WÜRTTEMBERG 2025: Jubliation with a Caveat

By Frank Ebbinghaus - last revision: 10.05.26

When Württemberg’s top winemakers talk about the 2025 vintage, they do so in superlatives – but with reservations: “Actually a perfect year,” says Christian Dautel (Dautel Winery, Bönnigheim), “no downy mildew, no late frost, lovely weather and enough rainfall at the right time”. The must weights virtually exploded in August. Then, rain arrived just in time to push back the ripening window. And after that, it was a case of ‘going full throttle’ to finish the harvest before the heavy rain. The heavy rain: a good 100 litres, which fell mainly between 21 and 23 September and changed the game. Those who were able to harvest early were on the winning side. Felix Adelmann of the Graf Adelmann Winery (Burg Schaubeck) speaks of the best estate wines of recent years. Jochen Beurer of the Beurer Winery in the Remstal is delighted with “superb pH and acidity levels”; the wines still maturing in the cellar display “crystal-clear and fresh aromas”.

These positive impression were confirmed by the tasting at the Mainzer Weinbörse in Mainz at the end of April. The wines tasted predominantly ripe and fresh. And many of the them will improve further in the coming weeks and months, as their aromas are often still rather underdeveloped – a good sign, because  it means that freshness dominates. Some village/terroir wines are already showing where 2025 will be at its best: right at the top!

AN OBSERVATION by Stuart Pigott

StuartPigott.com has now progressed quite far with the publication of our tasting notes for entry-level and village/terroir wines from the 2025 vintage and some patterns are emerging that demand comment. The most obvious of these is the way that few entry-levle wines wines from the Weissburgunder aka Pinot Blanc / Pinot Bianco and Grauburgunderaka Pinot Gris / Pinot Grigio grapes are rating 90+ in spite of the excellent vintage. I think that really says something: at regular yields with regular type viticulture (i.e. not the low yields and hand work that are normal for single-vineyard wines) there’sa limit to what these grapes can do. I should have spotted this years ago, but the last years I didn’t tasting enough of these wines to spot this. I suggest that 88 points is a really good score for a wine of this kind, and 90 is exceptional.

44 tasting notes, including one with 96 and two with 93.

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WEISSBURGUNDER, GRAUBURGUNDER & CHARDONNAY

Graf Adelmann  Württemberg  Weissburgunder  trocken  2025 - 12% / Delicate aroma of pear and a hint of peach, a touch of woody spice, slightly floral and some pear on the palate too, just a bit short. 87 (FE)

Graf Adelmann  Württemberg  Grauburgunder  trocken  2025 - ??% / Aromas of pear and vanilla, rather delicate on the palate, a hint of nougat with a touch of sweetness, countered by a crisp acidity. 88 (FE)

Graf von Bentzel-Sturmfeder  Württemberg  Grauburgunder  Sturmfeder  trocken  2025 - 13% / Ripe and juicy, yet with a certain finesse; pear, herbs, a hint of salt on the finish. 88 (FE)

Beurer  Württemberg  Weissburgunder  trocken  2025 - 11.5% / An almost explosive nose with abundant ripe Williams pear; ripe on the palate too, yet thoroughly refined and mineral. 90 (FE)

Dautel  Württemberg  Weissburgunder  trocken 2025 - 12.5% / A hint of herbs, juicy, yet everything remains on the fresh, mineral side. 88 (FE)

Jürgen Ellwanger  Württemberg  Weissburgunder  Winterbach trocken  2025  - 12% / Walnut and pear, very juicy, delicate sweetness, enough freshness to maintain balance. 88 (FE)

Fürst Hohenlohe-Oehringen  Württemberg  Verrenberg Weissburgunder  trocken 2025 - 12% / A hint of pear and yellow fruits, some spice, fresh, crisp and well made. 87 (FE)

Fürst Hohenlohe-Oehringen  Württemberg  Grauburgunder  trocken  2025 - 12% / Slender and fresh with a hint of walnut, hardly any fruit. Remains on the fresh side. 86 (FE)

Graf Neipperg  Württemberg  Weissburgunder  trocken  2025 - 13% / Ripe, juicy, creamy, rich with walnut and Williams pear. 87 (FE)

Rainer Schnaitmann  Württemberg  Weissburgunder  Steinwiege trocken  2025 - 12.5% / Very closed, slightly nutty, plenty of spice, a subtle hint of bitterness, balanced and quite refined. 88 (FE)

Rainer Schnaitmann  Württemberg  Grauburgunder  Steinwiege  trocken  2025 - 12% / Juicy, delicately creamy, yellow fruit, mineral. 88 (FE)

Wachstetter  Württemberg  Weissburgunder  trocken  2025 - 12% / Lightly scented with liquorice and pear, juicy yet rather refined, floral, mineral finish. 89 (FE)

Wöhrwag  Württemberg  Weissburgunder  trocken  2025 - ??% / Aromas of herbs, nuts and pears, very fresh, a hint of peach on the palate, subtle bitter note, invigorating. 87 (FE)

Herzog von Württemberg  Württemberg  Grauburgunder  Schloss Monrepos trocken  2025 - 12.5% / Oaky notes and tobacco, powerful and juicy, slightly short. 86 (FE)

Herzog von Württemberg  Württemberg  Chardonnay  Schloss Monrepos trocken  2025 - 12% / Suggestions of wet stone and smoke. Juicy, fresh, harmonious, mineral. 88 (FE)

Herzog von Württemberg  Württemberg  Weissburgunder  Maulbronner Eilfingerberg  2025 - 13% / Full-bodied with walnut and a hint of pear, creamy and round, full and opulent, delicate bitterness, slightly warm aromas, but finds balance. 87 (FE)

