2002 Balthasar Ress Hattenheim Nussbrunnen Riesling Auslese noble sweet exposé

The producer is the renowned VDP wine estate Balthasar Ress. Founded in 1870 by the Rheingau hotelier Balthasar Ress, the wine estate numbers among the large, family-operated enterprises in the Rheingau today. Consistently high standards of performance and reliability have been hallmarks of the estate since its founding. Today the estate is run by Stefan and Christian Ress, who represent the fourth and fifth generations of the founding family.

After an early and quick blossoming, temperatures and precipitation in July and August remained very balanced in the Rheingau. Perfect weather in late summer, i.e. warm days and cool nights, enabled the grapes to ripen optimally. If there were only one wish that went unfulfilled in 2002, it was the weather in October. Basically, if we had had a "golden October" as in 2001, 2002 would have easily qualified as a vintage of the century.

The Nussbrunnen vineyard in Hattenheim has a south-southeast exposure. The name derives from a "Brunnen," or spring, that was once surrounded by nut trees. The source of the spring is still visible today. It lies well protected from cold northerly winds on the lower reaches of the slope, adjacent to the site Wisselbrunnen. Among the finest parcels of vines in the Rhein-gau is the 1. 6-ha/4-acre parcel within Nuss-brunnen that is owned by the Balthasar Ress estate. Its special soil conditions, e.g. deep, loam-loess soils that guarantee an excellent water balance, as well as the prevailing micro-climate, are among the reasons that Nussbrun-nen is such a top site. These are the prerequi-sites that enable grapes to consistently yield top-quality wines.

The grapes are selectively harvested by hand in several stages, then very carefully and gently transported to the cellar in 40-liter boxes that are manually emptied over the wine press, thus making it possible to completely dispense with crushing and pumping.

Spontaneous fermentation and aging take place in temperaturecontrolled stainless steel tanks with as little exposure to oxygen as possible, in order to preserve fruit aromas.

100% Riesling

Fragrance of ripe red apple and honeydew melon. On the palate, wonderful play of sweet-ness and acidity. Mellow.

Helge Hagen, (Sommelier, Kronenschlösschen/Hattenheim)

Peach melba. Helge Hagen, (Sommelier, Kronenschlösschen/Hattenheim)

The wine should develop well until 2010-2011. Helge Hagen, (Sommelier, Kronenschlösschen/Hattenheim)