2022 Willi Schaefer & Donnhoff Offers, Plus Close-Out Deals on in-stock Donnhoff Wines 12-5-23

 In This Newsletter:

Special Features
2022 Willi Schaefer offer,
2022 Dönnhoff wines arriving Friday &
Dönnhoff Wines on our Close-Out Sale

2022 Willi Schaefer Rieslings:
 
The Apex of Classic Mosel

The reviews are in, and the wines nearly so: the 2022 Willi Schaefer Rieslings combine concentration and elegance in an utterly beguiling package. The only regret you’ll have is not buying more as these leave you speechless for decades.
 
Christoph and Andrea Schaefer craft some of the most authentic wine in all of the Mosel. This husband and wife duo are known for wines that are approachable when young with beautiful fruit components. However, like all of the valley’s finest exports, they always impress with the ability to maintain vitality and finesse for 15+ years.
 
Never fearing the delicious balance that subtle sugar and bright acid can bring, these wines are an educational tour de force on German Riesling. The Himmelreich vineyard tends to bring wines with slightly spicier, red fruit notes, while the Domprobst leads with cool, minty green herbs and delicate freshness.
 
“… these are the Ne Plus Ultra of Mosel wine, and they have attracted an almost religious following. Thus my most frustrating agency, as there is never enough wine…” – Terry Theise
 
Willi Schaefer Rieslings Arriving Today:

 
“Almost endless finish”
Weingut Willi Schaefer Graacher Domprobst Riesling Kabinett, Mosel 2022 750ml $49 pre-arrival special, only 13 bottles available
Stuart Pigott-James Suckling 98 points “The staggering nose of fresh pineapple invites you to a voyage to the tropics with their rich colors and lush vegetation. Then comes the no less amazing palate which is simultaneously extraordinary in concentration yet miraculously feather light. Great citrusy freshness, but it’s impossible to say which citrus fruit it is because it seems to flicker from Amalfi lemon to bergamot and then to pomelo, and on and on. Almost endless finish with the merest hint of unfermented grape sweetness. Drink or hold.”
Decanter 95 points “Balances perfectly the richness of the slate terroir with fresh, zesty fruit. Aromatics show slightly reduced notes of flint, pencil lead and streaks of graphite. The palate matches this intensity with flavours of crushed stone, graphite and spice, and a zesty hint of greengage. There is an overall ethereal character that gives it so much freshness and laser focus.”
Anne Kreblehl MW-Vinous 95 points “The 2022 Riesling Graacher Domprobst Kabinett #01 opens with an initial, enticing whiff of tart but fully ripe passion fruit and a clarity that speaks of whistle-clean fruit. The palate is sweet, clear, bright and vividly rich with rounded but precise fruit. Wonderfully clean, with a slightly richer fruit appeal, there’s utter juiciness and mid-weight on the palate. The finish tones this down with subtle zestiness, but the fruit remains full, rounded and sweet on the long finish.”
 
“makes us swoon” “the body is sensational, beguiling”
Weingut Willi Schaefer Graacher Himmelreich Riesling Kabinett, Mosel 2022 750ml $47.50 pre-arrival special, only 7 bottles available
Stuart Pigott-James Suckling 95 points “Wonderful nose of spring meadows and ferns with delicate stone fruit aromas filling out the complex and very detailed picture. Astonishing silky elegance and a freshness that defies easy description, but makes us swoon. And in spite of the incredible depth this is so transparent and refined right through the very long finish. Drink or hold.”
Decanter 94 points “Great elegance and focus. The aromatics of lime zest and pronounced notes of spiced pear intermingle with notes of freshly cut nectarine. The Himmelreich is all about fruit character for the Schaefer wines. The palate is a blend of cardamom, nectarine flesh and honeyed pear. Its fleshy, textured fruit balances intensity with what Christoph calls ‘a light impression.”
Anne Kreblehl MW-Vinous 94 points “The 2022 Graacher Himmelreich Kabinett is a little subdued on the nose. The palate, however, is a tender veil of fruit: vivid citrus is expressed as tart lemon sorbet, gaining a slightly fuller sweetness and a hint of Mirabelle on the mid-palate. The lightness of the body is sensational, beguiling with lemony zestiness and brightness. This lightness is incredibly seductive.”
 
