Schäfer-Fröhlich Kupfergrube GG 2022

Schäfer-Fröhlich Kupfergrube GG 2022 is a razor-sharp, deeply expressive dry Riesling from one of the Nahe’s most dramatic and stony grand cru sites. Sourced from over 50-year-old vines in the rockiest core of Schlossböckelheimer Kupfergrube, it captures the vineyard’s dark, volcanic intensity with striking precision. This Grosses Gewächs balances raw mineral power with crystalline finesse, standing as one of the most serious and age-worthy dry Rieslings from the region.

Tasting Notes
In the glass, the 2022 Kupfergrube GG shows a pale, luminous straw color with green reflections, hinting at its youthful tension and freshness. The nose is immediately complex and savory: notes of wild yeast funk and wet stone mingle with smoke, crushed slate, and dried herbs. With air, a subtle creamy aspect emerges beneath the rocky core, adding a sense of depth and quiet richness. On the palate, the wine is intense and tightly wound, with an almost electric entry. Dense, dark-toned minerality runs through the mid-palate, giving an impression that is more stony and brooding than fruity, yet always incredibly precise and transparent. Flavors lean toward lime zest, underripe stone fruit, smoky herbs, and salty, ferrous rock, framed by a very fine, slightly phenolic grip that adds gravitas without heaviness. Bone-dry and laser-focused, it finishes long, cool, and savory. This is a Riesling built for the cellar: while already fascinating, it will gain nuance, texture, and aromatic complexity over 10–15 years and likely well beyond in good conditions.

Production
The Schlossböckelheimer Kupfergrube is one of the Nahe’s most iconic sites: a steep, south-facing amphitheater of dark volcanic and porphyry soils, rich in iron and stone, which lend the wines their smoky, almost ‘dark’ minerality. Schäfer-Fröhlich’s parcel lies in the vineyard’s most rock-strewn core and is planted with Riesling vines over 50 years old, whose deep roots tap into the dense subsoil for concentration and natural balance. Harvest is carried out by hand in multiple passes to ensure perfect ripeness and healthy, small-berried fruit. In the cellar, spontaneous fermentation with indigenous yeasts is standard, allowing the character of the site to take center stage. The wine is typically vinified slowly and coolly, often in stainless steel and large, neutral oak (such as old Stück or Fuder), with extended lees contact to build texture, while maintaining the piercing clarity and dryness expected of a Grosses Gewächs.

Food & Serving
This bone-dry, intensely mineral Riesling pairs beautifully with refined, savory cuisine. Think shellfish and crustaceans (langoustine, scallops, lobster), grilled or roasted white fish, sashimi and crudo, as well as modern vegetable-driven dishes featuring fennel, celeriac, asparagus, herbs, or earthy mushrooms. It also stands up well to lightly smoked dishes and delicately seasoned white meats like veal or poached poultry. Serve at 9–11°C to preserve its tension and aromatic detail. Young bottles benefit from a short decant of 30–60 minutes to let the initial funk and smokiness integrate and to reveal the underlying creaminess and complexity.

Producer
Schäfer-Fröhlich is one of the leading lights of the Nahe and among Germany’s most acclaimed Riesling producers. Based in Bockenau, the family estate has risen to the very top of the German wine hierarchy under the direction of Tim Fröhlich, who has a reputation for precision, low yields, and an almost obsessive focus on expressing the nuances of steep, stony sites. The domaine farms a collection of top-class vineyards, including Felseneck, Halenberg, Stromberg and Kupfergrube, and is renowned for chiselled, high-tension dry Rieslings as well as world-class fruity and sweet styles. Regularly receiving top scores from international critics and German wine guides, Schäfer-Fröhlich has helped cement the Nahe’s status as one of the greatest regions on earth for mineral-driven, age-worthy Riesling.

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