Weingut Dönnhoff, Nahe, Germany

I’ve no doubt said it before, but it gives me great joy to be able to buy my favourite producers and share them with my customers. Dönnhoff is without doubt the estate in Germany which has given me the most pleasure in my 20+ year career in wine. Year after year, these are wines that remind one why we fell in love with the stuff in the first place, wines of purity, soul and astonishing precision.

“to Nahe, what Domaine de la Romanée Conti is to the Côte D’Or”
Neal Martin

Based in the Nahe, Dönnhoff has long stood as the region’s undisputed star. The wines have an almost spiritual clarity, drawn from the remarkable patchwork of soils in this small valley, volcanic rock, slate, sandstone and loam,  which together create a kaleidoscope of character. From the ethereal Kirschheck and the crystalline Dellchen, to the mighty Hermannshöhle, each vineyard speaks its own dialect of Riesling, and under the Dönnhoff hand, they are simply a delight.

"Dönnhoff is one of Germany’s best wine estates."
Vinous.com

There’s no flash or gimmickry here, just quiet brilliance, born of discipline and devotion. The wines are as elegant and pure as they come, yet always charged with energy and emotion.

Along with the critics, I cannot recommend these enough and I get so excited when the new releases are launched as well as, I must admit, ordering a few cases for myself. Some pleasures are too good to share entirely. The staple for me is their relative entry level Tonschiefer Dry Riesling, it is bone dry and works so well as an everyday bottle to serve to friends and family. A great wine to convert people to this underappreciated dry style of Riesling.