 Germany
Rheingau
Weingut Künstler  |
The winery |
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Geheimrat-Hummel-Platz 1 A
65239 Hochheim
Wine region: Rheingau
Phone: +49 6146 83860
Fax: +49 6146 7335
Internet: www.weingut-kuenstler.de
Owner: Gunter Künstler
Manager: Gunter Künstler
Cellar master: Rolf Schregel
Cultivated area: 37.00 ha
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Visitor information:
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Awards:
On 19. Mär 2005 awardedwith the Kollektion of the year
On 24. Mär 2006 awardedwith the Kollektion of the year
Membership:  , Gens de Metier
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| Contact Weingut Künstler
| The estate is located in the commune of Hochheim in the Rheingau wine-growing region in Germany. It was founded in 1965 by Franz Künstler, who previously worked as a winery manager. The family has its origins in the Sudetenland in what used to be the eastern German provinces, and was involved in wine production in the town of Untertannovitz in southern Moravia since 1648, before emigrating to Hochheim in 1945. The estate has been run by Gunter Künstler since the late 1980s. His motto is: „Wine is culture, art is culture wine ist he culture of living”. The Geheimrat Aschrott estate, with 12 hectares of vineyard area, was acquired in 1996. manor house of the Aschrott estate dates back to the 15th century, and serves as the joint headquarters of both estates, although the wines of the two estates continue to be marketed separately. Overall, the vineyard area totals 26 hectares, of which 22 ha are planted with Riesling, while the remainder are planted with Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. The holdings include parcels of the Grand Cru classified Domdechaney, Hölle and Kirchenstück sites in Hochheim. Since 1988, the best dry wines are bottled as „Künstler-trocken” in an attractive antique green bottle. The estate is one of the best producers of dry Riesling in the world. Bottle-fermented sparkling wines are also produced. The estate is a member of the VDP (Verband deutscher Prädikats- und Qualitäts-Weingüter) association.
The vintage 2010 |
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Rheingau |
| Chardonnay, White wine, QbA, dry, 15.50 € | | Full description |  Request-Form |  |
| Spätburgunder, Weißherbst, QbA, dry, 8.50 € | | Full description | Request-Form | |
Rheingau: Hochheim |
| Domdechaney, Riesling, White wine, QbA, dry, 16.50 € | | Full description | Request-Form | |
| Herrnberg, Riesling, White wine, QbA, dry, 9.50 € | | Full description | Request-Form | |
| Hölle, Riesling, White wine, Auslese, Goldkapsel, 22.50 € | | Full description | Request-Form | |
| Hölle, Riesling, White wine, Beerenauslese, Goldkapsel, 59.00 € | | Full description | Request-Form | |
| Hölle, Riesling, White wine, First Growth (Erstes Gewächs), dry | | Full description | Request-Form | |
| Hölle, Riesling, White wine, Kabinett, dry, 11.90 € | | Full description | Request-Form | |
| Kirchenstück, White wine, First Growth (Erstes Gewächs), dry | | Full description | Request-Form | |
| Kirchenstück, Riesling, White wine, Kabinett, dry, 10.80 € | | Full description | Request-Form | |
| Stielweg, Riesling, White wine, QbA, dry, Alte Reben, 16.50 € | | Full description | Request-Form | |
Rheingau: Kostheim |
| Weiß Erd, Riesling, White wine, First Growth (Erstes Gewächs), dry | | Full description | Request-Form | |
The vintage 2009 |
| The 2009 vintage is not an easy one for tasters. The top-og-the-range wines in particular often required several days after opening to show even a small part of their potential. The Grand Crus will all still improve, the "Sommerhell" in particular still has great potential. We were not quite as enthusiastic about the basic wines this yearm in addition, the Domdechaney Riesling does not quite come up to expectations. |
Rheingau |
| Chardonnay, White wine, QbA, dry, 14.20 € | | Full description | Request-Form | Excellent (87) |