“The considerable power is so impeccably underplayed that you barely feel it.”
Weingut Willi Schaefer Graacher Himmelreich Riesling Spatlese, Mosel 2022 750ml $59 pre-arrival special, only 6 bottles available
Stuart Pigott-James Suckling 96 points “Lovely nose of white peach with just a whisker of caramel. Also a wealth of white flowers. Simultaneously succulent and super-elegant thanks to the thread of slatey minerality that runs through this sensual beauty. The considerable power is so impeccably underplayed that you barely feel it. Very long, pristine finish. Drink or hold.”
Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 96 points “Sourced in the same parcel as the legendary 1976 Auslese and picked rather early, the 2022 Graacher Himmelreich Riesling Spätlese opens with a clear, precise and elegant nose of white fruits and flinty notes of coolish crushed slate. Intense and lush on the palate, this is mouth-filling and charming, very long and mineral/saline Spätlese that doesn’t show exceptionally high acidity but a ripe one that is completely interwoven with the mineral/phenolic structure. This is a hedonistically juicy but weightless and finessed, stimulating and saline Spätlese from the Himmelreich, which didn’t produce an Auslese in 2022. All the fully ripe and golden berries went into the Spätlese. 7.5% stated alcohol. Natural cork. Tasted at the domaine in May 2023.”
 
“Astonishing finesse and slatey intensity for a village wine.”
Weingut Willi Schaefer Graacher Riesling Feinherb, Mosel 2022 750ml $34.50 pre-arrival special, only 4 bottles available
Stuart Pigott-James Suckling 95 points “The freshness of spring and the fruits of fall. Astonishing finesse and slatey intensity for a village wine. Sleek and silky on the barely medium-bodied palate. Super-long and graceful finish that takes your breath away. Drink or hold. Screw cap.”
 
“a gorgeous dry Riesling from [the village of] Graach”
Weingut Willi Schaefer Graacher Riesling Trocken, Mosel 2022 750ml $34.50 pre-arrival special, only 12 bottles available
Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 93 points “Sourced predominantly in the Himmelreich and racked from the lees until March due to a slow fermentation of the dry and feinherb wines, the 2022 Graacher Riesling trocken opens with a clear, deep and flinty, still nicely reductive bouquet of ripe, aromatic and juicy yellow stone fruits. Bottled in late April, this is a round and elegant, mouth-filling, juicy and well-balanced Graacher with savory acidity and a stimulating, saline and citric finish. This is a gorgeous dry Riesling from Graach that didn’t suffer any heatwaves like in 2018, 2019 or 2020, although it was an extraordinarily warm and dry vintage. 11.5% stated alcohol. Screw-cap closure. Tasted in May 2023. Drink: 2023-2040. “
Stuart Pigott-James Suckling 93 points “Lovely nose of lemon blossom and lemon curd. Lovely balance of restrained creaminess and bright acidity with intense wet stone minerality. Long light-footed finish with excellent balance. Drink or hold.”
 
Browse our complete list of Willi Schaefer wines in-stock now and arriving December 5^th below and jump to our webstore to buy!

WILLI SCHAEFER RIESLINGSVWS                                                                PRICE  AVAILABLE  REVIEW  LINK

Love German Riesling?
So do we!
We offer 474 options from over 50 producers (that’s 8,500 bottles) on our webstore now!

2022 Dönnhoff

Despite being one of the smallest growing regions in the country, the Nahe is one of the most compelling. Combining the heft of the Rheingau with the elegance and minerality inherent in the Mosel, the region offers something no other can boast: winemakers Helmut and Cornelius Dönnhoff. That’s a lot of faith we hoist on the shoulders of this family, but anyone who knows the wines knows that it is well deserved.

