Notes:

The 2023 Riesling Norheimer Kirschheck Sptlese benefits from cool nights. Donnhoff emphasizes that this has no botrytis. A touch of tangerine appears on the nose. The palate brings immense charm to the veil-like lightness. This is all delicacy and elegance, scented with tangerine. It's beautifully restrained and so fresh. Around 50.60 g/L of sweetness against thrilling acid means this is still only medium sweet. The 2023 is exquisite, pure and taut. (Medium)  Vinous Media 94

• Producer: Weingut Dönnhoff is based in Oberhausen in Germany’s Nahe region and is today led by Cornelius Dönnhoff, the fourth generation of the family to direct the estate. Riesling is the central focus of the domaine, with holdings across several of the Nahe’s best-known sites. The estate’s approach emphasizes selective hand harvesting and gentle handling of the fruit, with fermentation and élevage divided between stainless steel and traditional large oak casks according to the wine. The Kirschheck Spätlese is one of Dönnhoff’s long-established Prädikat wines and is produced specifically to balance ripe fruit with the naturally strong acidity of the site.
• Vineyard: Norheimer Kirschheck is a steep, south-facing vineyard in Norheim and is classified as a VDP.GROSSE LAGE. It is also historically significant: Dönnhoff notes that some of the oldest documented vineyards of the Nahe are found in this part of Norheim. The name Kirschheck is associated with the wild cherry trees that historically grew here and can still be found among the vines. The soils are predominantly grey slate mixed with sandstone. Its exposure provides good ripening conditions, while the site remains sufficiently open to wind and cool nighttime temperatures to retain acidity. That combination is particularly well suited to Spätlese, allowing the grapes to reach high physiological ripeness while maintaining freshness. Some vines in Kirschheck are reported to be as much as approximately 55 years old.
• Winemaking: The wine is 100% Riesling. Dönnhoff selectively harvests Kirschheck by hand, using healthy grapes for this Spätlese, followed by gentle pressing. The must is handled in stainless-steel tanks and traditional large oak casks, with bottling taking place in the year following harvest. Importantly, the estate specifically stated that the 2023 Kirschheck Spätlese contained no botrytis, so its concentration and sweetness come from healthy, ripe fruit rather than noble rot. Vinous notes that the cool nights during the growing season were an important component of the wine’s freshness.
• Technical Details: 2023 vintage; 100% Riesling; Norheim, Nahe, Germany; Spätlese; VDP.GROSSE LAGE; 750ml; 8.5% alcohol. Vinous reports approximately 50–60 g/L residual sugar, describing the resulting wine as medium-sweet because of the balancing acidity. The combination of relatively low alcohol, residual sugar and acidity is characteristic of traditional German Riesling Spätlese and also contributes to its ability to develop over extended bottle age. Dönnhoff itself specifically identifies Kirschheck Spätlese as a wine with high aging potential.
• Food Pairing: The balance of sweetness and acidity makes this particularly useful with foods that combine richness, salt or moderate spice. Scallops, lobster, crab, glazed pork, roast duck and mildly spicy Southeast Asian dishes are natural pairings. It can also work well with pâté and richer cheeses, where the acidity provides contrast while the residual sugar complements savory and salty flavors.