WITTMANN HOLLENBRAND RIESLING TROCKENBEERENAUSLESE RHEINHESSEN 2015 375ml

A PRECIOUS WINE

Weingut Wittmann, located in Westhofen, Rheinhessen, has been crafting wines since 1663, with 15 generations of expertise. Managed by Philipp Wittmann, alongside father Günther (vineyards) and mother Elisabeth (sales), the estate spans 62 acres of limestone-rich soils. Pioneers in sustainable practices, they adopted organic viticulture in 1990 and biodynamic methods in 2004, earning organic certification. Renowned for full-bodied, balanced dry Rieslings, Wittmann’s wines express terroir with precision. Philipp, a former VDP Rheinhessen president, has elevated the estate to global acclaim, twice earning Germany’s best white winemaker title (Eichelmann, 2003, 2013; Gault Millau, 2014).
The 2015 Wittmann Hollenbrand Riesling Trockenbeerenauslese is crafted from botrytized Riesling grapes from the Hollenbrand vineyard in Westhofen, Rheinhessen. Hand-harvested at 150° Oechsle, the grapes undergo selective picking of shriveled, raisin-like berries. Fermentation occurs naturally with native yeasts in large, neutral wooden barrels, without sulfite addition. The wine matures in these barrels for up to 18 months in the estate’s 1829 vaulted cellar. Yield is low, around 10 hl/ha, producing a concentrated dessert wine with approximately 6–8% alcohol and high residual sugar (200–250 g/l). The limestone soils contribute intense minerality and structure.

TASTING NOTE:

The 2015 Wittmann Hollenbrand Riesling Trockenbeerenauslese offers a golden hue and viscous texture. Its nose reveals intense honey, dried apricot, candied orange peel, and exotic spices, with a mineral undertone. On the palate, it’s lusciously sweet yet balanced by vibrant acidity, delivering concentrated flavors of peach, mango, and caramelized pineapple. The finish is long, with a saline minerality and hints of botrytis-driven complexity. This dessert wine is rich yet elegant, showcasing Rheinhessen’s terroir with precision. Ideal with blue cheese or fruit tarts, it’s age-worthy, evolving over decades into deeper, nuttier profiles.