Gunderloch Jean Baptiste Riesling Kabinett Rheinhessen

Description

Gunderloch Jean Baptiste Riesling Kabinett is the only Kabinett in Gunderloch’s range. It is a classical, off-dry Riesling and is a blend of the ‘Hipping’ and ‘Pettenthal’ Grosses Gewächs, fermented and aged in stainless steel.

Gunderloch, Family Owned Since 1890

Winemaker Fritz Hasselbach was catapulted into winemaking when his wife Agnes inherited the Gunderloch Winery. Agnes’s great, great-grandfather was banker Karl Gunderloch, who founded the wine estate in 1890. Fritz had studied winemaking at Geisenheim Wine School. After graduating, he became a wine-growing teacher and a farm adviser for the government, advising other growers on how to plant vineyards. Agnes, who worked as a high school teacher, and Fritz decided to retire from their jobs and go into the wine business. Their first vintage was 1979.

Located On The Banks of The Rhine

The Gunderloch Wine Estate is located in the small village of Nackenheim. This town is situated on the banks of the River Rhine at the foot of the Rothenberg, the famed hillside vineyard site. It is said that Karl Gunderloch used to trek from Gundersblum, his place of birth, to his bank in Mainz. On these daily journeys, he carefully observed how the sun played off the hills and that, in some parts of the vineyards, the winter snow used to melt more quickly than others. Based on these observations, he purchased vineyard property that appeared to collect sunlight most efficiently.

Since the untimely death of Fritz in 2016, his son Johannes has taken over and has upgraded the old winery and cellar whilst also building a new winery next door. This has allowed him to stay in the centre of Nackenheim near the family’s best vineyard holdings.

Gunderloch Jean Baptiste Riesling Kabinett Vineyards

Grapes for the Gunderloch Jean Baptiste Riesling Kabinett are sourced from the Grand Cru sites of Hipping and Pettenthal, located in the Roter Hang. The area is named after its distinctive iron-rich red soils, which formed over 280 million years ago. The combination of red slate and limestone lends a distinctive character and complex minerality to the wines. The vines are planted on east and south-east facing slopes, overlooking the Rhine, protecting the vines from cold winds and ensuring a unique microclimate for optimal ripeness. The parcel is managed organically and sustainably

Winemaking

• Grapes were harvested by hand.
• Bunches were gently pressed in a pneumatic press.
• The juice was left to settle overnight.
• Fermentation took place in stainless steel tanks at a controlled temperature of 14°C to preserve and enhance the vibrant, primary aromatics.
• Fermentation was stopped by chilling once approximately 25 g/L of residual sugar was reached.
• The wine was then aged for four months on the fine lees.

Jean Baptiste Gunderloch is the main character in Carl Zuckmayer’s play “The Jolly Vineyard”, this wine is dedicated to him.