2018 Weingut Schätzel - Niersteiner Pettenthal Riesling VDP.Große Lage

Falstaff Magazin – 94 pts - US: *Kräftiger Duft mit Noten von Spontangärung, Kräuter, würzige Anklänge vom Rotliegenden, auch dunkelwürzig. Am Gaumen schlank und fest, zeigt bei aller Substanz Frische und Vitalität, guter Extrakt und Dichte, phenolisch, vielschichtig und lang.* - 03/2020

JancisRobinson.com – 18/20pts – MS: *Kai Schätzel is a dedicated follower of spontaneous fermentation and particularly the fragrance of the Pettenthal is living proof of it. There’s a penetrating, almost medicinal smell of crushed green leaves and herbs, mint and green tea, really cool and fresh. It’s very crunchy on the palate too with notes of sorrel and rhubarb, a touch of green apple, and finally returning to the herbal theme. Very invigorating, almost painfully so. Truly trim too with relatively low alcohol.* - 08/2019

Vinous.com – 93 pts – DS: *On the nose, tangerine, clementine, lemon and lime penetratingly anticipate the zest, brightness and abundant juiciness that emerge on a buoyant but subtly glossy palate. Stony and alkaline notes seem crystalline in their vibrant finishing impression, while bright but piquant citricity, smokiness and saline savor of smoked pork serve for further tongue-tingling, sizzling and mouthwatering stimulation. To state that the tension here of high acidity and high sugar is productive would be an understatement. Only by dint of rigorously targeted vineyard management and early harvest at low must weight can a blazingly bright wine like this be achieved, let alone in a vintage as conducive to high grape sugar and only moderate acidity as 2018.* - 11/2019