Weingut Kunstler
Hochheimer Holle Riesling GG
Rheingau
2021

The producer

Gunter Künstler hails from Hochheim am Main, a village renowned for its quality wines since the 17th century, often referred to as ‘Hock’ in Britain. Thomas Jefferson, impressed by the Rheingau Riesling during his 1788 visit, took 100 cuttings back to Monticello. Hochheim’s vineyards, influenced by the Main and Rhein rivers, produce wines with a unique character. Weingut Künstler, dating back to 1648, was re-established in Hochheim by Franz Künstler in 1965 after the family was expelled from their estate in the Czech Republic. Gunter Künstler, who took over in 1992, aims to move towards organic farming despite the region's humid climate. The wines, fermented with cultured yeast and aged in both casks and steel, are known for their purity, precision, and satisfying taste..

The wine

Indulge in the exquisite Franz Künstler Hochheimer Hölle Riesling GG 2021, a testament to traditional German winemaking mastery from the renowned Hochheim am Main region. This wine, produced by the esteemed Künstler estate, which has been dedicated to quality since 1648, originates from 50-year-old vineyards. Sustainably grown and hand-picked, these Rieslings are meticulously processed to amplify their inherent complexities. The rich yet balanced character of this wine is achieved through prolonged fermentation in large old oak 'Stück' barrels and an extensive period on lees, creating a perfect blend of fruit and minerality. The Franz Künstler Hochheimer Hölle Riesling GG 2021 is a symphony of zesty citrus, orchard fruit notes, and delicate floral undertones, all supported by a strong mineral backbone.

We choose our wines based on a range of criteria (see how we choose our wines) of which critic scores is just one. Rather than simply highlight the best score to promote a wine, our average critic score is calculated from the scores provided by several respected wine critics, who we follow for specific regions. They do not represent all critic scores and, wherever possible, we try and give more weight to more recent reviews. Where appropriate we consider market-based scores like Global Wine Score or Wine Searcher Average scores.

As a rule, we look to offer wines that achieve a 92/100 average critic score or better and frankly a lot of very good wines simply don’t make the cut. As a high-end provider we want to reflect that positioning in the quality of wines we offer. Such wines are only a tiny fraction of those generally on offer in the market. We believe that an average score is a more conservative and representative approach, but it is still subjective and only offered as a guide to our customers, who will (and should) do their own research. We will add individual critic scores to our website in the future.