Dönnhoff is one of our favorite German producers (see exhibit A – list of all Dönnhoff wines we offer, rivaled only by our Molitor collection).  They excel with both dry and off-dry wines, producing some of the top dozen Rieslings in nearly every vintage. Their privileged location in the Nahe, includes some of the finest and most geologically diverse vineyards in all of Germany. The other part is the exceptional drive and focus of this father and son duo, who will stop at nothing to produce the best wines in Germany.
 
Long-favorites of the staff, even the entry-level wines are nothing to shrug at, offering unrivaled complexity in the under $25 range. From there, they produce dozens of options from their vineyards, from bone dry to nobly sweet. The dry options top out at the GG, short for Grosses Gewächs, which is a dry and powerful wine from one of Germany’s Grand Cru vineyards.
 
These are wines for any occasion, at prices that still suggest the producer inhabits that weird status of insider secret despite receiving heaps of praise (and massive scores) for over a decade.
 
The 2022 Grosses Gewachs arriving Friday, December 8th:
 
Weingut Donnhoff Dellchen Riesling Grosses Gewachs, Nahe 2022 750ml $95 pre-arrival special, only 33 bottles available
Weingut Donnhoff Dellchen Riesling Grosses Gewachs, Nahe 2022 1.5L $219 pre-arrival special, only 3 magnums available
Stuart Pigott (Suckling) 98 points “What an exquisite stone fruit nose this super-fine and filigree dry riesling has! Yes, it is also very concentrated, but this and the power are completely underplayed. The result is an almost weightless palate that hangs like a white cloud in the still air. Extraordinary purity and precision at the almost endless finish. From organically grown grapes with Fair’n Green certification. Drink or hold.”
 
Weingut Donnhoff Felsenberg Riesling Grosses Gewachs, Nahe 2022 750ml $79 pre-arrival special, only 33 bottles available
Weingut Donnhoff Felsenberg Riesling Grosses Gewachs, Nahe 2022 1.5L $199 pre-arrival special, only 3 magnums available
Stuart Pigott (Suckling) 95 points “Ripe and concentrated, but also quite austere with stacks of spice and grapefruit character; everything from the juice to the pith and zest! A seriously dry riesling, but with moderate acidity. Long crushed rock finish. From organically grown grapes with Fair’n Green certification. Drink or hold.”
 
Weingut Donnhoff Hermannshohle Riesling Grosses Gewachs, Nahe 2022 $99 pre-arrival special, only 33 bottles available
Weingut Donnhoff Hermannshohle Riesling Grosses Gewachs, Nahe 2022 1.5L $228 pre-arrival special, only 3 magnums available
Stuart Pigott (Suckling) 99 points “The restrained beauty of the peachiness in the nose is hard to describe, but easy to be overwhelmed by! On the compact palate this has staggering concentration yet still manages to be very light on its feet. The finish is blade-runner sharp, but the blade also flashes in the sun. Breathtaking drive and energy for the very warm and dry vintage. Then comes the remarkable wet-stone minerality and you can’t wait for the next sip. From organically grown grapes with Fair’n Green certification. Drink or hold.”
 
Weingut Donnhoff Hollenpfad Im Muhlenberg Riesling Grosses Gewachs, Nahe GG 2022 750ml $79 pre-arrival special, only 15 bottles available
Weingut Donnhoff Hollenpfad Im Muhlenberg Riesling Grosses Gewachs, Nahe GG 2022 1.5L $199 pre-arrival special, only 3 magnums available
Stuart Pigott (Suckling) 97 points “What a dramatic wine this is, at once ripe and austere, super-stony and super-herbal with a touch of peppermint. Compact core in spite of the sleek and very focused body. Electric freshness at the vibrant finish although the acidity is anything but dominant. From organically grown grapes with Fair’n Green certification. Drink or hold.”
 
New Donnhoff releases also arriving Friday:
 
Weingut Donnhoff Kreuznacher Kahlenberg Riesling Trocken, Nahe 2022 750ml $41.90 pre-arrival special, only 21 bottles available
Stuart Pigott (Suckling) 94 points “For a bone-dry riesling this has a stunning juiciness that is hard to resist. The spot-on balance of fruit, moderate alcohol and lively acidity makes you want to dance for joy! Wide spectrum of stone and citrus fruits. Then comes the very long and elegant finish that pulls you back for more. From organically grown grapes with Fair’n Green certification. Drink or hold.”
 
