SACHSEN & SAALE-UNSTRUT 2025: The Next Chance of Recognition?

By Frank Ebbinghaus - last revision:14.05.26

The VDP Regional Association of Saxony/Saale-Unstrut comprises just six wineries, five of which were represented in Mainz. They presented eleven wines from the 2025 vintage. These figures alone illustrate how limited any conclusions about the quality of the 2025 vintage in both wine-growing regions are, based on the tasting. It appears that those who did not start harvesting too late were able to produce excellent wines with ripe fruit, good structure and very good freshness. They certainly arouse curiosity as to what else this vintage has to offer in Sachsen and Saale-Unstrut.

11 tasting notes, including one with 91 and three with 90.

END OF THE VERSION AVAILABLE FREE OF CHARGE

ADDITIONAL MATERIAL ONLY FOR PAYING SUBSCRIBERS

But please read on as TRIAL MONTH has been extended for a few days and ALL CONTENT IS FREE!

SACHSEN

Schloss Proschwitz (Prinz zur Lippe)  Sachsen  Elbling  trocken 2025 - 11% / Aromas of sweet yellow fruits; ripe, sweet fruit on the palate too, but with sufficient freshness. 87 (FE)

Schloss Proschwitz (Prinz zur Lippe)  Sachsen  Scheurebe  2025 - 11% / Not quite dry (13 grams of residual sugar), this wine struggles to find its balance. At the moment, it seems as though the ripe, sweet fruitiness is gaining the upper hand over the distinct freshness. 85 (FE)

Schloss Proschwitz (Prinz zur Lippe)  Sachsen  Goldriesling  trocken  2025 - 11% / Closed, with a slight scent of earth and wet wood. Here too, it seems as though the lush, sweet fruitiness is getting the better of the freshness present. 85 (FE)

Schloss Proschwitz (Prinz zur Lippe)  Sachsen  Riesling  Seußlitzer Closterberg  2025 - approx. 12.3% / Still has a slight fermentation aroma (the wine will not be bottled until September), but already displays plenty of freshness, liveliness and minerality alongside delicate yellow fruit. 90? (FE)

Martin Schwarz  Sachsen  Goldriesling  trocken 2025 – 11.5% / Although this wine has completed malolactic fermentation, it displays plenty of vigour, freshness, minerality and balance alongside herbal aromas. Delicate and long. 90 (FE)

SAALE-UNSTRUT

Böhme und Töchter  Saale-Unstrut  Müller-Thurgau  2025 - ??% / Delicate nutmeg aroma, wonderfully fresh, simple yet distinctly mineral. Very tasty. 87 (FE)

Hey  Saale-Unstrut  Weißer Hey trocken  2025 - 11.5% / Quite closed, stony, then some apple and apricot emerge, juicy. 87 (FE)

Hey  Saale-Unstrut  Riesling  Naumburger Sonneck Spätlese  2025 - 7.5% / Sweet apricot aroma, displays considerable spice, floral notes, peach and a hint of exotic fruit alongside its great sweetness; seems a little sweet at the moment (75 grams of residual sugar), but should gain further freshness and finesse given its 9 grams of acidity. 91 (FE)

Pawis  Saale-Unstrut  Weißburgunder  Zscheiplitzer Himmelreich trocken  2025 - 12.5% / Aromas of flowers, herbs, earth and preserved pear. Gentle attack, a hint of pear, pleasant freshness and a certain warmth. 90 (FE)

Pawis  Saale-Unstrut  Grauburgunder  Zscheiplitzer Himmelreich trocken  2025 - 13.5% / Fairly closed. Sweet, juicy attack, followed by a subtle bitterness, certainly with a certain freshness, but the alcohol feels somewhat dominant. 85 (FE)