Weingut Keller - Niersteiner Hipping Riesling Kabinett VDP Auction 2021

1. introduction

The Niersteiner Hipping Riesling Kabinett from Weingut Keller, which was offered as part of the 2021 VDP auction, represents a top site of the Rheinhessen winery and is one of the most sought-after Kabinett wines in Germany. The Keller winery, run by Klaus-Peter and Julia Keller, enjoys an excellent reputation worldwide and is considered one of the key protagonists in the renaissance of Riesling in Rheinhessen.

2nd site and terroir

• Site: Niersteiner Hipping - one of the most renowned single vineyards on the Roter Hang in Rheinhessen.

• Soil: Red clay slate ("Roter Hang") with a high iron oxide content, which gives the wine minerality, structure and a characteristic salty note.

• Exposure: South-west facing, optimal sun exposure for ripeness while maintaining freshness.

3rd vintage 2021

• A vintage with a cool spring, humid summer and sunny autumn.

• Good conditions for Kabinett wines: moderate must weights with high acidity and aromatic finesse.

• The grapes were harvested selectively in several passes to achieve perfect ripeness with low Oechsle.

4. sensory characteristics and description

• Colour: Pale yellow with greenish reflections.

• Nose: Extremely fine and complex - white peaches, green apples, mirabelle plums, complemented by notes of delicate herbs, fine slate and a light citrus freshness.

• Palate: Elegant and delicate, with a lively, precise acidity. The fruit appears clear and transparent, supported by a salty, mineral texture. Balanced interplay between sweetness and acidity, with a long, full-bodied finish.

• Potential: Already accessible, but has great ageing potential (10-15 years+).

5. auction result & rating

• The wine was offered as a rarity at the 2021 VDP Auction

• The limited availability and the reputation of the winery made it a coveted collector's item.

• Critics rated the 2021 vintage as outstanding for Kabinett wines, with a particular emphasis on balance and finesse.

6 Significance and classification

• Keller's Hipping Kabinett is exemplary of the modern interpretation of the Kabinett style: not just a light entry wine, but a complex, terroir-true wine with depth and ageing potential.

• It shows the strength of the 2021 vintage in Rheinhessen - finesse-rich, easy-drinking wines with race and minerality.

• In the auction landscape, it confirms the trend towards high-quality, storable Kabinett wines as an alternative to higher predicates.

7. conclusion

The Niersteiner Hipping Riesling Kabinett VDP.Auktion 2021 from Weingut Keller is a wine of exemplary elegance and terroir expression. It combines the classic lightness of a Kabinett with the mineral depth of the red slate and emphasises the art of Keller's winemaking. For connoisseurs and collectors, it represents a worthwhile investment and a genuine pleasure - both as a young aperitif wine personality and as a mature, complex wine.

Note: This report is based on available information on Keller wines, sensory descriptions from specialised reviews and general characteristics of the site and vintage.