Weingut Donnhoff Niederhauser Hermannshohle Riesling Auslese Goldkapsel, Nahe 2022 375ml $66 pre-arrival special, only 6 half-bottles available
Stuart Pigott (Suckling) 97 points “What a nose of floral honey and dried flowers this fabulous Auslese has. In spite of the abundant richness what makes this stand out is the invigorating mineral freshness. And the further back the wine rolls over your palate the more amazing it becomes. Enormous aging potential. From organically grown grapes with Fair’n Green certification. Drink or hold.”
 
Weingut Donnhoff Oberhauser Brucke Riesling Auslese, Nahe 2022 375ml $59 pre-arrival special, only 12 half-bottles available
Stuart Pigott (Suckling) 97 points “Wonderful nose of exotic fruits and flowers. More than enough concentration, but what makes this stand out is the interplay of ripeness – floral honey as much as very ripe citrus – with a vibrant acidity that lights up the sky. Dazzling, diamond-bright finish! From organically grown grapes with Fair’n Green certification. Drink or hold.”
 
Weingut Donnhoff Riesling Brut Nature, Nahe 2018 750ml $56 pre-arrival special, only 11 bottles available
No reviews available. Previous review provided for reference.
Decanter 94 points “With 51 months on the lees, this is a serious wine. Disgorged in summer 2021, it is subtle in every way – as you would expect from this family. An initial nose of Red Delicious apple signals mellowness and merges seamlessly into creaminess. The mousse is superfine and the apple flavours on the palate are more tart, more slender. A wonderfully elegant and fine Blanc de Noirs, made from Pinot Noir grown on a steep site of red sandstone, as exacting in its nature as the Rieslings from this legendary producer. Taut, vivid, light yet creamy and so, so elegant. This will make a most enticing aperitif but will also work with fine charcuterie or hot-smoked fish. Wonderful.”
 
Shop our nine in-stock 2022 vintage selections, including the Oberhauser Leistenberg Kabinett and the Estate Trocken, on our webstore!

Donnhoff Wines On Our Close-Out Sale

Want to explore impeccably cellared examples from previous vintages, without paying auction fees (and rolling the dice on the condition of the bottles)? Regret not buying enough of previous vintages now that you’ve had a chance to taste them? Aim to back-fill your collection from one of the country’s top purveyors of German wines?
 
Shop our incredible close out sale on in-stock Donnhoff wines:
 
Weingut Donnhoff Felsenberg Riesling Grosses Gewachs, Nahe 2018 750ml Close-Out Sale Was $69 Now $56 special, 26 bottles in stock now
John Gilman 94 points “The 2018 Felsenberg GG is also absolutely outstanding this year. The bouquet is impressively expressive at this early stage, soaring from the glass in a blaze of pear, tart orange, a beautiful base of slate minerality, wild yeasts, a touch of fleur de sel and a potpourri of floral scents in the upper register. On the palate the wine is full-bodied, focused and seamless, with outstanding mid-palate depth, powerful mineral drive and great cut and grip on the long, perfectly balanced and youthful finish. This will be show stopping juice in the fullness of time. 2028-2070. 94.”
Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 93+ points “Bottled in July, just two days before I tasted the 2018 Schlossböckelheimer Felsenberg Riesling trocken –GG– for the first time, the nose was ripe and generous but fine and flinty-mineral. Lush and salty-piquant, this is a full-bodied, rich and powerful yet vital Riesling with lots of body but also tension, purity and grip. Tasted again in August 2019.”
David Schildknecht-Vinous 93 points “Huckleberry, crushed coriander seed and zesty lemon on the nose anticipate the piquancy, pungency and citricity that dominate on a firm, full, glossy palate. Stony and alkaline notes tug in an austere direction, though the gripping, penetrating finish conveys ample refreshing juiciness as well as an uncanny sense of energy. “Whatever might be your favorite from among these vintage 2018 Grosse Gewächse,” remarked Dönnhoff, “you can recognize the [taste of the] site, and that’s the goal.””
 
