The 2006 Nussbrunnen Riesling has a wonderful full golden yellow color. Clear and reflective. In the nose ripe mangos; pure, strong and racy. Nice sweetness with some acidity. Still fresh with a strong body – the term sinewy comes to my mind. In the mouth very present and also nice fruity aromas. The finish middle-long; perhaps a little bit short.
In total a nice Riesling Spaetlese and a very good example of this sweet wine style. Pair this wine mainly with some nice cream cheese, but not too strong. This wine is already well drinkable, but even in the half-bottle I believe it will improve in the next two years and will remain on this level of quality for another 3 to 5 years. I have another bottle in my cellar, I will check.
Balthasar Ress is a very good winery in the Rheingau in Germany with very innovative owners. The Vinothek (Wine Shop) in Hattenheim is worth to visit and on the website www.balthasar-ress.de all information is available in English, too. So something for your next Germany trip?
German wine classification is not easily understandable. In January 2012, Germany's VDP (Association of German Prädikat Wine Estates) agreed to further refine their classification concept, in which the origin and quality of a wine are inextricably related. On top of the pyramid created as part of the classification is the so-called "VDP.GROSSE LAGE" - best comparable to a top vineyard site. Indeed the Hattenheim Nussbrunnen is such a classified single vineyard "that unmistakably reflects the influence of their microclimate and soil structure, and shows especially high quality potential" (citation from Balthasar Ress website).
Also on the website you can find a good description of the Nussbrunnen: "The Nussbrunnen vineyard in Hattenheim has a south-southeast exposure. The name derives from a "Brunnen," or spring, that was once surrounded by nut trees. The source of the spring is still visible today. It lies well protected from cold northerly winds on the lower reaches of the slope, adjacent to the site Wisselbrunnen. Among the finest parcels of vines in the Rheingau is the 1.5-ha/3.7-acre parcel within Nussbrunnen that is owned by the Balthasar Ress estate. Its special soil conditions, e.g. deep, loam-loess soils that guarantee an excellent water balance, as well as the prevailing microclimate, are among the reasons that Nussbrunnen is such a top site. These are the prerequisites that enable grapes to consistently yield top-quality wines."
