Leitz Eins Zwei Dry Riesling 2018

Week two and we’re doing our best to hang on to summer here. This is one of our favourite grapes and wine styles… dry, fresh, thirst-quenching, mouth-watering German Riesling, and it comes from one of the finest producers, at a sub-$30 weeknight price.

“Tangy, chalky lemon aroma. Mouth-watering, light-bodied, fine-boned. Dry and delicately spiced on the finish. Long and fragrant” Jancis Robinson

The wine is from Leitz in the Rheingau in Germany, which has roots back to the mid-1700’s. In 1985, Johannes Leitz took the helm and has since grown the families 3 hectares of vineyard to about 40 hectares that they own and farm today. The vineyards are exclusively planted to Riesling and this is the only variety the winery produces. They are world leaders in this space. Johannes has worked hard to improve the vineyard practices and wine quality and in recognition of his skill and efforts, he was recognized as Germany’s best winemaker in 2011. These wines are hugely popular abroad, and as you move through the quality levels you quickly end up with bottles in the hundreds of dollars. We think they are worth it, but at the same time, this is a fantastic introduction to the estate. As robertparker.com points out; “At this price point, there are not many dry Rieslings that have the class to rival the Eins Zwei Dry.”

The Rheingau is an incredible region, only 20 miles in length, with vineyards that cling on to mountain sides at dramatic gradients. You can genuinely abseil these hillsides and tending these vineyards is laborious. The soils are hard slate, shale and quartz. The vines struggle but yield delicious Riesling fruit. 

The Eins-Zwei-Dry has ripe citrus flavours, but it also pushes in to fuller apricot, peach and ripe apple. These beautiful, rich flavours build through the palate with bracing acidity and an extract like texture. It is power and freshness built in to one. We recommend drinking this young, over the next 12 months, very chilled and in standard Riesling/ Chianti stems. Serve with oysters, sushi/ sashimi, smoked fish or cold south east Asian salads or noodle dishes. If you like the style and want to see some more serious, age-worthy examples, we can source for you.

If the style is new to you and you’re unsure of six bottles, please let us know and we may be able to mix up with something else.

Cheers,

Tom and Dan