| Riesling, White wine, QbA, finesse, 8.00 € | | Full description | Request-Form | Satisfactory (78) |
| Riesling, White wine, QbA, dry, 8.00 € | | Full description | Request-Form | Very good (81) |
| Silvaner, White wine, QbA, dry, 12.00 € | | Full description | Request-Form | Excellent (87) |
Rheingau: Hochheim |
| Domdechaney, Riesling, White wine, QbA, dry, 14.90 € | | Full description | Request-Form | Excellent (85) |
| Herrnberg, Riesling, White wine, QbA, dry, 8.90 € | | Full description | Request-Form | Very good (81) |
| Hölle, Riesling, White wine, First Growth (Erstes Gewächs), dry | | Full description | Request-Form | Outstanding (93) |
| Hölle, Riesling, White wine, First Growth (Erstes Gewächs), dry, Sommerheil | | Full description | Request-Form | Extraordinary (95+) |
| Hölle, Riesling, White wine, Kabinett, dry, 11.00 € | | Full description | Request-Form | Excellent (85) |
| Kirchenstück, White wine, First Growth (Erstes Gewächs), dry | | Full description | Request-Form | Excellent (88+) |
| Kirchenstück, Riesling, White wine, Kabinett, dry, 9.90 € | | Full description | Request-Form | Very good (84) |
| Kirchenstück, Riesling, White wine, late harvest (Spaetlese), 17.50 € | | Full description | Request-Form | Excellent (87+) |
| Reichestal, Riesling, White wine, Kabinett, 9.50 € | | Full description | Request-Form | Excellent (85+) |
| Reichestal, Red wine, First Growth (Erstes Gewächs), dry | | Full description | Request-Form | |
| Stein, Riesling, White wine, QbA, dry, 13.80 € | | Full description | Request-Form | |
| Stein, Spätburgunder, Red wine, First Growth (Erstes Gewächs), dry | | Full description | Request-Form | |
Rheingau: Kostheim |
| Weiß Erd, Riesling, White wine, First Growth (Erstes Gewächs), dry | | Full description | Request-Form | Excellent (88+) |
The vintage 2008 |
| Gunter Künstler and his cellarmaster Rolf Schregel have produced yet another homogenous range of first-class dry Riesling wines. The Grand Crus are probably the best this winery has ever produced, and we believe a bit of bottle maturation may see these wines even improving further. The dry golden capsule wine was still totally closed, and probably needs a few more years to show its true qualities. In contrast to last year, the sweet Rieslings are again all very good this year. |
Rheingau |
| Schaumwein, Sparkling wine (Deutscher Sekt), Brut, Rosé, 16.00 € | | Full description | Request-Form | |
| Chardonnay, Schaumwein, Sparkling wine (Deutscher Sekt), Brut, 16.00 € | | Full description | Request-Form | |
| Chardonnay, White wine, QbA, dry, 14.20 € | | Full description | Request-Form | Excellent (86+) |
| Riesling, Schaumwein, Sparkling wine (Deutscher Sekt), Brut, 13.50 € | | Full description | Request-Form | |
| Riesling, White wine, QbA, finesse, 7.90 € | | Full description | Request-Form | Satisfactory (79) |
| Riesling, White wine, QbA, dry, 8.50 € | | Full description | Request-Form | Very good (83) |
| Riesling, White wine, QbA, off-dry/semi-sweet, 8.50 € | | Full description | Request-Form | Very good (84) |
| Silvaner, White wine, QbA, dry, 12.00 € | | Full description | Request-Form | Excellent (86+) |
| Spätburgunder, Schaumwein, Sparkling wine (Deutscher Sekt), Brut, 16.00 € | | Full description | Request-Form | |
| Spätburgunder, Weißherbst, QbA, dry, 7.90 € | | Full description | Request-Form | Very good (81) |
Rheingau: Hochheim |
| Spätburgunder, Red wine, QbA, dry, > Tradition <, 11.90 € | | Full description | Request-Form | Excellent (85+) |
| Domdechaney, Riesling, White wine, QbA, dry, 14.90 € | | Full description | Request-Form | Excellent (88) |
| Herrnberg, Riesling, White wine, QbA, dry, 8.80 € | | Full description | Request-Form | Very good (83) |
| Hölle, Riesling, White wine, Auslese, Goldkapsel, 29.00 € | | Full description | Request-Form | Outstanding (90+) |
| Hölle, Riesling, White wine, First Growth (Erstes Gewächs), dry | | Full description | Request-Form | Outstanding (94+) |
