The 2018 Schloss Johannisberg Violettlack Riesling Eiswein from Rheingau, Germany, represents a noteworthy achievement in winemaking. This white wine, produced from Riesling grapes and closed with a cork, is remarkable for its delicate balance and ethereal quality.
James Suckling awarded this Eiswein an impressive score of 99 points, emphasizing its exceptional attributes. He highlighted the unique harvesting process, which occurred on January 21st, between 2 am and 4 am, in temperatures of -12ºC. Suckling remarked on the wine's "wildly fresh, pure and super clean" nature, with "incredible floral and mineral character and fresh white tangerines and peaches." He described it as "impossibly delicate, seemingly floating and weightless," praising its "ethereal, long and silky" finish. Suckling's review concluded with a strong recommendation to drink it now or to hold it for an extended period, underscoring its potential for longevity (jamessuckling.com, 12/16/2019).
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate also provided an excellent review, scoring the wine at 95 points. The review noted that the wine was harvested with the help of 35 people in the early morning hours of January 21st, and it is the first ice wine produced by Schloss Johannisberg since 2008. The nose was described as "very clear and zesty, with lemon and precise quartzite aromas that remind me of stone dust." On the palate, the wine is "very elegant and delicate but smooth," with a lower acidity (5.5 grams per liter) than some may expect. Despite this, the finish is "long and fresh, even piquant and very precise." The wine was bottled with 7% alcohol and 235 grams of residual sugar, and Parker's review mentions that it could have been classified as a Trockenbeerenauslese (TBA) as well (Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, 2/1/2020).
Overall, the 2018 Schloss Johannisberg Violettlack Riesling Eiswein is celebrated for its purity, elegance, and remarkable balance. Both reviewers praised its outstanding qualities, making it a distinguished choice for wine enthusiasts.