Weingut Donnhoff Felsenberg Riesling Grosses Gewachs, Nahe 2020 750ml Close-Out Sale Was $79 Now $66 special, 35 bottles in stock now
Stuart Pigott (Suckling) 98 points “If you are a terroir fundamentalist, then this enormous depth of smoky and wild-herb character will light your fire, but otherwise approach with caution. With the second and third sip you feel the attractive, grapefruity side of the wine. Then comes the paradox. There is also a touch of grapefruit-pith bitterness at the radically mineral finish, and this adds to the excitement. From organically grown grapes with Fair’n Green certification. Drink or hold.”
Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 95 points “The 2020 Felsenberg GG is deep, intense and complex on the pure and elegant, well-defined and slightly flinty nose. Pure, intense and juicy on the palate, this is a crystalline, refined and salty Felsenberg with great terroir expression and length, even though the wine is still puristic or even ascetic in the finish. Not as charmingly fruity as Crusius’s interpretation but with the same length and tension. 13% alcohol. Tasted at the domain in July 2021 and again six weeks later in Wiesbaden during the GG tastings.”
 
Weingut Donnhoff Hollenpfad Im Muhlenberg Riesling Grosses Gewachs, Nahe 2018 750ml Close-Out Sale Was $59 Now $49 special, 14 bottles in stock now
John Gilman 93+ points “The Grosses Gewächs bottling from the filet section of the Höllenpfad im Mühlenberg is also very promising and again, shows the beautifully elegant refinement of all the dry Rieslings from the Dönnhoff family this year. Helmut estimates that this is thirteen percent octane or just under in this vintage. The bouquet wafts from the glass in a very refined and expressive blend of tangerine, blood orange, salty minerality, citrus peel, smoky overtones and a topnote of dried flowers. On the palate the wine is deep, full-bodied and really packed at the core, with racy acids, great soil signature, laser-like focus and a very long, youthfully complex and very promising finish. 2028-2060+. 93+.”
 
Weingut Donnhoff Kreuznacher Krotenpfuhl Riesling Grosses Gewachs, Nahe 2017 750ml Close-Out Sale Was $49 Now $41.90 special, 7 bottles in stock now
Mosel Fine Wines 93 points “The 2017er Bad Kreuznacher Krötenpfuhl GG delivers a spicy and minty nose of ripe fruits including pear, apple, prune and grapefruit. But it is on the palate that this wine really shines, combining energy and finesse with beautifully flowery and grapefruit driven elements. A great salty side adds depth to the fully dry and superbly mineral after-taste. This is a great dry Riesling in the making. 2025-2037.”
 
Weingut Donnhoff Kreuznacher Krotenpfuhl Riesling Kabinett, Nahe 2020 750ml Close-Out Sale Was $28 Now $21.90 special, 19 bottles in stock now
Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 93 points “The 2020 Kreuznacher Krötenpfuhl Riesling Kabinett is bright and finely stony on the clear and elegant nose with its ripe, almost tropical fruit notes. Lush and round on the palate, this is a mouth-filling Kabinett with delicate acidity and a stimulatingly salty finish and very good length. A wine to keep. 9% alcohol. Tasted at the domain in July 2021.”
 
Weingut Donnhoff Oberhauser Leistenberg Riesling Kabinett, Nahe 2020 750ml Close-Out Sale Was $29 Now $24 special, 33 bottles in stock now
Stuart Pigott (Suckling) 94 points “Some people think only the Mosel can produce stunning Kabinetts, but this is pristine and pure, so racy and uplifiting. You barely feel the natural grape sweetness, but its a vital element of this wine. Super-clean finish. From organically grown grapes with Fair’n Green certification. Drink or hold. Screw cap.”
 
Weingut Donnhoff Norheimer Kirschheck Riesling Spatlese, Nahe 2017 750ml Close-Out Sale Was $39 Now $33 special, 6 bottles in stock now
Stuart Pigott (Suckling) 93 points “A juicy and elegant wine that turns really dry, thanks to the serious minerality that powers the long, delicate finish. From organically grown grapes. Fair’n Green certification. Drink or hold.”
 
