Rauenthaler Baikenkopf Cabinetkeller VDP Grosses Gewächs

From the Rheingau into the glass: The Rauenthaler Baikenkopf is one of the great Riesling sites in Germany – and the Grosses Gewächs from Kloster Eberbach shows why.

Kloster Eberbach looks back on a wine-growing history that dates back to the 12th century. The Cistercian monks once laid the foundation for one of Germany's most famous wineries. The historic Cabinetkeller, after which this site is named, was once the heart of the monastic wine economy – today the winery manages around 190 hectares in the Rheingau, including several VDP-Großlagen and Erste Gewächse.

The Rauenthaler Baikenkopf lies on loess-loam soils with Taunus quartzite, the slopes falling steeply to the south. This combination of minerality and heat storage clearly shapes the character of the wine: on the nose, it shows citrus peel, white peach, and a fine herbal spice. On the palate, the taut acid structure typical of Rauenthal comes into play – precise without appearing hard. The finish is long, mineral, and characterized by a light salty note.

Serving temperature: 10–12 °C. Pairs with zander fillet with butter sauce, mature Comté, or vitello tonnato.