Freddy R. Troya

9.4

Balthasar Ress – Riesling GG (Grosse Lage) – 2018
Nussbrunnen – Rheingau – Germany 🇩🇪

Overview
A beautifully crafted dry Riesling from the prestigious Nussbrunnen vineyard, classified as Grosse Lage, the highest tier in the VDP hierarchy. The 2018 vintage shows depth, nuance, and quiet power, offering a sophisticated, structured expression that stands in perfect contrast to the simpler regional Rieslings. This is top-tier Rheingau elegance.

Aromas & Flavors
Yellow apple, ripe citrus, and peach skin layered with chamomile, crushed slate, and almond blossom. Notes of honeycomb, subtle smoke, and cool minerality add remarkable dimension as it opens.

Mouthfeel
Textured yet incredibly refined. Medium-bodied with a taut spine of acidity, supported by a rounded, elegant mid-palate. Complex, layered, and beautifully balanced with a long, mineral-driven finish. Classic GG restraint paired with depth.

Food Pairings
Seared scallops, crab cakes, herb-roasted chicken, pork tenderloin, sushi, or aged Comté. Its structure and subtle richness make it versatile with refined cuisine.

Verdict
A top-level Trocken that captures everything a GG should be: layered, nuanced, structured, and quietly luxurious. One of the finest expressions from Nussbrunnen and unquestionably among my favorite dry Rieslings from Balthasar Ress.

Did You Know?
“GG” (Grosse Gewächs) is Germany’s equivalent of a Grand Cru designation. Only the best, lowest-yielding parcels in Grosse Lage vineyards can produce GG wines, all vinified dry to highlight precision, minerality, and terroir. Nussbrunnen is one of the Rheingau’s most historic and revered sites.

🍷 Personal Pick Highlight
A simply lovely GG, graceful, complex, and structured. A benchmark Trocken that shows why Nussbrunnen stands among the elite vineyards of the Rheingau. — 9 hours ago

J. B. Rainsberger

9.4

Sweet, but bit cloying. Refreshing and pleasant. — 5 months ago

Jessica Cansler

9.0

Great dry Riesling. Drank during Hurricane Helene with pierogies! — a year ago

Freddy R. Troya

8.9

Balthasar Ress – Riesling Trocken – 2022
Rheingau – Germany 🇩🇪

Overview
An approachable, region-level dry Riesling from the Rheingau. This 2022 Trocken leans bright, casual, and easy-drinking, an entry point to the estate’s style, offering immediate freshness rather than layered complexity.

Aromas & Flavors
Crisp green apple, lime juice, and a touch of white peach. Light hints of citrus blossom and wet stone add a subtle mineral note. Straightforward and fruit-forward.

Mouthfeel
Light-bodied, refreshing, and clean. Zesty acidity drives the palate, finishing bright and uncomplicated. A smooth, casual trocken without the depth found in single-vineyard expressions.

Food Pairings
Sushi, salads, grilled shrimp, roasted vegetables, or simple weeknight dishes. A great “fridge door” Riesling for everyday enjoyment.

Verdict
A friendly, no-frills dry Riesling with easy charm. Less complex and more forward than the Hattenheim bottlings, but perfect when you want something crisp, refreshing, and uncomplicated.

Did You Know?
Regional “Rheingau” bottlings are sourced from multiple sites within the appellation. They are designed to showcase a house’s broad style, freshness, purity, and accessibility, without the specific personality of a single vineyard. — 9 hours ago

Sonia Ross

9.1

November dinner. — 12 days ago

Iwan

9.0

Fun, easy drinker. — 8 months ago

Byron C Mayes

9.2

Star bright pale straw gold. Inviting nose of honeyed yellow apple impaled on a cement spike. The honeyed aspect completely disappears on the tightly wound and stony palate. High acidity and that intense Rheingau mineral streak more than balance any Spätlese level RS to deliver a taut Riesling that can go almost anywhere you'd expect to take a Trocken. Excellently satisfying now, it should reward quite generously after ten or fifteen years. Drink now through 2033. — 3 years ago

Freddy R. Troya

9.2

Balthasar Ress – Pinot Noir Trocken – 2022
“Von Unserm” – Rheingau – Germany 🇩🇪

Overview
A bright, cool-climate Pinot Noir that showcases the Rheingau’s growing talent beyond Riesling. The 2022 vintage delivers lifted aromatics, lively acidity, and a clean, red-fruited profile. A refreshing, elegant alternative to Burgundy with a style that pleasantly echoes the finesse of Martinborough, New Zealand.

Aromas & Flavors
Red cherry, raspberry, and cranberry accented by subtle rose petal, light spice, and a gentle earthy note. Fresh, pure fruit leads the way with admirable clarity.

Mouthfeel
Light to medium-bodied with vibrant acidity and silky tannins. Fresh, balanced, and clean, finishing with a lively mineral edge.

Food Pairings
Roast chicken, grilled salmon, mushroom dishes, charcuterie, or herb-seasoned pork.

Verdict
A lovely and polished Pinot Noir—uplifting, fresh, and beautifully balanced. An excellent cool-climate alternative that stands confidently beside both Burgundy and Martinborough expressions.

Did You Know?
“Von Unserm” (“from ours”) is a traditional designation used by Balthasar Ress to highlight wines that express the estate’s core identity—high quality, terroir-driven, and crafted from selected parcels across the Rheingau. — 9 hours ago

Freddy R. Troya

9.0

Balthasar Ress – Riesling Trocken – 2022
Hattenheim, Rheingau – Germany 🇩🇪

Overview
100% Riesling from the esteemed village of Hattenheim in the Rheingau. The 2022 Trocken shows a more linear, mineral-driven profile compared to the rounder, off-dry (Feinherb) 2023. This vintage highlights precision and dryness, leaning into citrus and slate rather than fruit sweetness.

Aromas & Flavors
Green apple, lime peel, and underripe pear with hints of crushed stone, white flowers, and delicate herbal notes. The fruit is crisp and focused, emphasizing Rheingau minerality.

Mouthfeel
Bone-dry, zesty, and refreshing. Lively acidity brings tension and drive, finishing clean, stony, and slightly saline. Sleeker and tighter than the 2023.

Food Pairings
Ideal with sushi, oysters, ceviche, herbed chicken, grilled vegetables, or goat cheese. Its dryness makes it extremely versatile at the table.

Verdict
A beautifully crafted, refreshing Rheingau Trocken that showcases 2022’s precision. If the 2023 Hattenheim Feinherb is charming and juicy, the 2022 Trocken is its crisp, mineral-focused sibling.

Did You Know?
Hattenheim is one of the Rheingau’s historic villages for Riesling, its vineyard sites benefit from river reflection, slate soils, and a moderated climate that produces both structured dry styles and expressive off-dry examples.
— 9 hours ago

Byron C Mayes

9.1

Bright pale gold with a wee bit of haze (unfiltered?). Strong mineral and green apple on the inviting nose. Brisk acidity leads the medium palate which yields layers of ripe green apple, grapefruit rind, wet stone, Melba toast, and others. Finish is stony and lingering. Amazing example of GG Riesling from a premium VDP producer. Ready for a wide range of foods from fish to pork. Upscale of course. Drink now through 2040. — 2 years ago