Tastings by Michael

The 2018 Gaisböhl Riesling GC of Dr Bürklin-Wolf is one of the flagships of the winery. They one the entire plot that is classified as a Grand Cru, or Grosse Lage, by the VDP. However, they only use a small part of the grapes – only the very best, selected grapes – to make this exceptional Grand Cru Riesling. The remainder is used for the Ruppertsberger Village wines.

Straw colour with slight golden reflexes, this wine boasts aromas of yellow stone fruit, with some floral hints and nice mineral notes. Very complex on the palate, this wine shows its strength. The 2018 had a slightly higher residual sugar than other vintages, but it suits the wine very well. The acidity balances whatever residual sugar can be perceived. Very long finish. This wine is available in Brazil from PRIMEUR Vinhos.

TBM 94 points.

The 2020 Wachenheimer Böhlig Riesling PC is neighbour to some Grand Cru vineyards. Dr Bürklin-Wolf feels that it would also deserve that status, being the top of the Premier Crus they have, and from a very special terroir.

Straw color. In the nose, this wine shows yellow fruit, peach and apricot, perhaps a hint of mirabelle, paired with hints of herbs and a mineral touch. Dry on the palate, with crystal clear acidity, yet creamy and pleasant. Long finish. An excellent wine.

TBM 93 points.

The 2020 Wachenheimer Gerümpel Riesling PC is a wine of the Premier Cru level – VDP Erste Lage, of Dr Bürklin-Wolf. The vineyard that yields the grapes for this wine is a special terroir, with sandstone soils and some basalt.

Straw colour, this wine boasts complex aromas of yellow fruit, peach, citrus, with flintstone and petrol mineral notes. On the palate, it is fresh, almost sharp and precise, yet creamy. Not sure I follow the comparison with a Chablis that Stephan Reinhardt or Robert Parker makes. I do agree that this is a very nice, high quality Premier Cru wine.

TBM 92 points.

The 2020 Wachenheimer Rechbächel Riesling PC of Dr Bürklin-Wolf is a wine of the VDP Erste Lage category, or Premier Cru. Its grapes come only from the classified Rechbächel vineyard in Wachenheim, close to the seat of Dr Bürklin-Wolf. The winery owns the entire 1.6 hectars of this vineyard, so it has a monopoly on this appellation.

Straw color, this wine boasts complex aromas of yellow fruit, especially peach, with herbal and great mineral notes –  flintstone. As Stephan Reinhardt said, this Riesling that is “clearly terroir-driven. Pure and crystalline on the palate, this is a linear, juicy and elegant Riesling with a well-concentrated and decent finish.” (written by him with regard to the 2019 vintage). The 2020 vintage lives up to the same standard.  A great wine.

TBM 93 points.

The 2021 Ruppertsberger Riesling Village by Dr. Bürklin-Wolf is a VDP Ortswein, but the enologist uses some of the grapes from the Ruppertsberger Hoheburg Premier Cru for this wine, improving even more the high quality.

The colour is straw with slight greenish reflexes. Complex aromas of white fruit, pear, and herbs in the nose, joined by mineral notes. On the palate, the wine is dry, with medium acidity, round, complex, with a nice body. Great wine! The 2020 vintage has been imported into Brazil by PRIMEUR Vinhos.

TBM 91 points.

The 2018 Wachenheimer R Riesling trocken of Dr. Bürklin-Wolf is a Village Riesling had has had extra time to mature – the “R” stands for Reserve. Thus, it is only put on the market with a two-year delay. This shows, since the minerality and the petrol notes are much more pronounced than in the young Rieslings. Technically, this is a wine of the Village, or Ortswein, level. Similar to the Wachenheimer Riesling, the enologist uses part of the grapes of the Premier Cru sites in Wachenheim to make this wine.

The colour is straw with slight golden reflexes. White fruit, apple, white peach and citrus mark the complex aromas, joined by a beautiful mineral petrol note. This wine is dry, with medium acidity, medium body and a long finish. Really a very beautiful wine.

TBM 94 points.

The 2021 Wachenheimer Riesling Village trocken of Dr. Bürklin-Wolf is a “village” appellation, VDP Ortswein. Wachenheim is the area where most of the vineyards of the winery are located. The enologist has chosen to use part of grapes grown in the Premier Cru appellations, like Wachenheimer Altenburg, to improve the quality of this Ortswein.

Straw color, complex aromas of white and yellow fruit, citrus fruit and apple, mineral notes in the nose. On the palate, this wine shows a nice complexity. It is dry and fresh, without any aggressive acidity. Long finish. Village Rieslings, in my opinion, are some of the best bets, since they have a great price-quality-relationship. Highly recommended. This is a wine I could have every day.

TBM 91 points.

2021 Hommage à Louise is an off-dry Riesling. It is dedicated to Louise Bürklin, one of the ancestors of the current owner Bettina Bürklin-von Guradze. Dr. Bürklin-Wolf is known as the producer of dry German Riesling from the Palatinate, and was called the “King of Dry Riesling” by the Gault-Millaut guide. Thus, creating an off-dry Riesling was a bit of an adventure for them, but it sold very well.

Straw colour as all young Rieslings, with a slight greenish reflex. This wine is fruity in the nose, white fruit, apple and a citrus touch dominating, with some flowery notes. On the palate, this wine is off-dry. It does not lack minerality. Medium acidity, the wine is pleasant, albeit a bit flat and its finish not very long. A wine to enjoy on the terrace or by the pool side.

TBM 86 points.