| Hölle, Riesling, White wine, Kabinett, dry, 10.80 € | | Full description | Request-Form | Excellent (86) |
| Hölle, Riesling, White wine, QbA, dry, Goldkapsel | | Full description | Request-Form | Outstanding (93+) |
| Kirchenstück, White wine, First Growth (Erstes Gewächs), dry | | Full description | Request-Form | Outstanding (92+) |
| Kirchenstück, Riesling, White wine, Kabinett, dry, 9.80 € | | Full description | Request-Form | Excellent (85) |
| Kirchenstück, Riesling, White wine, late harvest (Spaetlese), 16.00 € | | Full description | Request-Form | Excellent (88+) |
| Reichestal, Riesling, White wine, Kabinett, 9.50 € | | Full description | Request-Form | Excellent (85+) |
| Reichestal, Red wine, First Growth (Erstes Gewächs), dry | | Full description | Request-Form | Excellent (86) |
| Stielweg, Riesling, White wine, QbA, dry, Alte Reben, 14.90 € | | Full description | Request-Form | Excellent (87) |
Rheingau: Kostheim |
| Weiß Erd, Riesling, White wine, QbA, dry, 13.80 € | | Full description | Request-Form | Excellent (87+) |
The vintage 2007 |
| Once again, the dry Riesling wines are excellent across the board this year, although many of them were definietly far from their peak at the time of tasting. For some of the wines we predict a significant fürther improvement in the coming months or even years. The Goldkapsel wine from the Hölle site, in particular, still has ample reserves, it improved for several days in the opened bottle. Once again, this gold capsule wine is a candidate for the best dry Riesling in the country. We should also not forget the Sauvignon Blanc, a maiden vintage that leaves a very good impression. We were not quite as happy with the sweet wines, which are very well made, but seemed to lack a little ripeness. |
Rheingau |
| Riesling, Schaumwein, Sparkling wine (Deutscher Sekt), Brut, 12.50 € | | Full description | Request-Form | Very good (84) |
| Riesling, White wine, QbA, dry, 8.50 € | | Full description | Request-Form | Very good (83+) |
| Sauvignon Blanc, White wine, QbA, dry, Only Sansibar, 16.90 € | | Full description | Request-Form | Excellent (86) |
| Spätburgunder, Red wine, QbA, dry, Cuvée "Tradition" | | Full description | Request-Form | Very good (81) |
Rheingau: Hochheim |
| Domdechaney, Riesling, White wine, QbA, dry, 14.80 € | | Full description | Request-Form | Excellent (86+) |
| Hölle, Riesling, White wine, First Growth (Erstes Gewächs), dry, 24.90 € | | Full description | Request-Form | Outstanding (91) |
| Hölle, Riesling, White wine, Kabinett, dry, 10.80 € | | Full description | Request-Form | Excellent (86) |
| Hölle, Riesling, White wine, QbA, dry, Goldkapsel, 39.00 € | | Full description | Request-Form | Extraordinary (96+) |
| Kirchenstück, Riesling, White wine, Kabinett, dry, 9.50 € | | Full description | Request-Form | Very good (84) |
| Kirchenstück, Riesling, White wine, QbA, dry, Goldkapsel, 27.50 € | | Full description | Request-Form | Outstanding (92) |
| Kirchenstück, Riesling, White wine, late harvest (Spaetlese), 16.00 € | | Full description | Request-Form | Very good (82) |
| Reichestal, Riesling, White wine, Kabinett, 9.50 € | | Full description | Request-Form | Very good (81) |
| Reichestal, Red wine, First Growth (Erstes Gewächs), dry | | Full description | Request-Form | Excellent (85) |
| Reichestal, Spätburgunder, Red wine, QbA, dry, R, 23.80 € | | Full description | Request-Form | Excellent (87) |
| Stielweg, Riesling, White wine, QbA, dry, Alte Reben, 14.80 € | | Full description | Request-Form | Excellent (88) |
The vintage 2006 |
| Regrettably, the wines of the 2006 vintage cannot match the outstanding quality of the previous vintages. It appears the conditions were simply too difficult in those vineyards in Hochheim to produce above-average quality wines in the basic and medium segments. At the top of the pyramid, however, the top level wines once again leave little to be desired, even in this difficult vintage. |
Rheingau |
