At the confluence of the Rhine and the Nahe, lies Bingen am Rhein. This is home to Weingut Riffel. The winery has been organic since 2009 and biodynamic since 2012 is run by husband and wife team Carolin and Erik - the fourth generation to tend to the now 18 hectares of predominantly Riesling and Pinot Noir. As well as making an array of classic Trocken and Kabinett Rieslings, they are also lucky enough to have holdings in the Grand Cru sites of Scharlachberg, Kirchberg, Osterberg and Rosengarten. Here on the quartzite slopes that mark out this special location, the grapes find full maturity, displaying an array of intense tropical and stone fruit flavours, with a wonderfully energetic yet rounded acidity that frame these captivating and mineral- infused wines. Only 100% perfect grapes are used to allow for long aging on their lees. Ferments are with wild yeasts.
Weingut Riffel Binger Scharlachberg Riesling Trocken 2021
13% abv
This is such an alluring wine. It is full of intense exoric fruit and wild flavours of indian spice; Kaffir lime leaves, cardamon and a wonderful energetic citrus burst. The vines are from 1965 and the wines is fermented in large old oak barrles. This Grosse Lage (Grand Cru) really shows the heights that German Riesling can reach. Utterly superb. Great now, but would also be a brilliant wine to lay donw for 5 to 10 years. The Scharlachberg Grosse Lage site is composed of quartzite with a reddish iron-rich loam cover that lends the name scharlach meaning scarlet in German and is Karolin & Erik’s foremost site. Fermented in 1,200-liter Stuck barrels.
“The 2021 Riesling Binger Scharlachberg was harvested on 29 October in the 1.2ha parcel that is the historic Katharinenzins. The scent of wet stone marries with a certain earthiness on the nose. Here, that primary fruitiness has already sunk deeper into the wine, and the palate is a serene, buffered, smooth, yet slender rendition of textured stone. Later, there is a real sense of smokiness with a zesty, mouth-watering vein of brightness. The tingling freshness accentuates the essential saltiness of the wine. Wow. The 2021 is clear-cut, linear, incisive, absolutely stony and oh-so-long. (Bone-dry)” 2027 – 2050
95 Points Anne Krebiehl MW, Vinous, Sep 2023
Explore More:
2021 | Duty Paid | Europe | Germany | Rheinhessen | Riesling | Still | Weingut Riffel | White | Wine- Reference #:
- 23406
- Strength
- 13 ABV
- Bottles per Case
- 6 bottles
- Grapes
- Riesling
- Organic
- Yes
- Biodynamic
- Yes
- Vegan
- Yes
- Vegetarian
- Yes
- Sparkling
- No

