2022 Schäfer-Fröhlich Felseneck Riesling Grosses Gewachs

The 2022 Schäfer-Fröhlich Felseneck Riesling Grosses Gewächs is a razor-sharp, dry Riesling from one of the Nahe’s most revered Grand Cru–equivalent sites. Carved from vertiginous, stone-laden slopes, it delivers an almost tactile sense of minerality that defines the wine from first sip to finish. As a VDP.Grosse Lage bottling, this is a flagship expression of terroir-driven German Riesling with impressive aging potential and a track record that has made it a true cult wine among collectors.

Tasting Notes
In the glass, the 2022 Felseneck GG is pale straw with green highlights, shimmering with youthful brightness and density. The nose is intensely focused, showing crushed slate, wet stone and flint, wrapped around notes of lime zest, grapefruit, white peach and green apple, with subtle hints of white flowers, herbs and a cool, smoky lift. On the palate, this is dry, powerful and incredibly precise, with laser-like acidity and a deep, concentrated mineral core. Citrus and stone-fruit flavors—lime, grapefruit, underripe peach—are layered with saline notes, crushed rock and a delicate spice that unfolds with air. The texture is at once tightly coiled and finely grained, giving a sense of both density and finesse. The finish is very long, stony and mouthwatering, promising significant development in bottle. While already captivating in its youthful tension, this 2022 Felseneck GG is built to age for 10–20+ years, gaining complexity, texture and secondary notes of honey, smoke and petrol over time.

Production
The Felseneck vineyard is Schäfer-Fröhlich’s crown jewel: a dramatically steep, cool site in the Nahe with extremely stony, rocky soils rich in slate and quartzite. This poor, mineral-laden ground naturally limits yields and forces the Riesling vines to dig deep for water and nutrients, translating directly into concentration and an intense mineral character in the wine. Harvest is done by hand, often in multiple passes (selective pickings) to ensure only perfectly ripe, healthy grapes make it into the Grosses Gewächs. In the cellar, Tim Fröhlich is famed as a master of spontaneous fermentation: the must ferments with native yeasts, typically at controlled, cool to moderate temperatures, often in stainless steel and/or large traditional German casks, to preserve purity, precision and minerality. The wine is then allowed extended time on its fine lees, adding complexity and textural finesse without sacrificing the crystalline clarity that defines the Felseneck style.

Food & Serving
This is a gastronomic, dry Riesling that shines with refined, flavorful dishes. Think high-end seafood (turbot, halibut, scallops), oysters and shellfish, sushi and sashimi, as well as delicately prepared white meats such as veal, free-range chicken or pork with light, citrus- or herb-driven sauces. It is also superb with modern vegetable cuisine—think asparagus, fennel, artichokes, or dishes featuring fresh herbs—and with lightly spiced Asian cuisine where acidity and minerality cut through richness. Serve at 9–11°C (48–52°F) to highlight its precision and aromatic complexity. In its youth, decanting for 30–60 minutes is recommended to open up the nose and soften the initial tension; older bottles should be handled more gently and need only a brief breath in the glass.

Producer
Schäfer-Fröhlich is one of Germany’s most acclaimed modern estates, based in the Nahe and led by the exceptionally talented Tim Fröhlich. Under his guidance, the winery has risen to the very top tier of German Riesling producers, with a reputation for intensely mineral, tightly structured, and beautifully balanced wines. The estate’s holdings in top VDP.Grosse Lage sites such as Felseneck are among the most sought-after parcels in the region. International demand has surged as critics and collectors have taken notice; Tim’s Rieslings—both dry Grosses Gewächs and Prädikatsweine like Spätlese—have repeatedly been rated among the very best in all of Germany, including top placements in the prestigious ‘Königsdisziplinen des German Rieslings’ and leading rankings in Gault Millau. Known as a ‘master of spontaneous fermentation,’ Tim Fröhlich has become a benchmark name for precision, terroir-driven Riesling from the Nahe.