Balthasar Ress
Hattenheim Rheingau Riesling
Rheingau, Germany
Balthasar Ress – Riesling Trocken – 2022
Hattenheim, Rheingau – Germany 🇩🇪
Overview
100% Riesling from the esteemed village of Hattenheim in the Rheingau. The 2022 Trocken shows a more linear, mineral-driven profile compared to the rounder, off-dry (Feinherb) 2023. This vintage highlights precision and dryness, leaning into citrus and slate rather than fruit sweetness.
Aromas & Flavors
Green apple, lime peel, and underripe pear with hints of crushed stone, white flowers, and delicate herbal notes. The fruit is crisp and focused, emphasizing Rheingau minerality.
Mouthfeel
Bone-dry, zesty, and refreshing. Lively acidity brings tension and drive, finishing clean, stony, and slightly saline. Sleeker and tighter than the 2023.
Food Pairings
Ideal with sushi, oysters, ceviche, herbed chicken, grilled vegetables, or goat cheese. Its dryness makes it extremely versatile at the table.
Verdict
A beautifully crafted, refreshing Rheingau Trocken that showcases 2022’s precision. If the 2023 Hattenheim Feinherb is charming and juicy, the 2022 Trocken is its crisp, mineral-focused sibling.
Did You Know?
Hattenheim is one of the Rheingau’s historic villages for Riesling, its vineyard sites benefit from river reflection, slate soils, and a moderated climate that produces both structured dry styles and expressive off-dry examples.
Balthasar Ress – Riesling Trocken – 2022
Hattenheim, Rheingau – Germany 🇩🇪
Overview
100% Riesling from the esteemed village of Hattenheim in the Rheingau. The 2022 Trocken shows a more linear, mineral-driven profile compared to the rounder, off-dry (Feinherb) 2023. This vintage highlights precision and dryness, leaning into citrus and slate rather than fruit sweetness.
Aromas & Flavors
Green apple, lime peel, and underripe pear with hints of crushed stone, white flowers, and delicate herbal notes. The fruit is crisp and focused, emphasizing Rheingau minerality.
Mouthfeel
Bone-dry, zesty, and refreshing. Lively acidity brings tension and drive, finishing clean, stony, and slightly saline. Sleeker and tighter than the 2023.
Food Pairings
Ideal with sushi, oysters, ceviche, herbed chicken, grilled vegetables, or goat cheese. Its dryness makes it extremely versatile at the table.
Verdict
A beautifully crafted, refreshing Rheingau Trocken that showcases 2022’s precision. If the 2023 Hattenheim Feinherb is charming and juicy, the 2022 Trocken is its crisp, mineral-focused sibling.
Did You Know?
Hattenheim is one of the Rheingau’s historic villages for Riesling, its vineyard sites benefit from river reflection, slate soils, and a moderated climate that produces both structured dry styles and expressive off-dry examples.
Balthasar Ress – Riesling 2023
Hattenheim, Rheingau – Germany 🇩🇪
Overview
100% Riesling from Hattenheim in the Rheingau, one of Germany’s most prestigious wine regions. “Feinherb” indicates an off-dry style—slightly sweeter than Trocken, but still balanced by acidity.
Aromas & Flavors
Lively nose of orchard fruits—ripe pear, green apple, and a hint of white peach—layered with delicate lime zest and floral touches. On the palate, the off-dry sweetness softens the zesty acidity, bringing a juicy, rounded mouthfeel with a clean mineral streak.
Mouthfeel
Medium-bodied, silky, and harmonious. The residual sugar balances the refreshing acidity, making it both vibrant and approachable.
Food Pairing
Versatile with spicy Thai or Indian dishes, sushi, roasted poultry, or creamy cheeses. That touch of residual sugar makes it a brilliant match for spice and umami.
Verdict
An elegant and expressive Riesling Feinherb from Rheingau—structured enough for serious enjoyment but easygoing enough to charm any palate. A great introduction to the beauty of balanced off-dry Riesling. Cheers!
Did you know?
“Feinherb” is not a legally defined category in German wine law but is widely used to describe wines that fall between Trocken (dry) and Halbtrocken (off-dry). It’s the winemaker’s way of signaling balance rather than strict dryness.
Balthasar Ress – Riesling 2023
Hattenheim, Rheingau – Germany 🇩🇪
Overview
100% Riesling from Hattenheim in the Rheingau, one of Germany’s most prestigious wine regions. “Feinherb” indicates an off-dry style—slightly sweeter than Trocken, but still balanced by acidity.
Aromas & Flavors
Lively nose of orchard fruits—ripe pear, green apple, and a hint of white peach—layered with delicate lime zest and floral touches. On the palate, the off-dry sweetness softens the zesty acidity, bringing a juicy, rounded mouthfeel with a clean mineral streak.
Mouthfeel
Medium-bodied, silky, and harmonious. The residual sugar balances the refreshing acidity, making it both vibrant and approachable.
Food Pairing
Versatile with spicy Thai or Indian dishes, sushi, roasted poultry, or creamy cheeses. That touch of residual sugar makes it a brilliant match for spice and umami.
Verdict
An elegant and expressive Riesling Feinherb from Rheingau—structured enough for serious enjoyment but easygoing enough to charm any palate. A great introduction to the beauty of balanced off-dry Riesling. Cheers!
Did you know?
“Feinherb” is not a legally defined category in German wine law but is widely used to describe wines that fall between Trocken (dry) and Halbtrocken (off-dry). It’s the winemaker’s way of signaling balance rather than strict dryness.