. The older, deeply rooted vines have a chance to become VDP.GROSSES GEWÄCHS. The grapes of younger vines are intended for the estate wines. All wines, from the Gutswein to the GG, receive a detailed selection in the wine press house and also maceration times. In the cellar, the wines are given plenty of time to develop naturally. It is not until April – typical for Gut Hermannsberg – that winemaker Karsten Peter bottles the estate wines.
The typical signature of the winery is also clearly noticeable in the entry-level wines. The highest Riesling quality meets accessibility here – a balancing act that Karsten Peter masters with aplomb every year. "Our estate wines represent the quality of the Rieslings and Pinot Blancs on the Nahe and develop their own unique style: elegance, aromas, coolness and a slightly lower alcohol content. They display and combine all the advantages that make the region so special," says managing director Achim Kirchner, describing the introduction to the great world of Riesling at Gut Hermannsberg.
With the 2022 vintage, the winery wants to focus more clearly on the essentials in its estate wines. This is easy to see in the new labels: with large-print puns, more space is given to the wine styles typical of the region. JUST stands for "Just Riesling", which simply means "only Riesling". A Riesling that is uncomplicated and yet invites pure drinking pleasure at a high quality level. FINE alludes to the region's and the winery's long tradition of Rieslings with a fine balance i.e. Rieslings with a fine heart. And WEISS is an elegant Pinot Blanc, the most important grape variety on the Nahe next to Riesling.
"With the new labels, we want to put more focus on our estate wines, because we are thrilled by the enormous quality and expression of these wines every year. Everyone talks about the Grosses Gewächse, but the "small" Gewächse [growth] can be really great," says managing director Jasper Reidel, explaining the relaunch.
JUST
Fresh and fruity yet elegant, JUST opens the doors to the Riesling world of Gut Hermannsberg. A Riesling that proudly presents its origin. Carried by exotic fruit aromas and juicy acidity: flavours of citrus, white peach and crisp apple. The salty minerality and the typical herbal spiciness lead to a pleasant drinking flow and stimulating freshness in the finish. An entry at a high level!
FINE
The finely balanced Riesling FINE has a long tradition in the former Royal Prussian Winegrowing Domaine and stands for an exciting interplay of sweetness and acidity. Few other wines express the strengths of the Nahe Riesling in a comparable way. Apple, pear and passion fruit harmonise with a juicy acidity and subtle hints of sweet mango. Pure Riesling enjoyment, with the typical style of Gut Hermannsberg!
WEISSburgunder
The Weissburgunder (Pinot Blanc) reflects the diversity of the volcanic soils. The aromatic complexity of this estate wine is already apparent on the nose. Its light, exotic aromas are complemented by crisp, yellow apple. It skilfully plays with fruit and acidity. The finish is long and slightly creamy, with clear notes of red apple. The Weissburgunder wonderfully conveys the typicality of the Nahe: elegant, cool and yet powerful.
