With the Zellerweg Am Schwarzen Herrgott, Weingut Battenfeld Spanier farms one of the oldest and most characterful vineyard sites in the Zellertal. Rising to around 300 metres of elevation, this steep slope marks the border between Rheinhessen and the Pfalz and rests on an extraordinarily massive limestone bedrock. Situated along a prominent geological fault line that shields the vineyard from excessive solar radiation and partially from rainfall, its elevation and constant airflow create a distinct microclimate that endows the Riesling with an exceptionally cool and precise expression.

The Zellerweg Am Schwarzen Herrgott Riesling Großes Gewächs 2025 displays a distinctly darker aromatic profile than many of the house’s other Rieslings. Ripe mirabelle plum, quince, and darker yellow orchard fruit intertwine with smoky, savoury, and stony notes, backed by delicate herbal nuances and an almost iodine-like minerality. On the palate, the Riesling is taut and concentrated, with razor-sharp acidity and a striking chalky structure. The fruit remains pure and focused while mineral savouriness increasingly claims the stage. Fine phenolic grip lends added contour and supports its linear architecture.

The 2025 vintage brings ample ripeness and aromatic density without masking the unmistakable terroir imprint of Am Schwarzen Herrgott. Following rigorous selection, the grapes are harvested by hand, fermented spontaneously, and aged in Stück oak casks, creating a supple texture while keeping the hallmark limestone character and cool aromatics squarely in the foreground.

On the finish, the true stature of the Battenfeld Spanier Zellerweg Am Schwarzen Herrgott Riesling Großes Gewächs 2025 comes to the fore: the fruit gradually recedes, giving way to smoky limestone notes, herbal spice, and a long, saline resonance. Less soft and immediately approachable than the Kirchenstück, the wine feels tauter, darker, and more demanding, drawing its depth from the union of massive limestone rock, cool tension, and concentrated structure—a Grosses Gewächs with a crystal-clear sense of place that already shows immense character in its youth and will gain ever greater refinement and depth with further bottle age.