DÖNNHOFF- Tonschiefer (sec) 2016 As its name suggests (tonschiefer means slate), this cuvée is a beautiful tribute to the Leistenberg terroir, mixing clays and black slates, which give the wine this remarkable balance between density and elegance.
The Leistenberg terroir, which adjoins the village of Oberhausen, occupies a narrow valley with steep slopes, where vines of around 30 are often cultivated in terraces. The south-eastern exposure and the omnipresence of this gray slate here guarantee excellent ripening of the grapes, with very sunny mornings, not too hot afternoons and a good night return of the heat stored by the stone.
This dry Riesling comes from the first pass of an exclusively manual harvest, from October 1st . The wine, fermented and aged partly in German oak barrels, partly in stainless steel vats, today offers a fruit of superb brilliance, with gourmet notes of pear, nectarine, ripe citrus pulp, which accompany white flowers and dried fruits.
If it is still discreet and will strengthen over time, we can already feel the mineral structure of the wine perfectly, bringing in the mouth a salinity that excites the taste buds. Tension and liveliness in the mouth are admirable. We love this feeling of purity, this natural refinement that this Tonschiefer exudes.
To keep between 8 and 10 years.
