Schieferterrassen, meaning terraces of slate, is a unique wine. With its first vintage in 1980, Reinhard Löwenstein and Cornelia Heymann effectively invented a new style of Mosel Riesling, with flavour and textural depth and a distinctive flinty note on the nose. This 2021 has excellent concentration for a dry German Riesling, with a delicious combination of minerals and dried herbs, and spice, citrus and orchard fruits, and a long, stony finish. Remarkable.

Heymann- Löwenstein wines come from organically farmed vineyards on the back-breaking slopes of Mosel, Germany. In the cellar, slow and steady is the name of the game – fruit is crushed and pressed with a long but gentle 12-hour cycle. This oxidative and somewhat risky winemaking style is very hands-on, requiring regular tastings to ensure the wines don’t stray from balance. Afterwards, the juice undergoes a slow natural ferment in stainless steel and large-format oak. The stakes are high with this gentle approach, but the results are truly gratifying. Today, this approach is in the capable hands of daughter Sarah Lowenstein and long-standing winemaker Kaddi Höhler. Heymann- Löwenstein’s Riesling consistently outperforms other Rieslings in its category and punches well above its weight. All in all, a wonderful expression of Riesling from a classic region.