Gut Hermannsberg – Kupfergrube Riesling Grosses Gewächs GG dry 2014

The Gut Hermannsberg Schlossböckelheimer Kupfergrube Riesling Großes Gewächs 2014 is an exceptional example of the Nahe wine-growing tradition and ranks among the most sought-after dry Rieslings in Germany. The Gut Hermannsberg estate, which emerged from the former Royal Prussian State Estate and was revived in 2010, has quickly established itself under its new name as a leading player on the German wine scene – Gault-Millau named it ‘Rising Star of the Year’ as early as 2013. The wine comes from the legendary steepslope of Kupfergrube near Schlossböckelheim, which is considered one of Germany’s finest Riesling terroirs.

The history of this vineyard is extraordinary: what was originally a copper mine was transformed into a vineyard over a hundred years ago through blasting . The unique soil consists of melaphyre, a volcanic igneous rock, overlaid with a layer of carboniferous shale that took thousands of hours of labour to apply. This spoil material ensures excellent drainage with only a small proportion of fine soil – a decisive advantage in years with high rainfall . The grapes for this ‘Großes Gewächs’ come from vines up to 70 years old, grown on the site’s finest plots.

The 2014 vintage is described as cool yet dense – ideal conditions for a Riesling of great finesse and elegance. The wine was matured in half-barrel casks and, like all ‘Großes Gewächs’ wines from the Kupfergrube, is only released onto the market after five years of ageing – a great rarity in the German wine industry. With an alcohol content of 12.5% vol. and residual sugar of less than 5 g/l alongside just under 8 g/l of acidity, it presents itself as a taut, dry Riesling.

On the nose, the wine unfolds an expressive, multi-layered bouquet: aromas of orange peel and passion fruit, as well as deeply smoky notes and flinty aromas, characterise the fragrance. These are complemented by cool herbal spice and a pronounced minerality. The wine comes across as delicate, ethereal, floral and stony – displaying incredible finesse, as noted in a tasting report.

On the palate, the Kupfergrube GG 2014 reveals itself as a powerful and intense wine of great depth. It is light-footed and elegant, with delicate berry tannins and silky finesse. The minerality is present, almost salty, and the powerful acid structure lends it a racy elegance. The finish reveals the typical robust minerality, which leads to deep complexity – salty rock lingers on the palate for a long time.

Critics were impressed by this wine. Falstaff awarded it 93 points in 2016 and described it as ‘great stuff’, whose fermentation-driven aroma suggests a bright future. The wine critic Lobenberg even awarded it97–98+/100 points and praised it as a “legendary powerhouse with incredible finesse and playful complexity”. Gerstl awarded the wine 19/20 points and highlighted its wonderfully mineral, intense and complex bouquet.

It will begin to reach its drinking peak around 2016 and will remain drinkable well into the future – estimates extend as far as 2040. The wine benefits from further ageing in the bottle; According to tasters, it needs time to fully develop and should be decanted thoroughly after opening. It is an ideal accompaniment to sophisticated dishes and offers an exceptional tasting experience for collectors and lovers of complex, mineral Rieslings.