We'll keep adding to this… Above is the 2021 harvest on the Kellers' parcel on the 73% slope of Nierstein's Pettenthal vineyard, described by Klaus Peter Keller as 'mountain climbing with grapes', a reminder of how labour-intensive German viticulture can be.
We're proud of paying so much attention to German wine, thanks to our previous German specialist Michael Schmidt and his successor Paula Sidore, as well as my and Julia's love of the wines. Tam is pretty keen too.
There was an almost audible sigh of relief after the first tasting of 2021 whites to find a sea change from the much hotter, drier vintages that preceded 2021 and, as time went on, it became clear that this is a very special vintage indeed. There may not be many late-picked, sweet marvels but the quality of the dry and Kabinett wines is inspiring, as you will see from the articles below.
Also released this year is clear proof that Germany is now a country capable of producing fine reds too. No one could complain that the 2020 reds have anything in common with the pale, wan dark pinks of yesteryear. And more and more wine lovers are realising that Germany can be fertile hunting ground for those looking for less-expensive alternatives to red burgundy.
Read on.
Tasting articles
Current Germans in London by Julia Harding MW and Jancis Robinson 8 November 2022
GG releases in 2022 – Riesling part 2 by Paula Sidore and Julia Harding MW 23 September 2022
GG releases in 2022 – Riesling part 1 by Paula Sidore, Tamlyn Currin and Julia Harding MW 22 September 2022
GG releases in 2022 – non-Riesling whites by Paula Sidore and Tamlyn Currin 16 September 2022
GG releases in 2022 – reds by Paula Sidore, Tamlyn Currin and Julia Harding MW 15 September 2022
Howard Ripley's 2021 Germans by Jancis Robinson 22 June, updated 28 June
The Kellers' 2022 releases by Julia Harding MW 16 June
The return of the Weinbörse, part 2 by Paula Sidore 1 June
The return of the Weinbörse, part 1 by Paula Sidore 31 May
Current German releases – two Ws by Paula Sidore 5 May
Current German releases – the three Ks by Paula Sidore 24 March
General articles
A brilliant idea by Jancis Robinson 18 June
Germany 2021 – wet, wet, wet by Paula Sidore 22 March