2023 Riesling trocken

Fritz Groebe notes, “2023 was a hot summer; there was quite some rain. From mid-August to early September, we had around 120 liters[120mm] of rain. Must weights went down slightly, but thankfully, acids did not crash. Temperatures remained warm, so our window for picking Kabinett was smaller than in 2022, but we managed,” he says. Hot and wet weather forced Groebe to discard half of his Pinot varieties, prompting him to harvest the later-ripening Riesling with much more speed. He notes the reduced yields in 2023; both botrytized and sunburnt fruit had to be eliminated, resulting in 50hl/ha compared to his long-term average of 70hl/ha. Harvest started on September 14 with Grauburgunder (not tasted); Riesling Kabinett was next on September 22, while the GGs were picked at the end, on October 5, 6 and 7. Groebe presented an animating and juicy collection of 2023 Rieslings, with honed mastery of residual sweetness, fruit, ripeness and freshness. It is an energetic, vivid collection that is approachable right now but will also age.