2010 Weingut Josef Leitz Rheingau Riesling Trocken

Grape:	Riesling 100%
Producer:	Weingut Josef Leitz
Wine region:	Rheigau, Rüdesheim am Rhein, federal state of Hesse, Germany
Classification:	QbA
Type:	dry white wine
Style:	Affordable, for everyday consumption
Bottle:	0.75 l
Optimal serving temperature:	13–15˚C
Alcohol content:	12%
Aging potential:	15–20 years, as recommended

 

History

The history of Leitz, a family-owned wine-making company, dates back to 1744. However, it was not until after the Second World War that Josef Leitz breathed new life and momentum into the small business. He reconstructed the destroyed distillery and started to produce highly acclaimed fine wines.

In 1985, his grandson, Johannes Leitz, took the family business into his own hands. He expanded the vineyards from 2.9 hectares to 40 hectares. Herr Leitz continues to foster and promote a traditional approach to winemaking, which gives his wine its renowned quality.

 

Terroir

The company’s vineyards are located in several winegrowing regions, including Rüdesheim (29.36 hectares) and Geisenheim (4.68 hectares). They also have 5.37 hectares of vineyards located in various other regions throughout the country. Most of them are concentrated in Rüdesheim, along the Rhine river valley. This is the warmest place in Germany.

The vines grow along the southern side of mountain slopes, which protects the grapes against the cold northern wind. The Rhine’s sparkling waters also contribute to the favorable climate conditions, as they reflect warmth and sunshine onto the slopes. The vineyards are situated at a height of 105 to 275 meters above sea level. The angle of the slopes varies from 6 to 59 degrees.

The range of soils includes gray and red shales, quartzes and quartzites, and several loamy and sandy regions covered with loess.­ Each area gives the wine a distinctive palette of flavors.

For instance, the fruity acidity, definite minerality, excellent balance, and full body of the 2010 Weingut Josef Leitz Rheingau Riesling Trocken is due to the cultivation of grapes in areas dominated by loamy-sandy soils with layers of loess and clay.

 

Characteristics

The particularity of Leitz family wines comes from the easily discernible differences in the style of each terroir. There are 13 terroirs in the company, each with unique soil and climate conditions. As Johannes Leitz says, «When I taste a wine, I can instantly tell what soil the grapes were cultivated on.»

There are two important markings featured on every Leitz Rheingau Riesling Trocken 2010 bottle. The first is an inscription, announcing the «Winemaker of the Year — Gault Millau 2011». The second is the «Eins Zwei Dry» label, which was designed in 2007 especially for the brand. The label earned the 2009 award in iF Communication Design.

 

Harvest

2010 was a good year overall. The area had little rainfall in 2009, resulting in a rather low grape harvest in 2010. While summer 2010 was not very favorable, the autumn period experienced excellent weather conditions. Those warm and dry days gave the grapes a deep and mature refinement, contributing to the high quality of the wine.

 

Taste

Leitz Rheingau Riesling Trocken is an elegant and harmonious wine with the perfect balance of acidity. Its exquisite and fresh palette offers a juicy and rich composition of fruity notes, such as apple and peach, with subtler hints of mango and pineapple.­ The wine has a long and rounded finish with a pronounced minerality.

 

Food pairings

Shrimps, white fish, truffles

 

Rating

91/100 from Code de Vino