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Donnhoff, Niederhauser Hermannshöhle Riesling Spätlese, 2009

White Wine from Nahe, Germany
$79.99
Use code 10OFF to get 10% off 12+ bottles
The Nahe's most celebrated vineyard, from the estate that made the Nahe famous — and with sixteen years in bottle behind it. Hermannshöhle has been ranked the region's top site for more than a century, the benchmark against which every other Nahe vineyard is judged; it takes its name from a small mine, or "Höhle", cut into the middle of the hillside. The slope is pure south-facing and properly steep, 40 to 60 percent, on argillaceous slate veined with limestone and shot through with volcanic rock, worked by vines up to 65 years old. Dönnhoff picks by hand in two or three passes and presses within three hours, and the wines ferment spontaneously in stainless steel and traditional German casks — nothing that would get between the site and the glass. Helmut Dönnhoff built the estate's reputation across the 1980s and 90s and his son Cornelius, the fourth generation, now runs the cellar. Spätlese is the lightly sweet style that plays ripe fruit against racing acidity, which is exactly why these bottles age the way they do. Serve it well chilled.

Shipping

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  • Nationwide Access: Flat-rate shipping available to most U.S. states with delivery in 3-5 business days.
  • Temperature-Monitored Shipping: We closely monitor weather conditions and make informed decisions to ensure shipments travel safely, with insulated packaging and refrigerated transport available when required.
  • Wine-Specific Protective Packaging: Specialized materials designed to maintain label integrity and prevent breakage during transit.
  • Provenance Assured: All wines are maintained in climate-controlled conditions at our shop until the moment of dispatch.

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Antonio Galloni

91 points

"Tantalizing aromas of papaya, sweet herbs and incense. A discreet but intense apricot flavor rises from the mid-palate, accompanied by a subtle acidity. Animated, finely spiced spatlese with a deep, long finish. I may be underrating this." —Joel B. Payne

Robert Parker

96 points

"After a performance like this for a Spatlese, the warning was hardly necessary! Donnhoff's 2009 Niederhauser Hermannshohle Riesling Spatlese offers a riot of herbal aromas reminiscent of but far more intense and diverse than that of the corresponding Grosses Gewachs, and here, too, accompanied by grapefruit and passion fruit in a manner that calls to mind Sauvignon. Horehound, licorice, sage, mint, black tea, nut oils, candied grapefruit rind, and crushed stone inform a silken-textured palate. As with the corresponding Brucke, there is a remarkable interactivity on display, and a depth of mineral and animal savor that goes beyond crustacean shell reduction or veal demi-glace, leaving me salivating helplessly. This should be worth following for 20-25 years." —David Schildknecht

Jancis Robinson

18 points

"Very mineral nose with real intensity and charm. Great confidence. White peach - just like biting into one... Still a little chewy. 8.5%." —Jancis Robinson MW

Wine Spectator

94 points

"Balanced and ripe, delivering concentrated peach, nectarine and white plum flavors that are rich and well-spiced. Very ethereal on the finish, with long, vibrant notes of mineral and sea salt."

More about Donnhoff

If you love Riesling, you know the name Dönnhoff. If you don't love Riesling-- yet-- Dönnhoff will teach you why the grape inspires such passion.

Dönnhoff is the greatest estate in the Nahe and one of the best in all of Germany. The family has had four generations to dive deep into their terroir and perfect their winemaking. Their top wines are long-lived and collectible.

That terroir is, of course, key. The Nahe has the most varied soils (including, especially, different kinds of volcanic soil) of any German region, as well as a climate that ranges from very cold high-elevation sites to pockets of Mediterranean warmth. This gives Dönnhoff a painter’s palette of flavors and textures from which to craft a perfect wine.

Wine Details

  • Grape Variety

    Riesling

  • Vintage

    2009

  • Size

    750ml

  • Farming Practice

    Sustainable

  • Style

    Crisp

  • Sweetness

    Off-Dry

  • Body

    Medium Bodied

Flatiron's Take

From the Importer

Tasting Notes & Food Pairings

Perfect Pairings

Thai green curry, Sichuan kung pao chicken, Vietnamese bún chả, or Korean bibimbap; also roast pork loin with apples, smoked trout with horseradish cream, chicken liver pâté, and washed-rind cheeses like Époisses.

Tasting Profile

Off-dry and light on its feet rather than heavy. Citrus and stone fruit with the wet-stone, mineral streak this slate-and-porphyry site is known for. Bright acidity holds the sweetness in check; the finish is long and clean.

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WINE GUIDES

German Wines

Is there a better grape than Riesling? Is there a better value? Its fruit purity, its perfume, and its mineral nuance are all unparalleled. And for centuries, the top German Rieslings were priced accordingly: at least as expensive as the top red wines of Bordeaux and Burgundy. But nowadays you could spend a lifetime exploring Germany’s great Riesling-producing regions while staying well within your budget. You might take an occasional break to try Germany’s other white grapes or perhaps a glass of Spätburgunder (the local name for Pinot Noir). It’s time to get started!

Learn more about German Wines