Dr von Bassermann Jordan - Kirchenstück Riesling Grosses Gewächs GG dry 2017

Dr von Bassermann-Jordan – Forster Kirchenstück Riesling Großes Gewächs GG dry 2017

General information

Origin & Winemaking

The wine comes from the ‘Forster Kirchenstück’ Grand Cru, one of the most famous Riesling vineyards in the Palatinate. The vineyard, covering around 4 hectares, is situated in Forst on the Weinstraße – its name derives from its location ‘behind the church’. The Geheimer Rat Dr. von Bassermann-Jordan winery cultivates 0.44 hectares of this area .

The soils of the Kirchenstück are exceptionally complex: weathered red sandstone, sandy loam with high water and heat retention capacity, interspersed with sandstone gravel, clay, limestone deposits and basalt. This diversity of rock strata lends the wines enormous complexity.

The Geheimer Rat Dr. von Bassermann-Jordan winery, founded in 1718, now cultivates 49 hectares of vineyards in and around Deidesheim and Forst and is a member of the VDP as well as being EU organic-certified.

The grapes for the 2017 Kirchenstück were harvestedin two batches on 13 and 23 September. The must underwent spontaneous fermentation in two half-barrels before the batches were blended into a single barrel following fermentation . Bottling took place at the end of July the following year.

Tasting notes

Falstaff (96 points – Ulrich Sautter, 2020)

“Complex, though not yet fully developed: stone fruit, floral notes, damp sand. Oak barrel. Extreme complexity. Smooth on the palate, pronounced sweetness, lively acidity, delicate phenols; it has richness and depth, finely chiselled yet rich minerality – a rather extroverted Kirchenstück, but with such inner richness!”

Falstaff (96 points – Ulrich Sautter, 2018)

“Multilayered, though not yet fully developed: stone fruit, floral notes, wet sand and oak on the nose – supremely complex. Supple on the attack with a vivid sweetness and lively acidity. Delicate phenolics lend texture and depth to this finely chiselled wine with a rich minerality; a rather extroverted Kirchenstück, yet with such inner richness.”

Bauer Vinothek

“On the nose, there are notes of flint, exotic fruits such as passion fruit and grapefruit. A hint of citrus rounds off the aromatic profile. The wine is tart yet juicy, truly delicate and extremely invigorating. Salty minerality paired with gripping acidity make this wine a true masterpiece.”

Summary of aromas

The nose is dominated by stone fruit, floral nuances, damp sand, flint, exotic fruits (passion fruit, grapefruit) and citrus notes. On the palate, there is a supple attack with pronounced sweetness, lively acidity and delicate tannins. The wine possesses a velvety texture and depth, a finely chiselled, rich minerality, and is described as an ‘extroverted church piece with inner richness’. The salty minerality and gripping acidity make it a monument.

Reviews (selection)

Drinking maturity & ageing potential

The 2017 Kirchenstück was awarded 96 pointsby Falstaff in both 2018 and 2020 – with the repeated observation that it had‘not yet unfolded’. The recommended drinking window extends from 2020 to 2035. Currently (2026) , the wine is in an excellent drinking phase, but will only reveal its full potential in a few years’ time.

Conclusion

The Dr. von Bassermann-Jordan Forster Kirchenstück Riesling Großes Gewächs 2017 is a world-class Riesling from one of the Palatinate’s most famous vineyards. The combination of a unique, diverse terroir (red sandstone, loam, limestone, basalt), spontaneous fermentation in wooden barrels and the centuries-old expertise of one of Germany’s most traditional estates results in a wine of the highest complexity, mineral precision and enormous ageing potential.

With 96 Falstaff points and 95 Tastingbook points, this wine ranks among the finest Rieslings of its vintage. The repeated emphasis on its ‘as yet ununfolded’ complexity underlines its great ageing potential – a wine that is already a delight to drink but will continue to gain in complexityfor many years to come.

For lovers of great German Rieslings, the 2017 Kirchenstück GG is an absolute benchmark and a living testament to the Bassermann-Jordan estate’sart of winemaking, spanning over 300 years.