Helden Riesling 2022

Located on the steep slopes of Piesport, Helden is a renowned Moselle hillside vineyard, sculpted from soils composed primarily of decomposed schist. Facing due south, the vines overlook the meanders of the river, benefiting from abundant sunshine and the reflection of light on the water. This combination promotes a slow and even ripening of the grapes, while preserving a pronounced acidity. The roots plunge deep into the rock, giving the wine a precise and mineral expression, typical of this exceptional Moselle terroir.

The Riesling grapes from the Helden vineyard are hand-harvested and then gently pressed before undergoing a slow fermentation in stainless steel tanks with indigenous yeasts to preserve aromatic purity and minerality. The wine is then aged on its fine lees in stainless steel tanks for several months, with minimal stirring, to develop texture and complexity while maintaining remarkable freshness. The entire winemaking process aims to express the dry, precise, and crystalline character of the Helden terroir in the 2022 vintage.

This wine reveals notes of stone fruit , green apple , and citrus , complemented by delicate floral touches and a subtle mineral imprint reminiscent of wet schist. On the palate, the wine is precise, driven by a lively acidity that lengthens the aromatic profile and underscores the purity of the fruit. The texture remains elegant, with a sense of tension rather than richness, and a saline , persistent, and refreshing finish that highlights the Moselle origin and balance of this dry Riesling.

Germany has a long and illustrious history of winemaking. The Romans established the country's first vineyards along the banks of the Moselle River, near the present-day city of Trier. By the third century AD, vineyards had spread to various neighboring valleys, primarily those of the Moselle's tributaries. During the Middle Ages, the Christian church, particularly the Cistercian and Benedictine monasteries, had a significant influence on the development of viticulture and the production of quality wine in Germany. Germany has always been renowned for its excellent white wines: slightly sweet, low in alcohol, but always of high quality. However, in recent years, wine drinkers have tended to prefer drier wines. Consequently, the German market has evolved to cater to all tastes with some splendid dry Rieslings and other white wine varieties, such as Pinot Blanc, Gewürztraminer, and Grauburgunder. Warmer summers and milder winters have also favored rosés and reds, with Pinot Noir being the third most planted grape variety in the country. So, take your pick—from traditional Rieslings to great reds, the range is wide and still expanding. The German wine industry lost its way in terms of quality during the 20th century, expanding plantings onto less favorable sites and increasing yields to levels where quality was severely compromised. However, Germany's greatest wine producers were never completely lost, and since the end of the 20th century, considerable efforts have been made to restore Germany's former glory. Yields are now limited by law, and many leading producers have joined forces to form the VDP association (see German Wine Labels). Members of the VDP are bound by a commitment to focus their efforts on quality rather than quantity. In terms of volume, Germany ranks among the top ten countries in the world for annual wine production. Just over 60% of the wine produced is white, and it is widely acknowledged that the white wines from Germany's best vineyards and most reputable producers are among the finest in the world. German red wines are also gaining in popularity and quality, particularly those made from Spätburgunder, the local name for Pinot Noir. The second most popular red grape variety (in terms of planted hectares, at least) is Dornfelder.