| Riesling, White wine, QbA, off-dry, 6.90 € | | Full description | Request-Form | Satisfactory (79) |
| Schaumwein, Sparkling wine (Deutscher Sekt), Brut, Cuvée M, 16.00 € | | Full description | Request-Form | |
Rheingau: Hochheim |
| Domdechaney, Riesling, White wine, QbA, dry, 14.00 € | | Full description | Request-Form | Excellent (86) |
| Herrnberg, Riesling, White wine, QbA, dry, 8.00 € | | Full description | Request-Form | Very good (82) |
| Hölle, White wine, First Growth (Erstes Gewächs), dry, 22.50 € | | Full description | Request-Form | Excellent (89+) |
| Hölle, Riesling, White wine, Kabinett, dry, 9.90 € | | Full description | Request-Form | Very good (84) |
| Hölle, Riesling, White wine, QbA, dry, Goldkapsel, 36.00 € | | Full description | Request-Form | Outstanding (92) |
| Kirchenstück, White wine, First Growth (Erstes Gewächs), dry, 21.00 € | | Full description | Request-Form | Outstanding (92+) |
| Kirchenstück, Riesling, White wine, Kabinett, dry, 8.90 € | | Full description | Request-Form | Very good (83) |
| Kirchenstück, Riesling, White wine, late harvest (Spaetlese), 15.20 € | | Full description | Request-Form | Satisfactory (77) |
| Reichestal, Riesling, White wine, Kabinett, 8.90 € | | Full description | Request-Form | Satisfactory (79) |
| Reichestal, Spätburgunder, Red wine, QbA, dry, RR | | Full description | Request-Form | Very good (84) |
| Stielweg, Riesling, White wine, QbA, dry, Alte Reben, 14.00 € | | Full description | Request-Form | Very good (83) |
The vintage 2005 |
| The 2005 vintage range presented by Gunther Künstler is a vintage that is across the board not quite as strong as the previous vintages, nevertheless it is one of the best in the region. The two Grand Crus (Erste Gewächse) in particular, which are also very attractively priced, show a brilliant depth and complexity. Head and shoulders above the others is yet again the incredible Goldkapsel wine from the Hölle site, its exceptional concentration, power and immense mineral structure ensure it is one of the best dry white wines of the vintage. A comment applying to both the top-level wines as well as to the more basic wines, which incidentally are always of above-average quality here, is that they can all still benefit from some maturation. |
Rheingau |
| Chardonnay, White wine, QbA, dry | | Full description | Request-Form | Excellent (86) |
Rheingau: Hochheim |
| Spätburgunder, Red wine, QbA, dry, > Tradition <, 9.80 € | | Full description | Request-Form | Very good (84) |
| Domdechaney, Riesling, White wine, QbA, dry, 13.50 € | | Full description | Request-Form | Excellent (86) |
| Herrnberg, Riesling, White wine, QbA, dry | | Full description | Request-Form | Very good (84) |
| Hölle, Riesling, White wine, First Growth (Erstes Gewächs), dry, 18.50 € | | Full description | Request-Form | Outstanding (92+) |
| Hölle, Riesling, White wine, Kabinett, dry | | Full description | Request-Form | Very good (84) |
| Hölle, Riesling, White wine, QbA, dry, Goldkapsel, 35.00 € | | Full description | Request-Form | Extraordinary (98) |
| Kirchenstück, Riesling, White wine, First Growth (Erstes Gewächs), dry, 16.00 € | | Full description | Request-Form | Outstanding (91+) |
| Kirchenstück, Riesling, White wine, Kabinett, dry | | Full description | Request-Form | Very good (82) |
| Kirchenstück, Riesling, White wine, late harvest (Spaetlese) | | Full description | Request-Form | Excellent (86+) |
| Reichestal, Riesling, White wine, Kabinett | | Full description | Request-Form | Very good (80) |
| Reichestal, Red wine, First Growth (Erstes Gewächs), dry, 41.50 € | | Full description | Request-Form | Very good (82) |
| Stielweg, Riesling, White wine, QbA, dry, Alte Reben | | Full description | Request-Form | Excellent (87) |
The vintage 2004 |