Weingut Donnhoff Norheimer Kirschheck Riesling Spatlese, Nahe 2020 750ml Close-Out Sale Was $39 Now $33 special, 11 bottles in stock now
Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 95 points “The 2020 Norheimer Kirschheck Riesling Spätlese is clear, pure and intense on the nose like a fine Italian perfume on wet, crushed stones. Lush and round on the palate, this is a dense yet very delicate and dangerously juicy and stimulating mineral Spätlese that is irresistible. Impossible to spit out. This long and salty Spätlese is singing. 8.5% alcohol. Tasted at the domain in July 2021.”
 
Weingut Donnhoff Oberhauser Brucke Riesling Spatlese, Nahe 2018 750ml Close-Out Sale Was $45 Now $38 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Decanter 95 points “The 1.1ha vineyard of Brücke is a monopole of the estate. The vines are planted in loess loam soils over a slate bedrock, and its sheltered location down by the river is perfect for producing spätlese. The 2018 has a ripe green apple character on the nose, joined by notes of white flowers and a touch of honey. The palate is incredibly intense and limey, sweet yet elegant and balanced. It almost appears to be drier than the Leistenberg Kabinett at this early stage, such is its impeccable harmony, absorbing its 85g/l of residual sugar effortlessly. Snap this up when you can, but don’t touch it for a good six years or more. Barrel sample.”
 
Weingut Donnhoff Oberhauser Brucke Riesling Auslese, Nahe 2020 750ml Close-Out Sale Was $99 Now $89 special, 24 bottles in stock now
Weingut Donnhoff Oberhauser Brucke Riesling Auslese, Nahe 2020 375ml Close-Out Sale Was $49 Now $39 special, 31 half-bottles in stock now
Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 97 points “The 2020 Oberhäuser Brücke Riesling Auslese is super clear, precise and coolish on the concentrated but highly refined and flinty/stony nose. Round and refined on the palate, this Auslese has a highly refined raisin tone intertwined with crunchy slate aromas. The wine comes across as a very complex and juicy but always highly finessed Auslese with eternal beauty. Almost zero botrytis, but the most perfect berries of the vintage made it into this adorable Auslese. 8% alcohol. Tasted at the domain in July 2021.”
 
Weingut Donnhoff Oberhauser Brucke Riesling Auslese, Nahe 2021 750ml Close-Out Sale Was $99 Now $89 special, 11 bottles in stock now
Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 97 points “Picked the same day as the GG and the Spätlese on November 8 but with finely shriveled botrytis berries, the 2021 Oberhäuser Brücke Riesling Auslese offers a clear and finely lemony bouquet with very fine botrytis tones, even though botrytis was less widely spread here than in the Felsenberg. On the palate, this is a rich and intense yet very precise and filigreed, refined and pure Auslese with an enormously saline and lively, long and energetic finish that shows piquant acidity. Superb. 8% stated alcohol. Natural cork. Tasted at the domaine in July 2022.”
 
Weingut Donnhoff Niederhauser Hermannshohle Riesling Beerenauslese, Nahe 2015 375ml Close-Out Sale Was $138 Now $125 special, 10 half-bottles in stock now
John Gilman 95 points “The 2015 Hermannshöhle BA is still a baby and was in its primary stage of development, but this will clearly be a great wine as well. The bouquet offers up scents of baked apple, tangerine, a touch of papaya, gentle smokiness, orange oil and honey. On the palate the wine is pure, full-bodied, bright and very, very deep, with great focus and grip, a very long, perfectly balanced and nascently complex finish. This will of course be approachable from the moment that it is released, but I would strongly suggest giving it at least four or five years in the cellar to allow it to start to really blossom and show some of the secondary layers of complexity that will come with bottle age. 2016-2075+.”
 
We offer 28 wines on sale now from Donnhoff (of our 247 Close-Out Sale wines)!
 
Shop our entire range of 60 Donnhoff wines on our webstore now!

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