Nackenheim Rothenberg Riesling Auslese Auktion
⏳ Drinking Window
Typically best enjoyed 15 to 40 years from the vintage release, though exceptional vintages can cellar even longer.
🍽️ Food & Wine Pairings
Blue cheese, foie gras, fruit-based desserts like apple tarte tatin
✨ Technical Specifications
The Nackenheim Rothenberg Riesling Auslese Auktion represents the absolute pinnacle of the Gunderloch estate's craftsmanship, sourced from the most prestigious parcels of the legendary Rothenberg vineyard. Situated on the famous 'Roter Hang' (Red Slope) along the Rhine, this vineyard is defined by its striking iron-rich, red clay-slate soils, which absorb heat and impart an unmistakable smoky minerality to the grapes. The 'Auktion' designation indicates a highly exclusive, micro-lot bottling reserved for the annual VDP wine auctions, where collectors vie for Germany's rarest treasures. Crafted from meticulously hand-selected, botrytis-affected Riesling grapes, this Auslese undergoes a gentle pressing and slow fermentation to preserve its intense aromatic profile. The resulting wine is a breathtaking display of tension, balancing luscious, concentrated sweetness with a vibrant, electric acidity that ensures it will evolve beautifully for generations.
🍾 About the Producer
Weingut Gunderloch was established in 1890 when Mainz banker Carl Gunderloch acquired prime parcels on the steep banks of the Rhine, later becoming a founding member of the VDP. Anchored in Nackenheim, the estate comprises approximately 29 to 31 hectares centered along the legendary Roter Hang ('Red Slope'). This dramatic geological formation is dominated by 280-million-year-old Permian red shale, clay, and slate (Rotliegend), which imbues the vines with unmatched mineral depth, phenolic tension, and warmth reflected from the adjacent river. Sixth-generation winegrower Johannes Hasselbach took the helm in 2016, ushering in certified organic farming, spontaneous fermentations, and a paradigm shift toward tension, lower alcohol, and transparency. Benchmark expressions range from the precise, off-dry Jean Baptiste Riesling Kabinett and bone-dry Grosse Gewächse from Nackenheimer Rothenberg and Niersteiner Pettenthal to world-renowned auction-grade Auslesen and Trockenbeerenauslesen.