Burgweg Riesling 2019 – Weingut Neiss.
Explore the rich terroir of Germany’s Pfalz region with Weingut Neiss, a highly acclaimed winery situated in the Northern part of the Pfalz. Known for its increasing popularity, Weingut Neiss boasts a diverse portfolio of vineyards and grape varieties, including the renowned ‘Burgweg’ vineyard.
Our focus in this review is on the 2019 vintage of the ‘Kindenheimer Burgweg’ Riesling.
As one of the 1001 Riesling growers in Germany, Weingut Neiss exemplifies the beauty of this versatile grape, allowing it to express itself in various ways. Join us on a journey through the captivating flavors and unique characteristics of this exceptional single vineyard Riesling.
About the Region
Situated as the second-largest wine-growing region in Germany, the Pfalz region boasts Mainz as its largest city. Spanning 144 wine-growing communities, most of which align with Germany’s oldest wine tourism route, the 85-kilometer Deutsche Weinstraße, stretching from Bockenheim in the North to Schweigen on the French border.
Encompassing 23,600 hectares of vineyards, the Pfalz region showcases a diverse landscape with over 14 grape varieties, with the top five being Riesling, Dornfelder, Müller Thurgau, Portugieser, and Kerner. Additionally, you’ll encounter the unique Scheurebe and Morio-Muskat varieties. Nestled in the northern part, adjacent to Rheinhessen, lies Weingut Neiss in the charming village of Kindenheim.
About the Winery
In 1959 Ludi Neiss, the father of the current owner Axel Neiss, bought the family farm, which practiced mixed farming. In the 1970’s Ludi and his wife started to turn the farm into a winery. After Axel finished Geisenheim university in 1997, he took over the winery and he and his wife Katja started to work their way to the top with their 15 hectares of vineyards.
Nowadays Weingut Neiss is one of the top Pfalz producers. Axel experimented a lot, bought new top vineyards, planted different grape varieties, changed some winemaking methods, and build a new cellar which was finished in 2014. In this new winery he can also vinify different parcels and keep them separated to make single vineyard wines.
The unique terroir in his Kindenheim and Bockenheim vineyards, as well as their cool climates, allows Axel to make outstanding wines. Due to climate change even a more demanding variety, such as Cabernet Franc, has the potential to ripen, allowing Axel to experiment even more.
Axel owns a lot of very old vines that were planted back in the 70’s by his dad, raising the quality of the Neiss’s wines even more. Axel is not much of a talker but rather puts his energy in the vineyards, so becoming a member of VDP is “nicht im frage”.
About the Wine
The 2019 Kindenheimer Burgweg Riesling is a dry delight, fermented exclusively in 500-3000-liter stainless steel tanks, boasting a mere 5 grams/liter of residual sugar. Despite its trocken nature, the wine’s low acidity and 13.5% alcohol content give the wine a deceivingly mellow character.
In the glass, a radiant yellow hue invites you into a fragrant realm of stone fruits—apricots and peaches—and tropical notes of mango and papaya, complemented by hints of ripe pear and melon in the background. Upon a gentle swirl, subtle petrol tones emerge, enhancing the wine’s fruity essence, coupled with a crisp undertone of grapefruit and lime.
On the palate, this Riesling unfolds as a crisp and rich experience, showcasing a harmonious balance of juices. Vibrant and lively, it carries a subtle peppery nuance in the backdrop. The typical Riesling profile lingers, offering a prolonged finish with ripe yellow fruit nuances like plums and mango, a citrusy zest, and a touch of crispy saltiness. The finale, marked by a hint of mint, attests to its commendable aging potential.
Conclusion
This Riesling still feels a bit young and it could easily last for another 10 years in your cellar. But on the other hand, it is also really enjoyable at the moment, in its fresh and fruity stage. A beautiful Riesling for a nice price. Well done Axel!
We award this single vineyard Riesling with a 90-point DWA score.
This wine is reviewed by our own Martijn Coolen. Weingut Neiss is imported in the Netherlands by Icarius Wijnen and available through selected partners.
Price: €38,00
Taste date: May 2023
Score: 90/100 DWA Score
Website: Weingut Neiss