Schloss Johannisberg - Riesling 1946 yellow varnish

Schloss Johannisberg – Riesling 1946 ‘Gelblack’

1. General information

The Schloss Johannisberg – Riesling 1946 ‘Gelblack’ is a rare, historic white wine from the famous Rheingau region. It is a Riesling with the ‘Gelblack’ quality classification (Gelblack = Gelblack = Gelblack). The term ‘Gelblack’ (or ‘Gelblack’) refers to the colour of the capsule or seal and, at the Schloss Johannisberg winery, denotes a specific quality or flavour grade.

This wine is availablefrom the retailer Jahrhundertweine.de at a price of €445.00 (or €593.33 per litre). The bottle size is 0.75 litres.

2. Product details

3. Historical background – The Schloss Johannisberg winery

Schloss Johannisberg is one of the world’smost significant and time-honoured estates. First mentioned in a document as early as 817, it is regarded as the cradle of German Riesling. The Spätlese was ‘invented’ here in 1775 , followed by the first Auslese in 1787 and the first Eiswein in 1858.

The 35-hectare, contiguous single vineyard consists exclusively of south-facing Riesling vines growing on quartzite-rich Taunus slate. This terroir lends the wines their characteristic balance between mineral intensity and ripe fruit.

The Kabinett wines, as well as the rare Rosalack and Goldlack wines – which are produced only in outstanding vintages – have gained particular renown . The 1946 Gelblack falls into this exclusive category.

4. Classification of the 1946 vintage

The 1946vintage is of particular historical significance for German wines – it dates from the immediate post-war period and is one of the oldest Rieslings still available on the market. The Schloss Johannisberg winery is renowned for the exceptional ageing potential of its wines, as demonstrated by vintages such as 1921, 1949, 1959, 1971 and 1976.

The fact that, after almost 80 years, this wine is still being offered with a liquid level of 0.2 cm (practically up to the cork) and a well-preserved label and capsule speaks to its excellent storage conditions.

5. Taste profile (general for Gelblack Rieslings)

Although there are no current tasting notes available for the specific 1946 vintage, the typical profile of a Schloss Johannisberg Gelblack Rieslingcan be described as follows:

• Colour: Pale yellow with green highlights

• Nose: Distinct aromas of yellow fruits (peach, apricot, yellow apple), citrus fruits (lime, grapefruit, lemon), white flowers and subtle stony and mineral notes

• Palate: Smooth and juicy, with delicate fruit sweetness, underpinned by lively, crisp acidity and subtle minerality

• Finish: Long, clean and elegantly fruity

However, with an 80-year-old Riesling ,it is highly likely that distinct ageing aromas such as petrol, honey, dried fruit and spicy notes will be present, which will overshadow the original fruit profile.

6. Conclusion

The Schloss Johannisberg – Riesling 1946 ‘Gelblack’ is an extremely rare historic Riesling from one of the world’s most renowned estates. At nearly 80 years old, in excellent condition and from the 1946 vintage, it is a significant collector’s item and a testament to German wine culture. Due to its age and rarity, it is tradedless as a wine for enjoyment and more as a historical artefact and rarity for specialist collectors and auction houses.