Weingut Keller – 2020 Dalsheim Riesling.

Weingut Keller – 2020 Dalsheim Riesling.

A Riesling of purity and precision, where minerality and fruit meet in perfect harmony.

Few names in Germany’s wine world command such respect as Weingut Keller. Klaus Peter Keller has lifted the estate to an almost mythical status, with Rieslings that combine terroir transparency, structure, and breathtaking finesse. 

The 2020 Dalsheim Riesling is a crystalline example of that vision—an Ortswein sourced from vines growing within the limestone-rich village of Dalsheim. It offers a window into Keller’s philosophy: wines that are simultaneously approachable in youth yet destined to reveal new layers with time.

This is Riesling at its most refined—energetic, chiselled, and deeply rooted in its place of origin.

About the Winery

Located in Flörsheim-Dalsheim, Weingut Keller traces its history back to 1789, but its modern reputation has been forged by Klaus Peter and Julia Keller, who have redefined what German Riesling can be. Today, the estate is regarded as one of the grandmasters of dry Riesling, with wines that regularly set international benchmarks.

The Kellers’ work is defined by meticulous vineyard management, organic farming practices, and extremely low yields. Each parcel is harvested by hand with great attention to ripeness and fruit selection. In the cellar, the philosophy is minimal intervention: spontaneous fermentation in stainless steel or traditional large oak barrels, long lees contact, and a patient maturation that preserves both precision and texture.

About the Origin

The Dalsheim Riesling carries the Ortswein classification, one of Keller’s “village wines,” crafted from high-quality vineyards surrounding the village of Dalsheim in southern Rheinhessen. Here, the vines dig deep into soils rich in limestone and marl, ancient seabed formations that lend the wines their hallmark saline minerality, tension, and finesse.

Dalsheim sits at a slightly warmer site compared to Keller’s higher-altitude holdings, giving the Rieslings here a touch more generosity and roundness, while still retaining freshness and precision. The result is a wine that combines ripe orchard fruit with a distinctive mineral backbone.

Ortswein and the Keller Philosophy

For Keller, the Ortsweine are far more than “entry-level” bottlings—they are authentic ambassadors of place. A village wine reflects the soils, microclimate, and nuances of its origin, while remaining more approachable in both style and price than the estate’s legendary Grosses Gewächs (GG) single-vineyard Rieslings. Grapes for this wine can be sourced from a combination of vineyards, including some of the Grosse Lagen.

Where the GGs are often tightly wound in their youth and demand patience to reveal their full grandeur, the Ortsweine already showcase Keller’s precision and purity in a charming, earlier-drinking form. Wines like the Dalsheim Riesling provide a gateway to Keller’s philosophy, offering insight into terroir expression while maintaining the clarity, balance, and finesse that define the estate’s reputation.

About the Wine

The 2020 Dalsheim Riesling displays a clear, firm, and finely sculpted nose. Aromas of lime zest, yellow peach, greengage plum, and tangerine mingle with delicate floral nuances, hints of wild herbs, and a stony, almost chalk-dust minerality. A subtle echo of red berries and crushed herbs in the background adds intrigue and depth.

On the palate, the wine shows ripe yet cool-toned fruit—a mix of citrus, orchard, and a faint exotic edge—balanced by fine acidity and a gentle phenolic grip. Layers of salty minerality, subtle yeasty tones, and a delicate nutty undertone build complexity without heaviness. The texture is both juicy and firm, with an elegant tension that carries through to a long, grippy, and saline finish.

Leaving its primary phase, this Riesling reveals its pedigree, but patience will be rewarded: over the next 5–10 years it will further develop as it softens, gains nuance, and integrates its herbal-spicy notes into a more seamless whole.

Conclusion

Weingut Keller’s 2020 Dalsheim Riesling is more than a village wine—it is a profound statement of place. Combining fruit purity, herbal-spicy lift, and a striking mineral backbone, it exemplifies both the potential of Dalsheim’s limestone terroir and Keller’s ability to channel it with precision. Within Keller’s range, it represents the perfect bridge between accessibility and profundity, offering insight into the estate’s philosophy while remaining utterly drinkable today.

We award this wine a 93-point DWA score—an Ortswein that speaks fluently of origin and refinement, while offering both immediate pleasure and long-term promise.

This review is written by our own Niels Aarts. 

Price:               ~€100,00

Taste Date:     August 2025 

Glass Type:     Spiegelau Definition Universal

Writer:            Niels Aarts

Score:              93/100 DWA Score  

Website:         Weingut Keller