DR. H THANISCH & BALTHASAR RESS, GROSSES GEWÄCHS RIESLING
GERMANY
Folks, we JUST acquired a small allocation of some absolutely stunning Rieslings, and wanted to get the word out right away ...
These four beauts are as good as Riesling gets – and three of them bear the distinction Grosses Gewächs, or Great Growths (GG), which is to Germany what Grand Cru is to France: the ultimate stamp, not just of excellence, but also of exclusivity, a certification that the fine wine you hold in your hands issues from the country's most exalted vineyards.
We have two each from Dr. H Thanisch Erben Thanisch – their 95-point Spätlese, Jubilée Edition and their 94-point Trocken – and two from Balthasar Ress, including their 92-point Nussbrunnen Riesling GG.
These dry, single-variety wines are the darling of sommeliers – prized for their eminent pair-ability, their complex minerality, and the way they manage to balance a zippy crispness with a mouth-filling richness.
Listen to Robert Parker's The Wine Advocate extol the virtues of the 2021 Dr H Thanisch Erben Thanisch (VDP) Berncasteler Doctor Riesling Spätlese – Jubilée Edition, and you will hear what these wines do to people, the way they induce them to swooning:
"Opens with a clear, intense and flinty, very elegant bouquet with remarkably delicate slate and elegant fruit aromas," The WA wrote, in a 95-point paean of a review. "Lush yet highly refined and savory on the palate, this is a fine, minerally fresh, lemon-fruity Doctor with precise and sharp but ripe and elegant acidity and excellent fruit concentration that will carry this voluptuous Spätlese to a long and exciting life.
James Suckling was just as moved in talking about the 2020 Dr. H. Thanisch Bernkasteler Graben Riesling Grosses Gewächs, writing, in his 94-point rave, that this "cool," "sleek" wine with "intense, wet-stone minerality" and a "driving, herbal finish" "makes a radical statement about this vineyard site."
As for the Rieslings from Balthasar Ress, the 2018 Rudesheimer Berg Rottland Riesling Erstes Gewachs - Grosses Gewachs has yet to be reviewed, but Falstaff, revered for its evaluation of German wines, weighed in on the 2018 Hattenheimer Nussbrunnen Riesling Grosses Gewächs. The publication called out its "gentle, juicy, rich stone fruit," its "floral notes," its "delicious phenolics," and its "finely integrated acid structure" in a 92-point review whose enthusiasm, for us, far outweighs its score.
These are special wines, and exceedingly hard to come by, and we do hope you'll take advantage of Concierge Family pricing to make a discovery ... or to re-acquaint yourself with some of the most delicious wines to have come out of Europe over the past five years.
But hurry: as I mentioned, our allocation is very limited, and we expect these will go FAST!
*Offer NOT valid in-store. This offer is made pre-arrival, with wines estimated to be delivered to your preferred store in Fall 2023. With the supply chain issues that we are seeing globally, there may be some unforeseen delays which could affect the ETA. All sale prices are the lowest available at Total Wine & More and ONLY valid through Concierge Sales. No further discounts or coupons may be applied. Offer not valid in CO, IL, MI, NY, or TN. This offer is for ONE WEEK, or until sold out, and will expire on Wednesday, May 3rd, 2023.
*Due to limited storage space for pre-ordered product, we can only hold orders for 30 days from the first notification that your order is ready for pickup. If you are unable to pick up your order within 30 days, please contact Concierge Sales at (855) 841-2752 or conciergesales@totalwine.com to make an arrangement. A store associate may reach out periodically to notify you of your order. Unfortunately, if no arrangements have been made, after 30 days, the order will need to be cancelled and we will provide a full refund. No orders will be cancelled without multiple communication attempts.