Freddy R. Troya

9.0

Balthasar Ress – Riesling Feinherb 2023
Hattenheim, Rheingau – Germany 🇩🇪

Overview
100% Riesling from Hattenheim in the Rheingau, one of Germany’s most prestigious wine regions. “Feinherb” indicates an off-dry style—slightly sweeter than Trocken, but still balanced by acidity.

Aromas & Flavors
Lively nose of orchard fruits—ripe pear, green apple, and a hint of white peach—layered with delicate lime zest and floral touches. On the palate, the off-dry sweetness softens the zesty acidity, bringing a juicy, rounded mouthfeel with a clean mineral streak.

Mouthfeel
Medium-bodied, silky, and harmonious. The residual sugar balances the refreshing acidity, making it both vibrant and approachable.

Food Pairing
Versatile with spicy Thai or Indian dishes, sushi, roasted poultry, or creamy cheeses. That touch of residual sugar makes it a brilliant match for spice and umami.

Verdict
An elegant and expressive Riesling Feinherb from Rheingau—structured enough for serious enjoyment but easygoing enough to charm any palate. A great introduction to the beauty of balanced off-dry Riesling. Cheers!

Did you know?
“Feinherb” is not a legally defined category in German wine law but is widely used to describe wines that fall between Trocken (dry) and Halbtrocken (off-dry). It’s the winemaker’s way of signaling balance rather than strict dryness. — 2 days 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

J. B. Rainsberger

9.4

Sweet, but bit cloying. Refreshing and pleasant. — 3 months ago

Iwan

9.0

Fun, easy drinker. — 6 months ago

Ted

9.1

Very nice and just the right amount of sweetness. — 2 years ago

with Jeni

Byron C Mayes

9.0

Dark transparent amethyst. Abundant nose of black cherry and wet stone. Medium palate confirms the nose adding a bit more black fruit supported by sturdy, medium acidity. Soft tannins assert toward back palate and on the lengthy finish. A solid intro to German PN with equally solid Rhein earmarks, this food-friendly red is a perfect companion to most fare and a great counterpart for Germany's universal white: Riesling. Drink now through 2026. — 3 years ago

Jessica Cansler

9.0

Dry Riesling, served with goulash. We like this one very much! — 6 months ago

Jessica Cansler

9.0

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

Traci Bartkus

9.5

Resident Christmas party, found at the Cellar — 2 years 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. — 2 years ago