Region and Vineyards
The Rheingau stretches along the north bank of the Rhine where the river bends west to east, creating south-facing exposures that capture sunlight and reflectivity from the water. Schloss Johannisberg sits precisely on the 50th parallel, a latitude where diurnal shifts help retain acidity while enabling full phenolic ripeness in Riesling. Soils are dominated by Taunus quartzite with overlays of loam and loess, lending stony tension and warmth retention—key to the region's ripe yet finely etched style.
The estate itself is a 50-hectare single, contiguous hillside—one of Germany's most storied monopoles—curving in a semicircle around the castle and falling in terraces to the Rhine. This configuration affords superb drainage, exceptional sun exposure, and a spectrum of mesoclimates across slope and elevation, yielding Rieslings of concentration, lift, and distinctive mineral resonance.
Winemaking
Goldlack 2020 is 100% Riesling, harvested by hand, with a gentle 24-hour maceration prior to a soft press. Primary fermentation occurs in traditional 1,200-litre oak casks made from the estate's own oak—an approach that frames fruit purity with subtle texture rather than overt wood spice.
Post-fermentation, the wine rests 24 months on fine lees in the 9-metre-deep Bibliotheca Subterranea at a constant 10.5 °C, then is bottled in spring 2023 and held until 1 September release. The 2020 analytical profile underscores its dry, tightly coiled style (12.5% vol., ~3.9 g/L residual sugar, ~6.6 g/L total acidity; ~93° Oechsle at harvest).
Tasting Notes
- Color: Pale lemon with green reflections; brilliant clarity.
- Aroma: Mirabelle, kumquat, orange zest, white tea and biscuit hints, lifted by mint, lemon balm and thyme; underlying wet-stone and quartzite nuances.
- Palate: Concentrated yet taut; stone fruit and citrus layered over chalk-salt minerality, firm, spicy grip and vivid acidity; long, driving finish with considerable aging potential.
Did you know?
Schloss Johannisberg matures Goldlack in its historic "Bibliotheca Subterranea," a subterranean cellar carved 9 metres below the estate and kept at a natural 10.5 °C—a steady environment that fosters exceptional lees integration and longevity. The domain has cultivated only Riesling since 1720, and famously helped define Prädikat styles with the serendipitous "Spätlese" of 1775.
Wine Pairing Ideas
- Grilled sea bass with saffron sauce: saline minerality and citrus lift echo the fish's brininess and cut the sauce's richness.
- Venison saltimbocca: concentration and dry extract stand up to gamey depth; herbal notes sync with sage.
- Lobster with brown butter and lemon: ripe stone fruit and acidity balance butterfat; lemon amplifies the wine's zestiness.
- Aged Comté or Beaufort: nutty, umami complexity dovetails with subtle cask texture and mineral drive.