| The 2004 vintage provides a seamless continuation of the outstanding achievements of the past two vintages. Even the basic wines are of excellent quality, and are impressive with their crystal clear fruit, concentration and structure, at a level that many of his colleagues in the Rheingau region cannot often emulate even in their top wines. The range of top-class dry wines is once again phenomenal across the board. Gunter Künstler single-handedly produces almost as many outstanding dry Riesling wines as the whole Rheingau so far could produce under the designation of "Erstes Gewächs". The crowning glory of the range once again is a breathtaking masterpiece from the Hölle site, showing a depth and length that left a whole table of experienced tasters and dyed-in-the-wool lovers of big dry Riesling wines grasping for words. The awarding of the fifth star once again places Künstler nominally back in the small group of world class producers in Germany. |
Rheingau |
| Chardonnay, White wine, QbA, dry, 13.00 € | | Full description | Request-Form | Excellent (87) |
| Riesling, White wine, QbA, off-dry, 6.30 € | | Full description | Request-Form | Very good (84) |
Rheingau: Hochheim |
| Domdechaney, Riesling, White wine, QbA, dry, 13.00 € | | Full description | Request-Form | Outstanding (90) |
| Herrnberg, Riesling, White wine, QbA, dry, 7.20 € | | Full description | Request-Form | Excellent (85) |
| Hölle, Riesling, White wine, Auslese, dry, 28.00 € | | Full description | Request-Form | Outstanding (91+) |
| Hölle, Riesling, White wine, Kabinett, dry, 9.00 € | | Full description | Request-Form | Excellent (86) |
| Hölle, Riesling, White wine, QbA, dry, Goldkapsel, 35.00 € | | Full description | Request-Form | Extraordinary (98-100) |
| Hölle, Riesling, White wine, late harvest (Spaetlese), dry, 14.50 € | | Full description | Request-Form | Excellent (89) |
| Kirchenstück, Riesling, White wine, Kabinett, dry, 7.80 € | | Full description | Request-Form | Excellent (87) |
| Kirchenstück, Riesling, White wine, QbA, dry, 13.00 € | | Full description | Request-Form | Outstanding (93) |
| Kirchenstück, Riesling, White wine, late harvest (Spaetlese), 13.90 € | | Full description | Request-Form | Excellent (88) |
| Reichestal, Riesling, White wine, Kabinett, 7.80 € | | Full description | Request-Form | Excellent (86) |
| Stielweg, Riesling, White wine, QbA, dry, Alte Reben, 12.80 € | | Full description | Request-Form | Outstanding (94) |
The vintage 2003 |
| Only a very small number of producers managed to produce a range of wines in 2003 that is of such a high standard across the board. For the first time, Gunter Künstler has shown that his botrytis Riesling wines are also world class. The Trockenbeerenauslese wines from the Domdechaney and Hölle sites are without a doubt among the greatest dessert wines ever. Fortunate heirs will be able to enjoy these wines and make unforgettable experiences with them well into the next century. With regard to the dry Riesling wines, Künstler has replicated the standard of his best vintages of the Eighties. The crowning glory in the range once again is an overwhelming dry Goldkapsel Auslese from the Hölle site, while even the quality wines and Kabinett wines set the standard in their categories. A virtually perfect range, of a standard of quality that only a few producers in the world can achieve. |
Rheingau |
| Chardonnay, White wine, QbA, dry, 13.00 € | | Full description | Request-Form | Outstanding (90) |
| Riesling, White wine, QbA, off-dry, 6.30 € | | Full description | Request-Form | Satisfactory (78) |
| Spätburgunder, Red wine, QbA, dry, Tradition, 9.00 € | | Full description | Request-Form | Excellent (87+) |
Rheingau: Hochheim |
| Domdechaney, Riesling, White wine, QbA, dry, 12.00 € | | Full description | Request-Form | Outstanding (90+) |
| Domdechaney, Riesling, White wine, Trockenbeerenauslese, Goldkapsel, 198.00 € | | Full description | Request-Form | Extraordinary (99) |
| Herrnberg, Riesling, White wine, QbA, dry, 7.20 € | | Full description | Request-Form | Excellent (86) |
| Hölle, Riesling, White wine, Auslese, Goldkapsel, 29.00 € | | Full description | Request-Form | Extraordinary (95) |
