2021 Goldlack Riesling dry Schloss Johannisberg Rheingau 0.75l

2021 Schloss Johannisberger "Goldlack" Riesling dry Schloss Johannisberg - Rheingau
single-vineyard wine

Origin:

Since 1720, Schloss Johannisberg in the Rheingau has been considered the world's oldest Riesling winery and the cradle of significant chapters in wine history – from the discovery of the Spätlese (1775) to the first ice wine (1858). With its 50 hectares of vineyards, facing exactly south, the vineyard rests on a quartzite hill in the Taunus massif , covered in iron-rich loess and clay soils. The striking 50th parallel runs directly through the vineyard and, with its strong temperature differences between day and night, ensures an incomparable aroma expression. The grapes for the 2021 Goldlack come from the "Mäuerchen quer" (Mill Cross) plot within the Langenberg , which the cellar master describes as the "prime piece" of Schloss Johannisberg.

Expansion:

After hand-picking and 48 hours of maceration, the must was transferred to legendary 1,200-liter barrels made from oak from the castle's own forest. Fermentation was spontaneous, followed by malolactic fermentation , which lends the wine additional creaminess. It then matured for 24 months on the full lees in the nine-meter-deep Bibliotheca Subterranea before bottling in spring 2024.

Aroma & Taste:

The 2021 Goldlack opens with an intense, flint-like bouquet reminiscent of flint, ripe citrus fruits, and apricot . On the palate, it is dense, powerful, and yet elegant , with salty minerality , precise spice , and a gripping yet delicate acidity of 8.2 g/l . The oak maturity is noticeable in the creamy texture and delicate spice without overpowering the purist clarity of the Riesling. The finish impresses with taut length, saline freshness, and noble serenity —a Riesling that unfolds its full class in large glasses.

Food recommendation:

A Riesling of such intensity and structure calls for robust culinary partners, such as pan-fried turbot with shellfish jus, veal loin with morels, confit pork belly with Asian spices , or mature Comté.

The 2021 vintage in the Rheingau:

2021 is considered a classic Riesling vintage in many parts of Germany, following several very warm and early-ripening years (2018–2020). A cool, wet spring and summer led to late bud break, delayed flowering, and high levels of plant protection , resulting in a significantly smaller harvest. However, thanks to a highly selective hand-picking in October, Rheingau winemakers were able to harvest healthy, high-quality Riesling grapes after a long ripening period , with plenty of freshness, aromatic clarity, and distinctive acidity.

The wines present themselves as taut, precise and lean , but at the same time with inner strength, often described as a return to the cool, storable Rheingau types of earlier great vintages of the 1990s.

Conclusion:

The 2021 Goldlack Riesling dry is the pinnacle of Schloss Johannisberger's dry Rieslings : a wine with power, elegance, and saline minerality that expresses the exceptional terroir of the Schlossberg at its finest. Thanks to its dense structure, precise acidity, and extended aging on the lees, it has enormous ageing potential and will continue to refine over many years. A great Rheingau Riesling for the patient—and a worthy representative of the Goldlack line.