NAHE 2025: Lightning Strikes the Mountain !
Sometimes You Get Very Lucky !
By Stuart Pigott - last revision: 13.05.26
Sometimes the mold is deliberately broken, but it can falls apart in someone’s hands leaving them amazed by what they’d done. The latter happened a number of times during the last quarter century in the Nahe as the region advanced to the joint Pole Position for dry German Riesling. So, of course, I was full of expectation for the wines of the new vintage from this region.
I realized that something extraordinary had happened when I tasted the 2024 entry-level and village wines from Emrich-Schönleber in Monzinen/Nahe at the Mainzer Weinbörse at the end of April. Frank Schönleber looked dazed, and was completely overwhelmed by the ecstatic reaction to them. And he was at a loss to explain how they turned out so amazing. Congratulations Frank on what looks like the best ever vintage at Emrich-Schönleber! Then, I moved on to Dr. Crusius, Dönnhoff and Gut Hermannsberg and a pattern became apparent, indeed it ran right through the wines from the region in varying degrees.
The 2025 dry and off-dry Rieslings from the Nahe remind me a lot of the young 2019s, although they are even more elegant, and more intensely mineral than the wines of that vintage. If you want more power, then 2015 and 2018 are probably better bets, and 2019 is more obviously concentrated. However, I prefer the extremely balanced and enormously expressive 2025s. No doubt about it: 2025 IS A VERY GREAT VINTAGE FOR THE NAHE. Of course, this judgment is based upon the entry-level and village wines for which you can read my tasting notes below.
This fills me with anticipation for the 2025 GGs (Grosse Gewächse), but it makes no sense to taste them now, since nearly all of them are still on the lees (gross or fine), and many of them will which change quite a bit between now and when I taste them in July. Lees in suspension tend to make the acidity in young white wines taste more supple than it is in the finished product, but there’s no way to know now how pronounced the effect of filtration will be on each wine. That's the reason I will wait untilthose wines are bottled, or at least ready to be bottled.
WATCH THIS SPACE!
45 tasting notes, including one with 96 and six with 95. One entry-level wine (Gutswein) with 94.
DRY WEISSBURGUNGER, CHARDONNAY & AUXERROIS
Dr. Crusius Nahe Weissburguder trocken 2025 - 12.5% / This cool and elegant dry Pinot Blanc has a very nice interplay of leesy creaminess with crispness and a wealth of white tree fruit and spring blossom aromas. 90 (SP)
Dr. Crusius Nahe Auxerrois trocken 2025 - 12.5% / This sleek yet supple wine has aromas of apple and pear that are just beginning to caramelize in butter. Fine grained tannins provide structure. 90 (SP)
Dr. Crusius Nahe ConneXXion trocken 2025 - 12.5% / What a beautiful nose this cuvée of white Buzrundian grape varieties has! A wealth of citrus nuances also wild rose and leesy complexity. Undramatic, but well-structured, this has good balance on the restrained, medium-bodied palate. Will surely show even better after a few months longer in bottle. 92 (SP)
Dr. Crusius Nahe Chardonnay trocken 2025 - 13% / The delicate lemon and orange blossomaromaspullyou intot his excellent cool climate Chardonnay that marries generous creaminess with a finely-nuanced tannin structure. Long, polished finish. 92 (SP)
Dönnhoff Nahe Weissburgunder trocken 2025 - 12% / Ripe pear fruit fills out the rather generous body (in the sleek Nahe context),and the discreet tannins are beautifully integrated with the restrained creaminess. Long,elegant finish. Vinified in 2,400 liter Doppelstück oak casks. 91 (SP)
Dönnhoff Nahe Grauburgunder trocken 2025 - 12% / Smoky with aromas of caramelized apple and pear this dryPinot Gris somehow remains delicate. Long finish that’s simultaneously fresh yet supple. Vinified in 2,400 liter Doppelstück oak casks. 90
Dönnhoff Nahe Chardonnay Stückfass trocken 2025 - 12% / Beautiful nose of orange blossom and vanilla with leesy complexity. Quite somepower and structure,yet remains cool,. Long finish that’s stony and well-rounded. From mature vines in the Höllenpfad site and vinified in 1,200 liter Stück oak casks. 93
Emrich-Schönleber Nahe Weissburgunder S trocken 2025 - 13% / A prototypical wine for this producer with underplayed power and stunning freshness. Quite some mid-palate creaminess, then intensely mineral at the very crisp and dynamic finish (which might be too much for some!) Still very young. 93 (SP)
