2023 Strub Riesling "Niersteiner Paterberg" Spätlese, Rheinhessen, Germany

ABOUT THIS WINE

This Spätlese hails from the Paterberg vineyard, a historic site on the Roter Hang (Red Slope) in Nierstein, where iron-rich red slate soils impart structure, salinity, and aromatic lift. The 2023 vintage in Rheinhessen was marked by a cool, long growing season that preserved natural acidity and nuance, allowing Riesling to develop full phenolic ripeness without sacrificing freshness.

Grapes are hand-harvested at Spätlese ripeness—a level that offers both richness and tension—and gently pressed before fermenting slowly in stainless steel. The wine retains a touch of residual sugar, balanced by racy acidity and a mineral backbone, true to its terroir.

Strub’s Paterberg Spätlese is a classic example of German precision, combining fruit purity with elegance and transparency. It is drinking beautifully now with air but will reward cellaring with further complexity.

ABOUT THE PRODUCER

Weingut Strub, based in Nierstein in the heart of Rheinhessen, is a family-run estate with winemaking roots going back over 12 generations. Now led by Sebastian Strub, the estate continues to emphasize sustainable vineyard practices, hand-harvesting, and traditional winemaking, with a focus on showcasing the unique terroirs of the Roter Hang.

Strub’s wines are celebrated for their clarity, balance, and site expression, especially from vineyards like Paterberg and Oelberg. The estate maintains a philosophy of minimal intervention, allowing spontaneous fermentations and aging the wines predominantly in stainless steel to preserve purity and precision.

Their Spätlese bottlings, in particular, are admired for their deft balance of residual sugar and acidity, making them versatile at the table and capable of graceful aging. Strub remains a benchmark for classic, honest, and expressive Rieslings from the Rheinhessen.