98 points Stuart Pigott (JamesSuckling.com): "Hang on to your hat! The nose is fragrant and very subtle, but then the palate has an almost savage vitality and enormous depth. This is anything but a blockbuster thanks to the brilliant and minerally acidity. The finish is super filigree with a breathtaking freshness. Best from 2018 and for decades after. (12/13/17)"
97+ points John Gilman (View From the Cellar): "The 2016 Abtserde is the most overtly (and beautifully) mineral of all the Grosses Gewächs this year in the Keller lineup, as the limestone minerality just rises up from the depths here on both the nose and palate. The very refined and complex bouquet offers up scents of pink grapefruit, lemon, green apple, layer upon layer of limestone, citrus zest and white flowers in the upper register. On the palate the wine is full-bodied, pure and very, very precise, with a superb core, racy acids and absolutely flawless focus and grip on the very long and balanced finish. This too is a very young wine and not one of the most powerful examples of Abtserde ever crafted by Klaus-Peter, but despite its impeccably balance out of the blocks, it is going to need at least a decade to really blossom. It should prove to be one of the legendary vintages of Abtserde produced to date by Klaus-Peter Keller. 2030-2075. (Nov/Dec 2017)"
97 points David Schildknecht (Vinous): "Fresh lime and white peach, iris, thyme, chalk and marine minerals are all intimated on the nose, then reconvene on a silken, buoyant, generously juicy palate. Even more than usual, the wine displays an intricate -- almost lacy -- complexity of herbal, floral, fruit and mineral elements, as well as a clarity that surpasses that of its fellow Keller Grosse Gewächse, impressive though they all are. Yet for all of its buoyancy and refinement, the mouthwateringly salt-tinged, near-endless finish is intensely reverberative and blazingly bright, revealing the maximum energy conveyed by any of Keller’s other dry 2016s, and all the while offering consummate refreshment. 'You can tell from a wine like this,' noted Keller, 'how Abtserde is a site that supports residual sweetness, unlike Morstein.' And you can also tell that it’s magical -- irrespective of residual sugar. Drink: 2018-2036. (May 2018)"
95 points Mosel Fine Wines: "AP: 34 17. The “Abts E®.de” stands for Abtserde, a prime sector of the Westhofener Brunnenhäuschen vineyard. This backward wine only gradually reveals a beautiful nose of wet stone, herbs, spices, pear and candied lemon. It is gorgeously elegant and refined on the palate and leaves a stunning feel of sage, herbs and chalky minerals in the long and beautifully balanced finish. What a great dry Riesling in the making. 2024-2036. (Jan 2018)"
94.5 points CellarTracker.com community score.
94+ points Stephan Reinhardt (Wine Advocate): "The 2016 Abts E(rde) Riesling GG is clear, intense and chalky on the concentrated, ripe and juicy nose. On the palate, this is a pure, intense and chalky Riesling with fine tannins, piquant acidity and great purity. This is very salty and grippy Riesling that is straight, dense and mineral. No fruit here but lots of crushed rocks and great tension. Drink: 2021-2040. (Oct 2017)"
18/20 points Jancis Robinson: "Green and (almost) mean on the nose with aromas of wet grass, elderflower and a chalky notion. Almond kernel and grapefruit pith account for a subtly bitter piquancy, minerality takes on a slightly earthy expression. A steely acidity and almost total absence of residual sugar make this a Grosses Gewächs for the trocken purist, but it may be a step too far for the rest of mankind. Fruit lovers may find solace in some subtle nuances of zesty orange and grapefruit, although they really only have a minor walk-on part. Taut and austere, this certainly is not a wine for drinking on its own. Klaus Peter Keller always says that Riesling doesn’t need make-up and the Abt’s E certainly doesn’t have any! Drink: 2018-2027. (9/13/17)"
97+ points John Gilman (View From the Cellar): "The 2016 Abtserde is the most overtly (and beautifully) mineral of all the Grosses Gewächs this year in the Keller lineup, as the limestone minerality just rises up from the depths here on both the nose and palate. The very refined and complex bouquet offers up scents of pink grapefruit, lemon, green apple, layer upon layer of limestone, citrus zest and white flowers in the upper register. On the palate the wine is full-bodied, pure and very, very precise, with a superb core, racy acids and absolutely flawless focus and grip on the very long and balanced finish. This too is a very young wine and not one of the most powerful examples of Abtserde ever crafted by Klaus-Peter, but despite its impeccably balance out of the blocks, it is going to need at least a decade to really blossom. It should prove to be one of the legendary vintages of Abtserde produced to date by Klaus-Peter Keller. 2030-2075. (Nov/Dec 2017)"
97 points David Schildknecht (Vinous): "Fresh lime and white peach, iris, thyme, chalk and marine minerals are all intimated on the nose, then reconvene on a silken, buoyant, generously juicy palate. Even more than usual, the wine displays an intricate -- almost lacy -- complexity of herbal, floral, fruit and mineral elements, as well as a clarity that surpasses that of its fellow Keller Grosse Gewächse, impressive though they all are. Yet for all of its buoyancy and refinement, the mouthwateringly salt-tinged, near-endless finish is intensely reverberative and blazingly bright, revealing the maximum energy conveyed by any of Keller’s other dry 2016s, and all the while offering consummate refreshment. 'You can tell from a wine like this,' noted Keller, 'how Abtserde is a site that supports residual sweetness, unlike Morstein.' And you can also tell that it’s magical -- irrespective of residual sugar. Drink: 2018-2036. (May 2018)"
95 points Mosel Fine Wines: "AP: 34 17. The “Abts E®.de” stands for Abtserde, a prime sector of the Westhofener Brunnenhäuschen vineyard. This backward wine only gradually reveals a beautiful nose of wet stone, herbs, spices, pear and candied lemon. It is gorgeously elegant and refined on the palate and leaves a stunning feel of sage, herbs and chalky minerals in the long and beautifully balanced finish. What a great dry Riesling in the making. 2024-2036. (Jan 2018)"
94.5 points CellarTracker.com community score.
94+ points Stephan Reinhardt (Wine Advocate): "The 2016 Abts E(rde) Riesling GG is clear, intense and chalky on the concentrated, ripe and juicy nose. On the palate, this is a pure, intense and chalky Riesling with fine tannins, piquant acidity and great purity. This is very salty and grippy Riesling that is straight, dense and mineral. No fruit here but lots of crushed rocks and great tension. Drink: 2021-2040. (Oct 2017)"
18/20 points Jancis Robinson: "Green and (almost) mean on the nose with aromas of wet grass, elderflower and a chalky notion. Almond kernel and grapefruit pith account for a subtly bitter piquancy, minerality takes on a slightly earthy expression. A steely acidity and almost total absence of residual sugar make this a Grosses Gewächs for the trocken purist, but it may be a step too far for the rest of mankind. Fruit lovers may find solace in some subtle nuances of zesty orange and grapefruit, although they really only have a minor walk-on part. Taut and austere, this certainly is not a wine for drinking on its own. Klaus Peter Keller always says that Riesling doesn’t need make-up and the Abt’s E certainly doesn’t have any! Drink: 2018-2027. (9/13/17)"
| Product SKU | 332893 |
| Producer | Keller |
| Country | Germany |
| Region | Rheinhessen |
| Varietal | Riesling |
| Vintage | 2016 |
| Size | 750ml |
| Color | White |
| ABV | 12.5% |
| Ships To |
