2022 Weingut Wittmann Westhofen Aulerde Riesling Trocken Grosses Gewächs BIO
Wine Profile & Character
The Aulerde sits on the warm, gently sloped shoulder of Westhofen’s amphitheater, a site distinguished by its unusual marriage of sandy loess-loam over limestone and clay marl, with clay content that runs deeper and heavier than in the neighboring Morstein. This gives Aulerde its reputation as the most “feminine” of Westhofen’s grand crus—still powerful, but carrying a textural roundness and aromatic generosity that distinguishes it from the flintier, more austere expressions found elsewhere in the village. Philipp Wittmann, who has farmed biodynamically since converting the estate in the early 2000s, treats this parcel with minimal intervention: spontaneous fermentation, indigenous yeasts, and extended lees contact allow the vineyard’s voice to emerge without stylistic overlay. The result is a Riesling that speaks plainly of place rather than of technique.
On the nose, the wine unfolds in layers—white peach and quince skin give way to notes of chamomile, beeswax, and a faint smoky flint that Aulerde often contributes to Wittmann’s GG lineup. The palate arrives broader than one might expect from a dry Rheinhessen Riesling, with a creamy, almost saline mid-palate that carries ripe orchard fruit, preserved lemon, and a mineral undertone reminiscent of wet limestone. Acidity is present and precise, but it is folded into the wine’s structure rather than announced—this is tension expressed through texture, not sharpness. The finish lingers with a chalky, faintly bitter phenolic grip that anchors the wine’s richness and signals real ageing potential.
2022 in Rheinhessen produced wines of unusual harmony—ripe enough for textural depth, yet retaining the acid backbone necessary for long-term development. This Aulerde GG will likely enter a brief dormant phase over its first two to three years before emerging with greater aromatic complexity: notes of dried herbs, hazelnut, and petrol typically develop by the wine’s second decade. Patient cellaring will reward those willing to wait, as the wine’s inherent structure suggests a long, graceful evolution ahead.
Sourced Profile
Compiled from producer and published descriptions, not a firsthand tasting by our team.
Appearance: Pale gold with a faint greenish tinge at the rim; brilliant, precise clarity typical of careful biodynamic winemaking.
Aromas & Bouquet: White peach, quince, and preserved lemon lead, framed by chamomile, beeswax, and a whisper of wet flint. With air, subtle notes of orange blossom and crushed stone emerge, suggesting both ripeness and mineral depth.
Palate & Structure: Broad and textured on entry, with a creamy mid-palate that carries ripe stone fruit and a saline, limestone-driven minerality. Acidity is integrated rather than piercing, giving the wine a sense of tensioned roundness. Flavors evolve from citrus pith to a faintly smoky, chalky undertone by the mid-palate's end.
Finish & Longevity: Long and persistent, with a chalky phenolic grip and a lingering salinity that recalls the vineyard's limestone-marl base.
Food Pairings
Pair with roasted turbot in beurre blanc, where the wine's saline minerality complements the dish's richness. Veal sweetbreads with morels find an echo in the wine's creamy texture and earthy undertones. A soft, washed-rind cheese like Reblochon draws out the wine's phenolic grip beautifully, while a simple dish of white asparagus with hollandaise makes for a classic regional pairing.
Cellaring & Ageability
Drink 2027–2042, with a dormant phase likely through 2025–2026. Expect the wine to gain complexity—dried herbs, hazelnut, and subtle petrol—while its structural backbone ensures graceful, long-term development.