Weingut Wittmann Riesling Aulerde Großes Gewächs Bio 2022 white

Weingut Wittmann Riesling Aulerde Großes Gewächs Bio 2022 is a powerful, dry Riesling from one of Rheinhessen’s most coveted grand cru sites. Certified organic and crafted by one of Germany’s leading biodynamic estates, this wine captures the depth and precision that have made Wittmann a benchmark for modern German Riesling. With only limited bottles available, it’s a compelling choice for collectors and serious Riesling lovers alike.

Tasting Notes
In the glass, the 2022 Aulerde Großes Gewächs shows a vibrant, pale lemon color with green reflections, hinting at both youth and freshness. The nose is intense yet finely etched, opening with ripe citrus—lime and grapefruit—alongside white peach, mirabelle, and crunchy green apple. Layers of wet stone, flint, and subtle herbal notes (lemon balm, chamomile) are supported by a delicate spice and a whisper of smoky reduction that will integrate beautifully with time. On the palate, this is a concentrated, firmly structured dry Riesling with a compact core of fruit. Juicy stone fruit and citrus are wrapped in a pronounced saline minerality that is a hallmark of Aulerde, giving the wine a tactile, almost grippy tension. The acidity is racy but perfectly balanced by ripe fruit extract, leading into a long, precise finish with lingering notes of citrus zest, stone, and fine spice. While approachable in its youth with a brief aeration, the 2022 has clear aging potential: under good cellar conditions, it should evolve gracefully for 10–15 years, developing more complexity, smokiness, and subtle honeyed nuances over time.

Production
Aulerde is one of Wittmann’s warmest and most historically revered sites in Westhofen, with deep loess and clay-rich marl soils over limestone that give both power and saline minerality to the wines. The certified organic (and long-practiced biodynamic) vineyards are farmed with meticulous handwork, low yields, and a strong focus on soil health, biodiversity, and natural balance. Grapes for the Großes Gewächs are carefully hand-harvested in multiple passes at optimal ripeness, then gently pressed to preserve purity and finesse. Fermentation typically takes place with indigenous yeasts in large traditional oak casks (Stück or Doppelstück), followed by extended maturation on the fine lees, which adds texture, integration, and complexity without masking the clarity of the terroir.

Food & Serving
This dry, structured Riesling is a versatile partner at the table, shining alongside refined dishes. It pairs beautifully with elegant seafood—such as grilled or poached turbot, scallops, and lobster—as well as sushi, ceviche, and shellfish with a citrus or herb-based sauce. It’s also excellent with poultry in light cream or lemon sauces, veal, pork tenderloin, and sophisticated vegetable dishes like asparagus, artichoke, or fennel, particularly when prepared with high-quality olive oil and fresh herbs. Spiced but not overly hot Asian cuisine (Thai, Vietnamese) also works very well. Serve at 9–11 °C; for maximum expression, open the bottle 30–60 minutes in advance, or give it a short decant in its youth to allow the mineral and stone-fruit notes to fully unfold.

Producer
Weingut Wittmann, based in Westhofen in Rheinhessen, is one of Germany’s flagship producers of dry Riesling and among the pioneers of organic and biodynamic viticulture in the region. The Wittmann family has been growing grapes for over 350 years, but it was in the late 20th and early 21st century—under Philipp Wittmann—that the estate rose to international prominence. As a founding member of the VDP.Rheinhessen and a driving force behind the renaissance of high-quality, terroir-driven dry Rieslings, Wittmann has helped redefine the reputation of Rheinhessen worldwide. Their Grosses Gewächs wines from sites like Aulerde, Kirchspiel, Morstein, and Brunnenhäuschen are regularly celebrated by leading critics and collectors, and are considered benchmarks for precision, elegance, and mineral intensity in German Riesling.