| Hölle, Riesling, White wine, Auslese, dry, 28.00 € | | Full description | Request-Form | Extraordinary (95) |
| Hölle, Riesling, White wine, Auslese, dry, Goldkapsel, 35.00 € | | Full description | Request-Form | Extraordinary (98+) |
| Hölle, Riesling, White wine, Kabinett, dry, 9.00 € | | Full description | Request-Form | Excellent (85) |
| Hölle, Riesling, White wine, Trockenbeerenauslese | | Full description | Request-Form | Outstanding (93) |
| Hölle, Riesling, White wine, Trockenbeerenauslese, Goldkapsel, 198.00 € | | Full description | Request-Form | Extraordinary (99-100) |
| Hölle, Riesling, White wine, late harvest (Spaetlese), dry, 16.00 € | | Full description | Request-Form | Excellent (88) |
| Kirchenstück, Riesling, White wine, Auslese, dry, 30.00 € | | Full description | Request-Form | Extraordinary (95+) |
| Kirchenstück, Riesling, White wine, Kabinett, dry, 7.80 € | | Full description | Request-Form | Excellent (88) |
| Kirchenstück, Riesling, White wine, Trockenbeerenauslese, 163.00 € | | Full description | Request-Form | Very good (84) |
| Kirchenstück, Riesling, White wine, late harvest (Spaetlese), 13.90 € | | Full description | Request-Form | Excellent (88) |
| Reichestal, Riesling, White wine, Kabinett, 7.80 € | | Full description | Request-Form | Excellent (87+) |
| Reichestal, Spätburgunder, Red wine, QbA, dry, R, 22.00 € | | Full description | Request-Form | Excellent (89+) |
| Reichestal, Spätburgunder, Red wine, QbA, dry, R R, 35.00 € | | Full description | Request-Form | Outstanding (91+) |
| Stielweg, Riesling, White wine, Trockenbeerenauslese | | Full description | Request-Form | Extraordinary (96) |
| Stielweg, Riesling, White wine, late harvest (Spaetlese), dry, * Alte Reben *, 12.50 € | | Full description | Request-Form | Outstanding (90) |
The vintage 2002 |
| One of the greatest dry white wines ever is the crowning glory in this impressive range, showing that Gunter Künstler can rightfully claim his place among the leading wine producers in the world once more. As was the case in the Nineties, all of the wines impress with totally pure fruit, a deep mineral structure and great body. Even the basic wines show depth and character. While the big dry Auslese wines of the 92, 93, 98 and 99 vintage were already close to perfection, the 2002 Goldkapsel wine has finally clinched this pinnacle for Künstler. From now on he can only - if at all - improve on his own performance. This evidence, that Gunter Künstler has no intention of giving up in his striving has been the best news of the year for me. |
Rheingau |
| Chardonnay, White wine, QbA, dry | | Full description | Request-Form | Excellent (88) |
Rheingau: Hochheim |
| Herrnberg, Riesling, White wine, QbA, dry | | Full description | Request-Form | Very good (83) |
| Hölle, Riesling, White wine, Auslese | | Full description | Request-Form | Very good (82) |
| Hölle, Riesling, White wine, Auslese, dry | | Full description | Request-Form | Outstanding (93) |
| Hölle, Riesling, White wine, Auslese, dry, Goldkapsel | | Full description | Request-Form | Singularly (100) |
| Hölle, Riesling, White wine, Kabinett, dry | | Full description | Request-Form | Excellent (87) |
| Hölle, Riesling, White wine, ice wine | | Full description | Request-Form | Outstanding (94) |
| Kirchenstück, Riesling, White wine, Auslese, dry | | Full description | Request-Form | Outstanding (92) |
| Kirchenstück, Riesling, White wine, Kabinett, dry | | Full description | Request-Form | Excellent (85) |
| Kirchenstück, Riesling, White wine, late harvest (Spaetlese) | | Full description | Request-Form | Outstanding (90) |
| Reichestal, Riesling, White wine, Kabinett | | Full description | Request-Form | Excellent (87) |
| Stielweg, Riesling, White wine, late harvest (Spaetlese), dry, * Alte Reben * | | Full description | Request-Form | Outstanding (92) |
The vintage 2001 |
