Weingut Keller - Riesling Sekt Grande Cuvée N°001 brut nature dry NV disgorged 03/2023

Weingut Keller - Riesling sparkling wine Prestige extra brut 2021, Rheinhessen

Introduction: Champagne mentality on Rheinhessen limestone

This is not just a sparkling wine, but the consistent application of Keller's philosophy to traditional bottle fermentation. The "Prestige" is the top cuvée in the Keller sparkling wine programme and embodies the claim to create a sparkling wine of absolute character and longevity - comparable to a Blanc de Blancs from a grand cru site in Champagne. The basis: high-quality Riesling from the best vineyards, vinified with the same dedication as the still wines.

Sensory description (youthful stage)

As a sparkling wine with vintage and extra brut dosage, this is a powerful, serious and storable sparkling wine.

• Perlage & colour:

  • Perlage: Fine, dense and extremely persistent. The chain of bubbles is straight and creamy.

  • Colour: Bright light golden yellow with greenish reflections - a sign of its youthful freshness and extract strength.

• Nose:
  The bouquet is intense, clear and of remarkable mineral depth, combining the typical ripeness of the 2021 vintage with the nervous tension of Keller's imprinting power.

  • Citrus & stone fruit: Ripe lemon, white peach, mirabelle plum and a hint of pineapple.

  • Keller minerality: Distinct flavours of damp pebbles, chalk and a cool, salty note.

  • Yeasty complexity: Delicate notes of fresh bread dough, brioche and yeast cake - a sign of autolysis during bottle ageing. Not dominant, but elegantly integrated.

  • Flavour: A fine, tingling note of ginger and lemon zest.

• Palate:
  On the palate, the sparkling wine is characterisedby a majestic balance between strength and elegance.

  • The texture is creamy and velvety due to the fine perlage, but at the same time has a taut, straightforward core.

  • The acidity is lively, electrifying and crystalline, forming the backbone of the sparkling wine and giving it enormous tension and length - typical of the structure of the 2021 vintage.

  • The flavours of citrus, peach and brioche unfold perfectly.

  • The dosage (extra brut, probably 0-3 g/l residual sugar)is almost imperceptible and only supports the fruit without creating sweetness. The impression is absolutely dry, puristic and mineral.

  • The finish is long, salty and characterisedby refreshing bitterness (like lemon zest). It lingers for minutes and immediately invites the next tasting.

Vintage & production

• Vintage 2021 in Rheinhessen: A classic, cooler and more acidic vintage, these conditions are ideal for producing long-lasting, precise sparkling wines. The natural acidity and moderate alcohol ensure freshness and finesse, while concentrated layers provide the necessary extract strength and depth.

• Grape base:Selected Riesling from the best Keller vineyards (presumably with a proportion from sites such as Hubacker, Abtserde or Kirchspiel), which are known for their mineral rigour.

• Méthode Traditionnelle:

  • Second fermentation and maturation on the lees (sur lie) in the cellar.

  • The yeast ageing period (autolysis) lasts several years, which explains the creamy texture and complex yeast notes.

  • Disgorgement by hand.

  • Extra brut dosage to emphasise the pure character of the fruit and terroir.

Maturity & ageing potential

• Current drinking maturity: The sparkling wine is already exceptionally accessible and complex. The yeast notes are present but harmonious. It can now be drunk with great pleasure.

• Development potential: This is where its true greatness is revealed. This sparkling wine is designed for long ageing in the bottle.

  • Optimal drinking window: 2024 - 2035+.

  • Long-term development:With increasing age, the yeast notes (brioche, nut) become more intense and merge with the mineral base to create an even more complex, spicy and creamy texture - similar to a mature champagne.

  • Ageing potential:15-20 years or more if stored in a cool, dark place .

Rating & recommendations

Rating: 95/100 points
A sparkling wine of international top class. It sets new standards for German Riesling sparkling wines and proves that the Méthode Traditionnelle and first-class raw materials can produce sparkling wines of Champagne calibre.

Recommendations:

• Serving temperature: 8-10°C. Do not serve too cold to avoid numbing the complex flavours.

• Glass: A classic Champagne tulip or a universal white wine glass is ideal for concentrating the bouquet.

• Decanting: Not necessary. Savour slowly in the glass and observe the development.

• Food pairing (A real dinner champagne):

  • Appetisers: Oysters, caviar, scallops, sushi.

  • Main courses: Grilled fish (e.g. sea bass), roasted white meat (veal fillet, poularde).

  • Cheese: Creamy cheeses such as Chaource or mature mountain cheese.

Conclusion

The Keller Riesling Sekt Prestige extra brut 2021 is a milestone. The Kellers have succeeded in translating the unmistakable mineral density and linear rigour of their Rieslings into the lively, creamy form of a sparkling wine. This sparkling wine is powerful, serious and of breathtaking length. It is not a light aperitif, but a gastronomic companion and an object of meditation for connoisseurs. Anyone who ever doubted that Germany could produce world-class sparkling wines will be proven wrong with this bottle. A must-have for every lover of great, traditionally produced sparkling wines.