2022 Georg Breuer Pfaffenwies Riesling

Georg Breuer estate was founded in 1880 as part of a wine merchant company, and has been owned by the Breuer family since the beginning of the 20th century. Georg Breuer enlarged the estate and increased the export of wines. His sons Bernhard and Heinrich and later Bernhard’s daughter Theresa expanded the vineyard size to 40 hectares in the best Rüdesheim, Rauenthal and Lorch sites. Theresa Breuer was thrust into the business after the sudden passing of her father in 2004, and through tireless work and dedication is now one of the most respected winemaking forces in Germany. The estate's focus is on top dry Riesling wines from the unique terroir of the Rheingau valley, and Breuer's flagship crus are Rüdesheim Berg Schlossberg and the 12.5-acre monopole, Rauenthal Nonnenberg.

The vineyard site Pfaffenwies was initially mentioned as ‘pafenwies’ in documents from 1211, and later as ‘pfaffenwissen’ (1235). It was named after Pastor Dydo, also known as ‘Pfaffe’. This steep site has a gradient of up to 45% and is situated between 90 to 160m above sea level. The soil is a combination of stony Hunsrück slate and Taunus quartzite, with loess in the lower parts. Riesling from this area is characterised by great elegance as well as pronounced acidity and minerality.

Other Reviews....
Form Lorch, the 2022 Pfaffenwies offers a clear, refined and intense bouquet with clear, bright fruit aromas intertwined with delicate flinty notes of weathered slate. Full-bodied and mouthfilling on the palate, this is a pure, elegant, well-balanced but also tensioned and savory-finishing Riesling from the Pfaffenwies. 11.5% stated alcohol. Diam cork. Tasted at the domaine in September 2023. Drink 2024-2047.
94 points
Stephan Reinhardt - Wine Advocate (Dec 30, 2023)

The 2022 Riesling Lorcher Pfaffenwies was harvested across six different parcels within this southwest-facing site, dating to the mid-1960s, ranging from slate closer to the river and more quartzite toward the forest. Theresa calls it a “complete picture of the vineyard.” It's fermented in Stück and Halbstück. The nose opens with a juicy yellow plum, a frisson of crushed yarrow and rock dust. The palate is concentrated and has something salty, insistent, mouth-watering and savory. Lemony brightness comes with a slight sense of lemon pith and crushed yarrow spice. It's very clear-cut, subtly nutty on the finish with much brightness and understated substance. (Bone-dry)
91-93 points
Anne Krebiehl MW - Vinous

This sleek and tightly wound beauty has the Amalfi-lemon, lime-zest and wild-herb aromas we associate with the top vineyard sites at the northern extremity of the Rheingau. Only medium-bodied, but intensely mineral, this is bristling with racy energy and wet-stone minerality through the long, very focused finish. From organically grown grapes with Fair'n Green certification. Drink or hold.
96 points
Stuart Pigott - JamesSuckling.com