| Following on the difficult 2000 vintage, the current vintage again shows this estate at an excellent level of quality. Although the 2001 vintage is not really one of the great vintages to be produced under the direction of Gunter Künstler, the wines show a clear fruit and firm mineral structure that ensures them a leading place among the wines produced in the Rheingau in this vintage. Even the most basic wines are good. Our compliments! |
Rheingau |
| Chardonnay, White wine, QbA, dry | | Full description | Request-Form | Excellent (89) |
| Riesling, White wine, QbA, dry | | Full description | Request-Form | Very good (83) |
Rheingau: Hochheim |
| Herrnberg, Riesling, White wine, QbA, dry | | Full description | Request-Form | Very good (83) |
| Hölle, Riesling, White wine, Auslese, dry | | Full description | Request-Form | Outstanding (90) |
| Hölle, Riesling, White wine, Kabinett, dry | | Full description | Request-Form | Very good (84) |
| Hölle, Riesling, White wine, late harvest (Spaetlese), dry | | Full description | Request-Form | Excellent (88) |
| Kirchenstück, Riesling, White wine, Auslese, dry | | Full description | Request-Form | Excellent (88) |
| Stielweg, Riesling, White wine, late harvest (Spaetlese), dry | | Full description | Request-Form | Excellent (87) |
The vintage 2000 |
| Following on a magnificent presentation of the 1999 vintage, the 2000 vintage is a severe throwback for Gunter Künstler. He simply found it impossible to make wine from healthy grapes. The result is a range of largely balanced wines, but wines that are matt, and dominated by botrytis. However, there is no real cause for concern: if anybody can make up for this disappointment with the next vintage, it must be Gunter Künstler. |
Rheingau |
| Riesling, White wine, QbA, dry, 6.03 € | | Full description | Request-Form | Satisfactory (76) |
| Riesling, White wine, QbA, off-dry, 5.52 € | | Full description | Request-Form | Satisfactory (79) |
Rheingau: Hochheim |
| Hölle, Riesling, White wine, Kabinett, dry, 8.59 € | | Full description | Request-Form | Very good (81) |
| Hölle, Riesling, White wine, late harvest (Spaetlese), dry, 12.78 € | | Full description | Request-Form | Satisfactory (79) |
| Stielweg, Riesling, White wine, late harvest (Spaetlese), dry, 11.25 € | | Full description | Request-Form | Satisfactory (79) |
The vintage 1999 |
| As was usually the case in the past 10 years, the 1999 vintage produced by the Franz Künstler estate are certainly among the most concentrated and complex wines to be found in Germany, wines that show their terroir particularly strongly. These wines are not always easy to understand. If you are confronted by these wines for the first time, you may be totally overwhelmed, or you may shake your head at what you consider the excessive brou-ha being made about the wines. However, even the greatest skeptics will in the long run hardly be able to escape the magical presence of these deep and very demanding Riesling wines, especially when they shine in all their facettes after a few years maturation. Even the dry and the off-dry estate wines (Gutswein) show dimensions that other well-known producers achieve only in their top-of-the-range wines. Nevertheless, it is the great dry Riesling Spätlese and Auslese wines that have built the reputation of the estate. The wines from the Hochheimer Stielweg site - located to the west and below the famous Domdechaney site -are always the most approachable and most fruity examples, although even they have tremendous substance and intense mineral characters, providing them with serious and considerable development potential. The 1999 Riesling wines from this site demonstrate a racy brilliance that can spontaneously beguile your senses. One can have wonderful arguments about whether the Kirchenstück or the Hölle site is the better of the sites in Hochheim. Both of them produce world-class Riesling wines, which are, however, distinctly different in character. In spite of their body, the wines from the Kirchenstück site have great finesse and an almost playful personality, while those from the Hölle site are characterised by primordial