Emrich-Schönleber Nahe Grauburgunder S trocken 2025 - ??% / A great dry Pinot Gris with enveloping ripe melon and smoke aromas. In spite of the ample concentration on the compact palate, this remains cool and stony throught the very long finish. 95 (SP)
Gut Hermannsberg Nahe Weissburgunder PINOT trocken 2025 - 12.5% / This joyfully fresh dry Pinot Blanc is bursting with ripe pear aromas. Long, very balanced finish. 91 (SP)
Kruger-Rumpf Nahe Weissburgunder trocken 2025 - 12.5% / The spring-like freshness and crisp pear fruit of this dry Pinot Blanc. Excellent harmony of mineral freshness, fine tannins and fruit . Good depth, but also an appealing feeling of animating lightness. 91 (SP)
Kruger-Rumpf Nahe Grauburgunder trocken 2025 - 12.5% / This isn’t bone dry, but the ample melon and ripe pear aromas are wellmatched to the fresh acidity, and this comes off as clean in spite of the rather generous body. 89 (SP)
Joh. Bapt. Schäfer Nahe Weissburgunder Flusskiesel trocken 2025 - ??% / Slightly flinty with vivid crisp pear and lemon aromas this dry Pinot Blanc is quite generous and bold (in the sleek Nahe context), the balance of restrained creaminess andanimating freshness very satisfying. 91 (SP)
Joh. Bapt. Schäfer Nahe Grauburgunder Flusskiesel trocken 2025 - ??% / The exact balance of creaminess and crispness is as much the secret of this wine as the effusive summer meadow and ripe melon aromas. 90 (SP)
Schäfer-Fröhlich Nahe Weissburgunder trocken 2025 - ??% / For me the green bean and zuccini aromas, the tartness on the edgy palate doesn’t add up to harmonious wine in spite of the intensity. If it’s just too reductive (exaggerated youthfulness) then this might improve. 84 (SP)
Schäfer-Fröhlich Nahe Weissburgunder S trocken 2025 - ??% / Sleek andcoolwith restrained creaminess and well-integrated tannins. Still very youthful. 88 (SP)
DRY RIESLING
Dr. Crusius Nahe Riesling trocken 2025 - ??% / A very cool wine for an entry-level dry Rieslingin every sense this has notes of ferns and moss and wet-stone minerality that echo on and on at the finely-etched finish. 92 (SP)
Dr. Crusius Nahe Riesling Vom Fels trocken 2025 - ??% / The intensity of the tarragon and thyme aromas is stunning! Very racy and radical on the super-focused, stony palate. Dangerously long finish! 93 (SP)
Dr. Crusius Nahe Riesling Top of the Rock trocken 2025 - ??% / Somehow this marries concentrated stone fruit aromas with great stony minerality and what I can only describe asa mystic stillness. Builds to a terrific crescendo finish that has dangerous grapefruit energy! De facto a Traisen village wine. 95 (SP)
Dönnhoff Nahe Riesling trocken 2025 -11.5% / This is so zesty and refreshing on the sleek that you could easily miss the fresh herbal and citrusy complexity! Also notes of white peach and pineapple core. Already delicious! 92 (SP)
Dönnhoff Nahe Riesling Thonschiefer trocken 2025 - ??% / Terrific finesse in the nose of wildflowers, white and yellow peaches. Very focused and enormously mineral on the super-racy and precise palate. Great wet-stone freshness at the very long,pure finish. A cuvée of wines from vineyards with slate soils, based on the Leistenberg site. 94 (SP)
Emrich-Schönleber Nahe Riesling trocken 2025 - 12% / This comes close to the optimum for the entry-level / Gutsweincategory thanks to its verydelicate peachyfruit, super-racy and filigree personality. Extremely long and vibrant wet-stone finish. 94 (SP)
Emrich-Schönleber Nahe Riesling Mineral trocken 2025 - 12% / Super-racy and brilliant, this is like a pure beam of energy. Finely-nuanced peachy fruit. Sopure and pristine at the enormously mineral finish. 95 (SP)
Gut Hermannsberg Nahe Riesling PURE trocken 2025 - 12% / This impeccably balanced dry Riesling has striking aromas of fresh mint and parsley. Not super-mineral, but a really elegant expression of the Nahe’s cool climate personality. 91 (SP)
Gut Hermannsberg Riesling 7 Terroirs trocken 2025 - 12.5% / Very fine peachy nose with a thread of yellow grapefruit woven into it. Wonderful elegance on the super-mineral palate, then terrific tension at the very long finsih. A cuvée of wines from all of this producer’s 7 GG sites. 94 (SP)
Kruger-Rumpf Nahe Riesling Quarzit trocken 2025 - 12% / Although this is very crisp, almost to the point of steeliness there’s plenty opple, lemon and spring meadow character. Very refreshing lemon-lime finish. 90 (SP)
Kruger-Rumpf Nahe Riesling Schiefer trocken 2025 - 12% / Atonce juicy and racy, this has a wealth of white tree fruits and some spring flower aromas. Mouthwatering acidity at the wet-stone finish. 92 (SP)
