(3.5g RS/8g acid/12% alc) Gunderloch’s crown jewel vineyard is the Nackenheimer Rothenberg, one of the top grosse lagen (grand cru’s) of the “Roter Hang” (a 5km stretch of steep vineyards along the Rhine river composed of iron-rich, blood-red slate and clay). The Rothenberg is almost a monopole for Gunderloch, and they are unquestionably the most important vintner working in the site. They pick between twenty and thirty parcels here from vines up to forty years old, vinifying them separately. The GG selections are macerated for a few days, then quickly pressed and placed in barrels without pre-clarification and spontaneously fermented to total dryness. The DNA of the Roter Hang is expressed as purely as possible here, perhaps even more so than the Niersteiner sites. Dark stone aromas accompany yellow fruits and savory green herbs (think marjoram, basil, etc) in a burnished, layered, extremely complex wine walking the line consistently between power and elegance. In the cooler year of 2021, the GG Rothenberg is supple and perfectly composed with lovely lift and a tick less alcohol than most vintages. In other words, it’s a joy for true Riesling freaks! It’s also a brilliant achievement for winemaker Johannes Hasselbach, who is extremely excited to share it with the world on its release date of September 1st 2022!