Rheinhessen 2026: Tasting at Wittmann

Westhofen, Rheinhessen
Tasted Friday, July 3, 2026 by Vinjahideen with 12 views

Introduction

Given the modern art-draped winery, I understand why 24 GGs have gone up in price; hosted by Leo, head of sales;

Chalk, limestone is key in Rhinehessen; throughout the whole Westhofen there is some iron traces given it sits on the prehistoric Rhine river, Ur-Rhein; quite far away from the river in-land, so is not river influenced; it's quite south and hotter than Mosel, Nahe and Rheingau; Morstein and Brunnenhauschen are to the North-West of Westhofen/winery; close to Gundesheim, to the South-East are Aulerde and Kirchspiel, former is marly not so chalky and only has iron in specific parcels, whilst latter is minerally and lively with slightly higher iron content; Brunnenhauschen is higher than Morstein with terra rosa soil, most iron, but both are heavy limestone soil, marl, clay and south-facing and a little cooler than Aulerde/Kirchspiel, windier but closer to the sun;

Biodynamic; machines used as vineyards are not very steep; spontaneously fermented, large cask; smaller and smaller neutral casks used for EGs and GGs, plot by plot vinification; oldest oak from 1891; micro-oxygenation is key; 7-10m lees after fermentation, more for GGs/EGs; given the hot climate, Spatburgunder is up-and-coming, reds are all barrique only of various size, 16-17m elevage;

There is a red apple phenol throughout the lineup perhaps due to iron in the region as well as a very Côte des Blancs chalk; the Rieslings are very integrated and show immense balance at youth; unfortunately was unable to go through more GG vineyards or back-vintages so I cannot opine much; terroir expression is clear yet the fruit is ripe and ruddy but not nearly tropical; the wines are not razor-like in acid or minerality; I've not taken Spatburgunder seriously previously, but I was taken aback by how close these are to Sonoma, or even a Volnay; there is clearly a structurally low acid, ripeness and I suspect, a winemaking learning curve issue however;

Flight 1 (2 Notes)

Flight 2 (4 Notes)

  • 2024 Wittmann Westhofener Riesling 90 Points

    Germany, Rheinhessen

    Erste Gewachs, assemblage; chalky, hotter and lower elevation vs Gundesheim; 2km away;

    shy nose feels wet and stony, then becomes more caramel; calcium more so in the body with a mineral effervescence;

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  • 2024 Wittmann Gundersheimer Riesling trocken 91 Points

    Germany, Rheinhessen

    Erste Gewachs, assemblage; chalky, cooler and winder vs Westhofen as well as higher altitude;

    Nose of flowery honey, herbal fragrance, getting a very Meursault minerality aroma; body is tight and shy, embryonic;

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  • 2024 Wittmann Niersteiner Riesling Erste Lage 91 Points

    Germany, Rheinhessen

    Red slate, high oxidised iron; comes from vineyards further from the Rhine as opposed to Pettenthal and Hipping which are closer;

    Body low in acids and quite red apple; fairly well developed at this stage; good sweetness, non GLs here;

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  • 2024 Wittmann Westhofener Kirchspiel Riesling Großes Gewächs 94 Points

    Germany, Rheinhessen

    Most open by far on the chalk: powdery but not creamy, South-East facing therefore cool; citrus oil as well; red apple is dominant core of palette and mildly ripe, fruit most developed here;

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Flight 3 (3 Notes)

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