Weingut Keller - AbtsE Riesling dry Grosses Gewächs GG 2015

Keller AbtsE Riesling GG 2015: Monumental minerality

The Keller AbtsE Riesling GG from the 2015 vintageoccupies an almost sacred place in the pantheon of top German Rieslings. This wine is far more than a dry Riesling - it is a profound, moving study of the terroir of the Abtsberg and the extraordinary signature of the Keller winery under Klaus Peter Keller.

The foundation: Abtsberg - a terroir of extremes

• The name:"AbtsE" stands for "Abtsberg", one of the most famous and geologically unique single vineyards in Rheinhessen. The name refers to the nearby Lorsch Abbey, which once owned the site.

• The soil: Rotliegendesprevails here - weathered red clay slate, interspersed with volcanic elements and ferrous deposits. This barren, stony, deep and extremely mineralised subsoil is the heart of the AbtsE. It stores heat, forces the roots into the depths and gives the wine its unmistakable character: Intensity, complexity and an almost architectural structure combined with astonishing finesse.

• The location: The best plots on the steep, south-south-west facing slope offer maximum sunshine and optimum drainage.

The signature: Keller - precision and biodynamic philosophy

Klaus Peter Keller is recognised as one of the most consistent and talented winegrowers in Germany. His approach to the AbtsE GG is purist and respectful:

• Biodynamics: Demeter-certified for years. The work in the vineyard is aimed at living soils and healthy, expressive grapes.

• Strict selection:Only absolutely healthy grapes from the best vines in the core zone of the Abtsberg are used for the GG. Hand-picking is a matter of course.

• Minimalist vinification:spontaneous fermentation with natural yeasts, long contact with the fine lees (sur lie), maturation predominantly in large, neutral wooden or steel tanks. The aim is not a fruit bomb or technical perfection, but the unadulterated, crystalline translation of the Abtsberg terroir. The wine matures for a long time in the cellar before it goes on sale.

In the glass: a symphony of power and finesse

The 2015 Keller AbtsE GGcombines the ripeness and sunshine of the outstanding 2015 vintage with the taut minerality of the Abtsberg and Keller's precise style:

• Colour: Intense, radiant golden yellow with greenish reflections.

• Nose:An incredibly complex, profound bouquet. Initially dominated by ripe, concentrated yellow fruit (apricot, mirabelle plum, peach), baked apple and a slightly honeyed note - testimony to the 2015 sunshine. However, the mineral base immediately unfolds underneath: clear aromas of beaten flint, pebbles, smoke, cool slate and an almost salty, iodine-like note. Fine spicy elements (white pepper, ginger), delicate flowers (camomile) and a subtle, ripe petrol note are added. The nose is powerful, but never opulent, but of great depth and promise.

• Palate:The entry is dense and concentrated, almost weighty, but immediately infused with a breathtaking, linear acidity and an incredible mineral character. The ripe fruit is present, but is dominated by the salty, stony and smoky minerality of the Rotliegend. The texture is silky and dense, almost oily, but perfectly balanced by the lively, precise acidity. The tannins (yes, even white wine can have tannins!) are finely perceptible and lend additional structure and grip. The power of the vintage meets the rigour of the terroir - the result is monumental, but never heavy-handed. It is a tamed intensity of hypnotic depth.

• Length:The finish is endlessly long. Minerality (flint, salt), a delicate ripe fruit note and that characteristic cool slate character echo for minutes. The acidity carries the wine light as a feather and gives it an invigorating freshness despite its size.

2015 vintage: maturity & structure

2015 was a warm, sunny and dry vintage that produced grapes with optimal physiological ripeness, high must weight and well-developed phenols (tannins, aromas). This is evident in the density, fruit concentration and texture of the Keller AbtsE GG. Keller's great art lies in not allowing this ripeness to become opulent, but rather in restraining it through the concise acidity and dominant minerality and moulding it into a timeless, structured form.

Maturity potential & drinking recommendation:

• Young:Powerful, almost unsparing in its mineral intensity and acidity. Needs plenty of air or years in the cellar to open up.

• Current:Beginning to show initial harmony. The fruit is more accessible, the minerality more complex, the acidity perfectly integrated. A grandiose but still very powerful drinking experience. Decanting is almost obligatory!

• Long-term:This wine has what it takes to become an absolute legend. The mineral depth and acidity structure guarantee an extraordinary development. Complexity, harmony and "umami" notes will continue to increase as the wine matures.

Conclusion: A German Riesling monument

The Keller AbtsE Riesling GG 2015 is a wine of rare greatness and depth. It is not a simple pleasure, but a contemplative experience. It embodies the essence of the Abtsberg terroir - its raw mineral power, its complexity and its ability to produce Rieslings of unique structure and longevity. Klaus Peter Keller is a master at integrating the sunshine of the vintage with the austere minerality of the Rotliegend, creating a wine that possesses both monumental power and astonishing finesse and elegance. It is a Großes Gewächs in the truest sense of the word - a wine for connoisseurs, collectors and those who want to experience the highest school of dry Riesling. A piece of German wine history in a bottle.