Kruger-Rumpf Landwein Rhein Riesling Zweistrom trocken 2025 - 12.5% / This is packed with pink grapefruit and pomelo aromas, but there’s alsoabundant white tree fruit and a touch of tarragon. Mineral, but not in a full-throttle way, and this helps it to a very staisfying elegance. A cuvée of wines from this producer’s top sites in the Nahe and Rheinhessen regions. 93 (SP)
Joh. Bapt. Schäfer Nahe Riesling trocken 2025 - ??% / Very zesty with lplenty of green apple and garden herb character,this is very refreshing. Some may find the finish quite tart. 88 (SP)
Joh. Bapt. Schäfer Nahe Riesling Rummelsheim Kieselstein trocken 2025 - ??% / The forthright white peach and yellow apple fruit enables this sleek dry Riesling to carry it’s serious crispness and its slightly austere, stony backbone. 90 (SP)
Schäfer-Fröhlich Nahe Riesling trocken 2025 - ??% / Super-fresh and cool with wild herb, grapefruit and Amalfi lemon aromas, this is super-straight and has a stony austerity that some may find too much. May show better after a few more months in the bottle. 90 (SP)
Schäfer-Fröhlich Nahe Riesling Vulkangestein trocken 2025 - ??% / Excellent gunpowder and grapefruit intensity on the very focused and well-structured palate. Excellent depth at the long, firm finish. 93 (SP)
Schäfer-Fröhlich Nahe Riesling Schiefergestein trocken 2025 - ??% / Brimming with wild herb, crisp pear and lime zest aromas this is very sleek and feels leaner than it really is due to the reductive style. Some may find the finish a bit unrelenting at the moment, but this is still very young. 92
OFF-DRY RIESLING
Dr. Crusius Nahe Dolce Far Niente 2025 - ??% / In spite of the name this expressive wine (think drieed herbs and spices!) is just off-dry, the touch of tannin at the finishaccentuating this impression. 90 (SP)
Dönnhoff Nahe Riesling 2025 - 9.5% / Brimming with passion fruit and peach this is very clean in spite of the generous fruit. Long, vibrant finish. 91 (SP)
Emrich-Schönleber Nahe Riesling Lenz 2025 - 11.5% / Spring in a glass! Very elegant and filigree with a delicate hint of unfermented grape sweetness that teases and tantalizes you on the light-footed palate. Abundant floral and delicate stone fruit aromas. 93 (SP)
Gut Hermannsberg Nahe Riesling FINE 2025 - 10% / This has a Spätlese-type peach, jasmine and honeysuckle aromas on the juicy, yet very fresh palate. Moderate acidity for the Nahe, but with the typical liveliness and just a touch of unfermented sweetness. 92 (SP)
Schäfer-Fröhlich Nahe Riesling Schiefergestein feinherb 2025 - ??% / A lot ofwinedrinkers aregoing to think this is properly dry, because of the way the racy acidity dominates the palate. Intense yellow grapefruit and wet-stone character. Stilltightly wound- but the balance is there at the tightly-wound finish. 93 (SP)
RIESLING KABINETT
Dr. Crusius Nahe Riesling Schlossböckelheimer Kupfergrube Kabinett 2025 - 8.5% / The natural grape sweetness of this very cooland racyRiesling Kabinett is almost imprceptible, but the grapefruit intensity at the super-crisp. finish blew my head off! 94 (SP)
Dönnhoff Nahe Riesling Oberhäuser Leistenberg Kabinett 2025 - ??% / Effusive aromas of forest berries and white peaches are married to a abundant energy to creat a fantastic tension. Leaps across the palate, splash landing at the finish in a forest pool of minerality. 95
Dönnhoff Nahe Riesling Niederhäuser Klamm Kabinett 2025 - ??% / Fabulous nose of white peaches and wild roses! So concentrated and dynamic the stony intensity blew my socks off. Dynamite finish that’s absolutely pristine. 96
Emrich-Schönleber Nahe Riesling Niederberg Kabinett 2025 - ??% / This great Nahe Kabinett conjures an image of a ray of sunlight striking a forest waterfall. Dangerously fresh with terific tension. And yes, somewhere in there is some unfermtned grape sweetness. 95 (SP)
Joh. Bapt. Schäfer Nahe Riesling Kabinett 2025 - ??% / Not so complex, but everything fits together so beautifully in this classic style Nahe Kabinett that deftly balances well-integrated grape sweetness with crisp acidity, and a spritz of natural carbon dioxide through the zesty finish. 91 (SP)
Joh. Bapt. Schäfer Nahe Riesling Pittermännchen Kabinett 2025 - ??% / A great Riesling Kabinett that smells asmineralas a stonemason’s workshop! Super-racy, sleek and focused with stunning energy at the very long finish. 95 (SP)
Schäfer-Fröhlich Nahe Riesling Felseneck Kabinett 2025 - ??% / This reminds me a lot of lemon sherbet and the steely acidity means that it barely tastes off-dry. Quite pronounced sweetness for the category. Still very young. 89 (SP)
