Robert Parker (96)
Sourced in the south/southwest-exposed lieux-dits Urban-Wingert, Langenberg and Mäuerchen Quer and sold exclusively via the Place de Bordeaux, the intensely yellow-colored 2021 Schloss Johannisberg Goldlack Riesling Trocken (not the GG Silberlack) represents the qualitative top of the dry Rieslings of the winery. After the manual harvest of the berries during the first nine days of October and after 48 hours of maceration, the must was gently pressed and fermented in 1,200-liter oak stücks made from the family's own forest and a few smaller barrels. The wine matured for 24 months on the fine lees in the nine-meter-deep Bibliotheca Subterranea cellar at 10.5 degrees Celsius before being bottled in February 2024. Coming from a cooler and rainier year, the 2021 offers a deep, pure, intense and elegant nose of ripe yellow fruits but also black and blue berries intertwined with yeasty and flinty notes and nuances of heath and mint. Full-bodied, intense and saline on the palate, this is a distinctively ripe and juicy as well as mineral, very elegant and savory, intense and seriously structured dry Riesling with a very long, complex and aromatic as well as finely tannic and lemon-bitter finish. It has remarkable acidity (of 8.2 grams per liter). 13% stated alcohol. Natural cork. Tasted in early July and again at the domaine at the end of August 2024. The wine will be available from 21 October of this year, and it is best served in a wide Burgundy or Bordeaux glass, where its intensity is even more intensified and its texture significantly smoother.
James Suckling (100)
Prepare yourself to meet the spirit of great mineral dry riesling. Gigantic dried peach and dried pear notes, but even more flinty character. A wealth of dried herbs, too. Immense concentration of stony minerality that washes over you like a great wave. Matured for two and a half years in 1,200-liter used oak cases, the last year in the deepest and oldest section of the cellar. Drink or hold.
Vinous (97)
The 2021 Riesling Schloss Johannisberg Goldlack is Johannsiberg's wine positioned above the GG. Made in limited quantity, it spent 30 months in wood. The merest touch of beeswax appears initially, almost with a hint of speculoos biscuit spice on the nose. The palate is a marvel, absolutely fluid in texture and slender but with absolute concentration. this has density but no weight. Texturally, this is different from other Rieslings, calmer and quieter, but with no less intent or direction. On the contrary, it conquers quietly but completely. The malolactic fermentation delivers a mellow finish that is deceptive, since the final acidity in this dry wine still reached an exciting 8.2 g/L. (Bone-dry)
Falstaff (98)
Spontaneous fermentation spice, apple, candied citrus peel, wood, already wonderfully open. The palate is characterised by the wood maturation, yeast still noticeable, densely woven, citrus aromas, peach, juicy, grippy, high-quality phenolics, concentrated acidity, intense mineral background, fine wine.
