The Riesling Kabinett Dorsheimer Pittermännchen 2021 from Schlossgut Diel, which we tasted three years ago, was excellent. This time, we tasted a Riesling Auslese 2023 from the winery’s Dorsheimer Goldloch vineyard. Although the two vineyards border each other, the grapes thrive on different soils. While slate is the dominant characteristic of the Pittermännchen vineyard, the spicy, often slightly smoky nose of the Goldloch vineyard is likely due to the bedrock beneath the heavily gravelly loam soils. With a slope of up to 55%, the vineyard demands a high level of work. On the other hand, this incline, combined with the south to southwest exposure of the vineyard, ensures excellent sun exposure, which promotes ripening.
The Schlossgut Diel estate, located in Burg Layer, is run by the seventh generation of the Diel family: Caroline Diel, responsible for viticulture and vinification, and her husband, Sylvain Taurisson-Diel, who handles marketing and sales. In Dorsheim, they cultivate the VDP.Große Lage (Grand Cru) vineyards Pittermännchen, Goldloch, and Burgberg; in Burg Layer, they manage the VDP.Erste Lage (Premier Cru) vineyards Hölle, Johannisberg, and Schlossberg, as well as the Laubenheimer Krone, also a VDP.Erste Lage. Two-thirds of the estate’s vineyards are planted with Riesling, the remainder with Pinot varieties. In addition to still wines, ranging from dry to lusciously sweet, the estate also produces sparkling wines from both Riesling and Pinot varieties. We tasted the Auslese (selected harvest wine) with peach and passion fruit compote and sesame ice cream, with which it harmonized perfectly.
2023 Riesling Auslese Dorsheimer Goldloch VDP.Große Lage, Schlossgut Diel (Tasted wines)
Despite delicate passion fruit notes, the nose is not overpowering, but rather cool and restrained. On the palate, it is well-structured, with beautiful minerality, delicate fruity aromas of passion fruit and mandarin, along with floral notes and a touch of orange peel. Together with the vibrant, wonderfully balanced acidity, these elements create a very complex, spicy, fruity, and slightly saline finish with an incredibly long and beautiful aftertaste – an excellent wine.