Parker about Abts E Riesling Großes Gewächs 2009
From the first day of fermentation, I smelled this and got goose bumps," says Klaus-Peter Keller of his 2009 Westhofener Abtserde Riesling Grosses Gewachs, and the same can be said of the finished wine, which – impressive as are those that preceded it in this year's collection – plays in a different league. The dynamic complexity of elements for which one can find only mineral descriptors (and then very imperfect ones) is already astonishing: salt; chalk; alkali; shrimp shell reduction; iodine and peat are already adumbrated on the nose and then spell-bindingly and intricately interwoven on a silken field with grapefruit, white peach, and ranier cherry, nut oils and bitter-sweet floral perfume that leaves my mouth drooling and my tongue quivering helplessly in hopeful anticipation of the next sip unsatisfied, and I fantasize about the Bishop of Worms – who once got first crack at the wine of Abtserde – denying me communion with this rarified and seemingly magical elixir. “The active lime content in this site is measurably enormous and unique among my vineyards,” notes Keller, convinced that its effects lie at the root of this Riesling's animated complexity. A transparent exemplification of Keller's Riesling ideals and of a great site, this will, I feel confident, continue to amaze for at least the next 15 years. (From vintage 2008, the name of the site was still disguised as a website address on labels of Keller wine from Abtserde by being written: Abts E.de. This year, that has been shortened to Abts E in a renewed attempt to avoid conflict with the legal proscription – in some regions treated as a technicality; in some selectively observed; in some rigorously enforced – on mentioning any of thousands of vineyard names that were officially eliminated by the 1971 Wine Law. I decided this wine is by now so justifiably well-known that we could simply write “Abtserde” for Wine Advocate purposes. Incidentally, Keller recently pushed back by more than 150 years – to 1380 – the first known reference to this “abbot's plot

Suckling over Abts E Riesling Großes Gewächs 2009
A phenomenal dry riesling with dried pineapple and mineral character. Full body and insane depth of fruit. Amazing.
Description
Land | Germany |
Region | Rhenish Hesse |
Rebsorten | Riesling 100% |
Alkoholgehalt | 13.00% |
Füllstand | high fill |
Verschlußart | cork stopper |
Kennzeichnung | Contains sulphites |
Farbe | White |
Inverkehrbringer | Weingut Keller, Bahnhofstrasse 1, 67592 Florsheim-Dalsheim, Germany |
Charakter | Dry |
Servierempfehlung | Do not decant 8-10°C |
Parker Punkte | 97 |
Jahrgang | 2009 |
Rhenish Hesse, Germany 🇩🇪
Goes well with

Abts E Riesling Großes Gewächs 2009

The Abts E Riesling Großes Gewächs 2009 from Keller is an excellent wine that impressively reflects the outstanding quality of the vintage and the special features of the Abts E vineyard.
Visually, this Riesling presents itself with a brilliant golden hue in the glass, indicating its maturity and depth. On the nose, it displays a fascinating array of aromas: ripe stone fruits such as peaches and apricots blend with invigorating citrus notes and a subtle mineral presence, reflecting the specific characteristics of the Abts E terroir.
On the palate, the wine presents itself with exceptional balance and appeal. A lively acidity lends it structure and freshness, while the fruity nuances are in perfect harmony with the mineral depth. Every sip of this wine tells the story of a wine that was passionately cultivated in the vineyard and vinified with a masterful hand in the cellar.
The Abts E Riesling Großes Gewächs 2009 from Keller embodies excellent wine quality and promises a fascinating sensory experience. Its ability to gain complexity and finesse with age makes it a wine that offers the highest level of enjoyment and sensory pleasure both now and in the future.