power and opulent body, without ever being broad or overloaded. The dry 1999 Spätlese wines from the Stielweg and Hölle sites, particularly the three dry Auslese wines, are without any doubt among the greatest dry Riesling wines ever produced - not only in Germany. Perhaps a dozen producers in the owrld are able to produce white wines at this level with any kind of regularity! The huge dry wines produced by Gunter Künstler often make us overlook the Riesling wines with natural residual sugar he produces, also of outstanding quality. Starting with the off-dry estate wine through to the Auslese, these wines are hardly less impressive than their dry counterparts. Given some bottle maturation, it is difficult to imagine more attractive wines with a venison dish, or simply to enjoy by the fireside in the evening. Although the sweet botrytis wines are generally also excellent here, the Beerenauslese wine from the Hölle site was not totally convincing this year, as I believe it slightly lacks the usual raciness, elegance and purity. Nevertheless, I will keep an eye on the development of this wine. Gunter Künstler also pays great attention to his Pinot Noir red wines. They are almost as concentrated and structured as his dry white wines, but are not yet quite as expressive or clear. Nevertheless, I can say that I found the 1999 reds from the Hochheimer Reichestal site, tasted on the estate shortly after bottling, better than the preceding vintages. In the meantime, however, the fruit has closed down to some extent, and the oak currently dominates, the tannins slightly obscuring the clear contours of the Pinot fruit. I am intersted to see whether the fruit comes to the fore again in a few years time, as in that case both the Spätlese and the Auslese wines could still receive a slightly higher rating. |
Rheingau |
| Chardonnay, White wine, late harvest (Spaetlese), dry, 16.36 € | | Full description | Request-Form | Excellent (86) |
| Riesling, White wine, QbA, dry, 6.03 € | | Full description | Request-Form | Excellent (85) |
| Riesling, White wine, QbA, off-dry, 5.52 € | | Full description | Request-Form | Excellent (86) |
| Spätburgunder, Weißherbst, QbA, off-dry, 7.06 € | | Full description | Request-Form | Satisfactory (78) |
Rheingau: Hochheim |
| Domdechaney, Riesling, White wine, late harvest (Spaetlese), 17.90 € | | Full description | Request-Form | Outstanding (92) |
| Herrnberg, Riesling, White wine, QbA, dry, 6.54 € | | Full description | Request-Form | Very good (84) |
| Hölle, Riesling, White wine, Auslese, dry, 28.12 € | | Full description | Request-Form | Extraordinary (96) |
| Hölle, Riesling, White wine, Beerenauslese, 61.36 € | | Full description | Request-Form | Very good (81) |
| Hölle, Riesling, White wine, Kabinett, dry, 8.59 € | | Full description | Request-Form | Excellent (87) |
| Hölle, Riesling, White wine, late harvest (Spaetlese), dry, 17.28 € | | Full description | Request-Form | Outstanding (93) |
| Kirchenstück, Riesling, White wine, Auslese, dry, 38.35 € | | Full description | Request-Form | Extraordinary (97) |
| Kirchenstück, Riesling, White wine, Kabinett, dry | | Full description | Request-Form | Very good (80) |
| Kirchenstück, Riesling, White wine, late harvest (Spaetlese), 13.55 € | | Full description | Request-Form | Outstanding (90) |
| Reichestal, Spätburgunder, Red wine, Auslese, dry, 34.00 € | | Full description | Request-Form | Excellent (88) |
| Reichestal, Spätburgunder, Red wine, late harvest (Spaetlese), dry, 30.68 € | | Full description | Request-Form | Excellent (85) |
| Stielweg, Riesling, White wine, Auslese, dry, 23.01 € | | Full description | Request-Form | Extraordinary (96) |
| Stielweg, Riesling, White wine, late harvest (Spaetlese), dry, 15.24 € | | Full description | Request-Form | Outstanding (92) |
| Stielweg, Riesling, White wine, late harvest (Spaetlese), off-dry, 12.78 € | | Full description | Request-Form | Excellent (89) |
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