1999 August Kesseler Rüdesheimer Berg Roseneck Riesling Beerenauslese #9

Kesseler winery was founded in 1924 in the village of Assmannshausen, and the estate has remained in the Kesseler family ever since. Today it is run by August Kesseler, grandson of founder Josef Kesseler. August took over in 1977 when he was 19-year-old. Over the decades August has expanded the estate from 6.5 acres to 50 acres, with vineyards spread across several communities, and he has bucked trends by producing dry Riesling and well-reviewed Pinot Noir. Kesseler produces sweet and dry Riesling, Pinot Noir, sparkling wine and rosé. The estate makes about 20,000 cases annually.

Rheingau is considered one of the finest of Germany’s great wine districts. Its 8,000 vineyard acres are planted primarily to Riesling, and the Rieslings of Rheingau are noted for their steely character. In recent decades producers have also started planted Pinot Noir, called Spatburgunder in Germany. Historically the most famous Rieslings of the Rheingau have been the very sweet Beerenauslesen and Trockenbeerenauslesen styles, but as the market for dry wines has increased, younger Rheingau winemakers have begun producing dry Riesling, harkening back to methods used before the 20th century. By 2005 nearly 85% of the Rheingau Rieslings have been dry wines.