Description
Winery of the Year & Best White Wine Collection
"Christian and Matthias Runkel continue to fly high"
- Eichelmann 2020
”One of the finest winegrowing estates anywhere in Rheinhessen.”
- Verband Deutscher Prädikatsweingüter (VDP) - the invitation-only elite of German viticulture
This is Weingut Bischel at the top level, and a big part of why we were so excited to bring these wines into Australia. Our GG three-pack brings together the brothers’ finest dry Rieslings from three outstanding vineyards, each with a distinctly different character.
Christian and Matthias Runkel have led the winemaking at their grandfather’s Rheinhessen estate since 2006. Organic farming, meticulous hand harvesting and patient maturation have helped earn them a place among Germany’s leading growers.
GG stands for Grosses Gewächs: dry wines from VDP.Grosse Lage vineyards, Germany’s Grand Cru equivalent. Here, limestone, quartzite and volcanic soils give us three very different expressions of Riesling, made by the same brothers in the same vintage.
We’ve put this pack together to explore those differences, whether you open the wines side by side or follow them over several years. Serious vineyard pedigree and cellaring potential, and by going directly to the source, remarkable value.
”One of the best producers in the country of premium wines.”
- Wein-Plus.eu
”Crystalline and compelling expressions of limestone.”
- JancisRobinson.com
Your pack includes:
- 2023 Weingut Bischel Hundertgulden Riesling GG
- 2023 Weingut Bischel Scharlachberg Riesling GG
- 2023 Weingut Bischel Heerkretz Riesling GG
2023 Weingut Bischel Hundertgulden Riesling GG
Hundertgulden was prized vineyard land long before Bischel came along. First recorded in 1148, it earned its name in the 14th century from the substantial sums paid for its best plots in Rhenish gold florins.
Today, Christian and Matthias Runkel make one of their finest dry Rieslings from an old-vine parcel on these steep slopes above Appenheim. Classified VDP.Grosse Lage, the German equivalent of Grand Cru, it’s a special vineyard making some of Rheinhessen's finest Rieslings.
The limestone beneath Hundertgulden began as ancient coral reefs, with water-retaining layers that help sustain the vines. Warm southern and southwestern exposures meet cool westerly winds, giving the grapes a long, slow ripening season.
The brothers pick late and by hand in several passes, then ferment with native yeasts and leave the wine on lees for ten months. Apple, peach and citrus sit alongside subtle floral and nutty notes, with generous texture, fine acidity and a salty, chalky finish that carries on beautifully.
This is Bischel's home ground in Appenheim and a seriously ambitious project, with old vines and a historically prized site. Serious dry Riesling, and remarkable value at this level.
2023 Weingut Bischel Scharlachberg Riesling GG
The historic Scharlachberg vineyard south of Bingen produces a particularly concentrated, flinty expression of Riesling, and we’re delighted to have the GG alongside Hundertgulden in our shipment.
First documented in 1248, Scharlachberg’s steep terraces sit on ancient quartzite and slate, with iron-rich soils that turn scarlet in summer. The warm, rocky slopes drain freely, limiting vine growth and producing tiny berries packed with flavour.
Christian and Matthias Runkel pick late, working through the vineyard by hand in several passes. A short soak on skins precedes gentle pressing, followed by natural yeast fermentation in stainless steel and eight months on lees.
It needs a little air at first, then apricot, lime and orange peel emerge alongside flint and wild herbs. There’s lovely ripe fruit and creaminess through the palate, followed by firm grip, bright acidity and a long, stony finish.
We’d give this a decant now or put a few bottles away to develop. Historic vineyard pedigree, concentrated fruit and serious structure make this a standout among the Bischel range, with remarkable value for Grand Cru-level dry Riesling.
2023 Weingut Bischel Heerkretz Riesling GG
Heerkretz takes Bischel’s Riesling onto volcanic ground a bit further south within Rheinhessen, to one of the highest and coolest vineyards around Siefersheim. It’s a fascinating addition to our GG selection, showing just how differently the brothers’ wines express these outstanding sites.
The vines grow in thin, rocky porphyry soils on a steep slope exposed to cool westerly weather. Ripening is particularly slow here, allowing Christian and Matthias Runkel to harvest fully ripe fruit late in the season while retaining plenty of acidity.
The grapes are picked by hand, given a few hours on skins and gently pressed. Natural yeast fermentation takes place in stainless steel, followed by ten months on lees to build texture and depth. Initially reserved, it opens with air to reveal grapefruit, lemon peel and peach, with smoky spice and a fresh herbal lift. The palate is concentrated and taut, with fine grip and a long, salty finish.
It's fascinating to see all three of Bischel’s GGs together: limestone, quartzite and volcanic rock, each producing a distinctly different Riesling. Heerkretz brings the cool-site freshness and concentration, with the cellaring potential and exceptional value that made this range such an exciting import for us.
| Price Bracket | $101 and Above |
| Variety | Riesling |
| Country | Germany |
| Region | Rheinhessen |
| Size | 7 |
Weingut Bischel
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