Tesch Riesling Karthäuser 2023

Karthäuser Riesling, that is complex, expressive and spicy Riesling. The soil in this cru consists mainly of red sandstone. This southwest-facing vineyard, located above Laubenheim, is shaped like an amphitheatre. The weathered sandstone soil efficiently collects and stores heat, which allows the grapes planted here to ripen first. The Rieslings produced from KARTHÄUSER grapes are almost as impressive as the vineyard itself: ripe, quiet, powerful and spicy, with a tight structure and admirable acid control. The name comes from its medieval owners, a monastery of Carthusian monks known for their vows of silence.

17+/20 Jancis Robinson
95/100 Robert Parker
97/100 James Suckling (Stuart Pigott)

What do they say at Tesch themselves about Vintage 2023? One of the most complex they have ever made.

2023 got off to a relaxed start. The spring, especially May, was cool and damp. After the extremely dry previous year, this was a blessing for the vines. Our young vineyards in particular, whose root system is not yet so well developed, benefited from the rainfall. The vines budded relatively late, allowing them to grow normally.

In the summer of 2023, it was very hot and dry for a few weeks. At the end of June, optimal conditions prevailed for the grape blossom. As there was enough water available, the vineyards developed wonderfully. At this time, we assumed a ‘normal’ harvest time in October.

But things turned out differently again. In September, it was still very warm and humid at the same time. As a result, the grapes ripened much faster than expected. The surprisingly early harvest was a real challenge for us. We joined forces to bring in the fully ripe grapes in record time. Our team really did a great job!

Such a strong change in weather conditions leads to impressively complex wines. The fruit flavours are more exotic and the impression of the wines is richer. This is why the 2023 vintage is one of the most complex Riesling vintages of the last decade.