2017 Dr. Bürklin-Wolf 'Gaisböhl G.C.' Riesling Ruppertsberger

Winemaker Notes: The Dr. Bürklin-Wolf estate is the sole (monopole) owner of this top-rated site in Ruppertsberg, which has a total extent of 8 ha, of which only 5,2 ha are classified as a G.C. site. The origin of this site goes back to the late medieval era. It was classified as a First Growth in terms of the Royal Bavarian Site Classification. It is located at the foot of the Mittelhaardt mountains, and benefits from an advantageous temperate microclimate. Deposits of gravel in terraces with layers of clay in the soil provide the Gaisböhl wine with its huge body and elegant acidity, the coloured sandstone ensures a very long maturation potential.

In 1597, Bernhard Bürklin, town clerk and mayor of Wachenheim, founded Germany's largest privately owned estate, Bürklin-Wolf. The estate is based in the Mittelhaardt, the quality core of Germany’s Pfalz, located an hours drive north‐east of Alsace. Aptly, the Pfalz Mittelhardt is the topographical and geological extension of France’s Côte d’Or and Alsace. The Mittelhardt’s best sites are similarly located within a very narrow, sheltered east‐facing strip of land.

This historic estate has a 400 year history and is the largest family owned winery in Germany with 110 hectares. The vineyards are located in Wachenheim, Forst, Deidesheim and Ruppertsberg including the monopol sites "Wachenheimer Rechbächel" and "Gaisböhl" in Ruppertsberg.

Disillusioned with confusing German wine laws that rated all vineyards equal and defined quality by sugar level, Bettina Bürklin-von Guradze made a radical decision in 1994 to focus on terroir-driven, dry, 100% riesling vineyard-designated bottlings. Her model is that of Burgundy, with 4 tiers of quality : basic "estate" wine, named "village" cuvées, premiers crus (which she calls P.C.) and grands crus (G.C.). After historical and geological research, she discovered that her own classification matched the Royal Bavarian Vineyard Classification of 1828.

Bettina made the decision to undertake a total conversion to BIODYNAMIC VITICULTURE, COMPLETED IN 2005, and Burklin-Wolf has thus become the first German member of the prestigious Biodyvin group.

CRITICAL ACCLAIM


Robert Parker's Wine Advocate - "The 2019 Gaisböhl G.C. is pure, fresh and flinty on the lemon-scented nose that is the youngest of all the 2019s of the domain at this early stage. Juicy, piquant and salty on the palate, this is an intense but pure, linear and almost weightless dry Riesling with a crystalline structure, salinity and decent finesse. The finish is intense and mineral but also juicy, with concentrated fruit flavors. A promising classic, perhaps the coolest style of the 2019 vintage here. Tasted as a barrel sample in April 2020. Drink: 2025-2050. 95-97pts"


James Suckling - "Full of yellow fruit (the ripest nectarines), this is very juicy, but avoids any hint of opulence, thanks to the very fresh acidity that lifts everything effortlessly. The finish is oh, so silky. From biodynamically grown grapes with Biodyvin certification. Drink or hold."


Wine Spectator - "Strapping, with fresh acidity behind the roasted pineapple, grapefruit and green peach flavors. Mineral and herbal details show midpalate, bolstered by electric acidity that adds notes of dried citrus peel. Hints of white chocolate and cream emerge on the elegant finish. Best from 2022 through 2032. 660 cases made, 38 cases imported."