2023 Riesling, Dry, Eltville Collection, Eva Fricke, Rheingau, Germany

12.5% stated alcohol. Natural cork. Tasted at the domaine.

The 2023 Eltville Collection Dry is officially an Eltville Riesling trocken based on old massal selections from the iconic Schloss Eltz producer. The wine opens with a deep, pure, refined saline, wonderfully intense and very elegant, finely mineral nose of finely weathered rocks, stones and salts. Full-bodied, intense, and savoury on the palate, this is an elegant, refined, and powerful Riesling with remarkable finesse and elegance, as well as density and concentration. It is very long and elegant, with small ripe pears on the aftertaste.

Drink 2024 - 2040

From organically grown grapes. Vegan.

It has long been said that riesling has a peachy aroma, but seldom has this been so striking as in this wine. In a small glass this comes over cool and in a large glass more expansively, but either way this amazing wine is the soul of the peach. The gigantic structure and minerality hit you like a giant wave in the finish, which is both exciting and delightful. Whatever you do, put this in a large glass of the kind you’d use for a great pinot noir. 

Drinkable now, but best from 2025.

Full bottle 1,333 g. Vineyards in the historic Schloss Eltz estate. The booklet about the Eltville Collection explains: 'Since 2019, Weingut Eva Fricke has been cultivating the venerable vineyard and has converted it to organic cultivation under certification. Currently the cultivation expands to biodynamic practices. Further, as many plants were missing, a first part of the historic Eltz vineyard was replanted with Eva Fricke’s own mass selection, cuttings from her own oldest Krone vineyard in Lorch containing historic Riesling clones from around 1900.'

Intensely mineral/stony first impression. Big and powerful wine despite its diminutive 12.5% alcohol. Extremely salty, almost sour in its freshness, less fruity than some of Fricke's wines from her Lorch vineyards. But, to my surprise, on the day after opening there was a trace of something pretty and floral. Chewy depths and a very long and textured finish. Distinctive Rheingau Riesling with so many layers and facets. The flavour continues long after you have swallowed this wine.