Von Winning Riesling Pechstein Großes Gewächs 2023 white

Von Winning Riesling Pechstein Großes Gewächs 2022 is a benchmark dry Riesling from one of the Pfalz region’s most revered vineyards. Sourced from the legendary Pechstein site in Forst, this is a powerful, finely etched wine that beautifully marries smoky mineral depth with vibrant fruit. As a VDP.GROSSES GEWÄCHS, it represents the highest classification for dry Riesling in Germany and is crafted for both immediate pleasure and long-term cellaring.

Tasting Notes
In the glass, the 2022 Pechstein GG shows a pale to medium straw-yellow color with bright, greenish reflections that hint at its youthful tension and energy. The nose is immediately distinctive: flinty and smoky at first, with a clear basalt-driven minerality, followed by layers of lime zest, white peach, green apple, grapefruit pith, and delicate herbal notes of lemon balm and chamomile. Subtle hints of crushed slate, wet stone, and a whisper of spice from long lees contact round out a complex aromatic profile. On the palate, the wine is precise, tightly woven, and focused, with a vibrant, linear acidity that drives through the mid-palate and into a very long, saline finish. Citrus and stone fruit—lime, quince, and white nectarine—are wrapped around a core of cool, stony minerality, with a gentle phenolic grip adding structure. Texturally, it is both crystalline and slightly creamy, reflecting Von Winning’s careful élevage. The 2022 vintage shows impressive balance and restraint, with considerable aging potential: well-stored bottles should evolve harmoniously for 10–15 years or more, gaining complexity, honeyed nuances, and tertiary notes of petrol, wax, and dried herbs over time.

Production
The Pechstein vineyard in Forst is one of the Pfalz’s crown jewels, named for its high content of volcanic basalt (“Pechstein”) mixed with sandstone, gravel, and sandy clay. This unique terroir imparts the characteristic smoky, flinty minerality and tension that define the wine. The vines, many of them older and deeply rooted, are farmed with great care and an emphasis on preserving biodiversity and soil health. Harvest is typically carried out by hand, with multiple passes through the vineyard to select only perfectly ripe, healthy Riesling grapes. In the cellar, Von Winning favors a gentle, low-intervention approach: the grapes are carefully pressed, and fermentation often proceeds spontaneously with native yeasts, predominantly in traditional oak (such as large Stück or Doppelstück casks). Extended lees contact and minimal fining help build texture and complexity while preserving the vineyard’s distinctive signature, resulting in a dry, concentrated Großes Gewächs that clearly reflects its origin.

Food & Serving
This Riesling is a superb partner for refined, flavorful cuisine, especially dishes that echo its mineral tension and acidity. It pairs beautifully with shellfish (oysters, scallops, langoustines), grilled or poached white fish, sushi and sashimi, as well as fine poultry or veal with light, citrus- or herb-accented sauces. It also complements vegetable-based dishes such as asparagus, artichokes, and fennel, and can stand up to delicately spiced Asian-inspired cuisine. Serve at 10–12°C (50–54°F) to showcase both its precision and depth; if opened young, a short decant of 30–60 minutes can help the wine unfurl its aromatics and soften its initial tension. As it ages, gentle aeration in the glass is usually sufficient to reveal its full complexity.

Producer
Weingut Von Winning, founded in 1849 in Deidesheim, is one of the leading estates in the Pfalz and a key member of the prestigious VDP (Verband Deutscher Prädikatsweingüter). Over the past decades, Von Winning has built a reputation for crafting some of Germany’s most distinctive dry Rieslings, with a philosophy that emphasizes terroir expression, sustainable viticulture, and thoughtful, often traditional cellar work. The estate holds parcels in several of the region’s most famous sites, including Pechstein, Kirchenstück, and Ungeheuer, which consistently yield wines of remarkable intensity and character. Von Winning’s use of spontaneous fermentations, large oak casks, and prolonged lees aging has helped redefine the style of top Pfalz Riesling—combining Burgundian textural depth with the precision and clarity for which German Riesling is renowned, and earning the estate high acclaim both within Germany and internationally.