RIESLING

Aldinger  Württemberg  Riesling  Untertürkheimer Gips  2025 - 12.5% / Complex nose with a hint of lemon zest, citrusy, delicate, subtle, stony, fine finish with a touch of salt. 93 (FE)

Beurer  Württemberg  Riesling  trocken  2025 - 11% / Wow! This is very distinctive and complex for an estate Riesling: citrus, pear, flowers, herbs and minerality create a powerful interplay, and the wine also displays plenty of freshness. 91 (FE)

Dautel  Württemberg  Riesling  trocken  2025 - 12% / delicate, herbaceous nose. Lovely freshness, delicate, mineral, long. 90 (FE)

Kistenmacher & Hengerer  Württemberg  White Riesling  dry  2025 - 12%-12.5% / Vineyard peach, expressive and juicy, but somewhat lacking in acidity. 87 (FE)

Graf Neipperg  Württemberg  Riesling  Neipperg Kabinett  2025 - 11.5% / A thoroughly deep, mineral nose with yellow fruits, ripe apple, vineyard peach, apricot, juicy with sufficient freshness. Just off-dry. 91 (FE)

Rainer Schnaitmann  Württemberg  Riesling  Steinwiege trocken  2025 - 12% / Vineyard peach, juicy, yet also delicate, mineral, and very lively. 90 (FE)

Staatsweingut Weinsberg  Württemberg  Riesling  Abstatt trocken  2025 - 12% / Aromas of wet, black earth and vineyard peach, thoroughly refined, juicy peach aroma, mineral, fresh. 90 (FE)

Wachstetter  Württemberg  Riesling  Pfaffenhofen Anna trocken  2025 - 12.5% / Very closed, wet stone, some spice, becoming increasingly juicy with aeration, with lively yellow fruit, fresh and long. 91 (FE)

Wöhrwag  Württemberg  Riesling  Alte Reben trocken  2025 - 12.5% / Grapey, nutmeg, vineyard peach, juicy, then a subtle phenolic note emerges, fresh. 88 (FE)

Wöhrwag Württemberg Riesling Untertürkheimer Herzogenbergg Goldkapsel  2025 - 12.5% / Vineyard peach and other yellow fruits, then a well-balanced phenolic note emerges, slightly warm fruit, seems very ripe. 89 (FE)

Herzog von Württemberg  Württemberg  Riesling  Stettener Brotwasser trocken 2025 - 12% / Still slightly cloudy (barrel sample taken shortly before bottling), herbaceous, yellow fruit, on the palate a hint of fine tannins and freshness. 88? (FE)

Herzog von Württemberg  Württemberg  Riesling  Maulbronner Eilfingerberg trocken  2025 - 12.5% / Barely any aroma, but good structure on the palate with melon, orange and white peach; the delicate sweet fruit is well balanced by the acidity and phenolic freshness.  90 (FE)

Herzog von Württemberg  Württemberg  Riesling  Maulbronner Eilfingerberg Trockenbeerenauslese  2025 - 5.5% / Delicate aroma of ripe peach and peach skin, very sweet, with notes of peach and other yellow fruits, yet also beautifully fresh, very elegant and lively. Very long finish. 96 (FE)

SAUVIGNON BLANC

Aldinger  Württemberg  Sauvignon Blanc  Reserve trocken  2025 - ??% / Nettle, cassis and a hint of peach Melba combine with lovely freshness, very delicate, slightly salty finish. 93 (FE)

Drautz-Able  Württemberg  Sauvignon Blanc  Heilbronn „Drei Trauben“  2025 – 12.5% / Nettle, peach and cassis. Juicy, yet delicate and mineral. 90 (FE)

Drautz-Able  Württemberg  Sauvignon Blanc  Neckarsulm “Drei Trauben”  2025 – 13.1% / Restrained nose, a hint of ripe peach, delicate, dense, elegant. 91 (FE)

Jürgen Ellwanger  Württemberg  Sauvignon Blanc  trocken  2025 - 12% / Smells of glue and mustard, then some blackcurrant and, with more air, herbs too. Shows power on the palate, green herbs and blackcurrant, good freshness. 89 (FE)

Graf Neipperg  Württemberg  Sauvignon Blanc  Neipperg trocken 2025 - ??% / very pale in colour, discreet aroma of peach and blackcurrant, very light, some CO2, a light summer wine. 86 (FE)

Staatsweingut Weinsberg  Württemberg  Sauvignon Blanc  trocken  2025 - 12% / Rich nose of blackcurrant, herbs and peach; very expressive and fresh.  87 (FE)

Wöhrwag  Württemberg  Sauvignon Blanc Young Vines trocken  2025 - 13% / Herbs, particularly nettle, delicately creamy, seamless, hardly any fruit, crisp. 88 (FE)

Herzog von Württemberg  Württemberg  Sauvignon Blanc  Gündelbacher Steinbachhof  2025 - 13% / Nettle and other green herbs, followed by yellow fruits, creamy, ripe aromas, subtle bitterness, yet develops enough freshness. 89 (FE)

OTHER AROMATIC WHITE GRAPES

Schlossgut Hohenbeilstein  Württemberg  Cabernet Blanc  2025 - 13% / Spontaneous fermentation notes, closed, some nut, cassis and herbs, plenty of juice and power, but also a touch of perceptible alcohol. 87 (FE)

Staatsweingut Weinsberg  Württemberg  Muskateller  trocken  2025 - ??% / Aromas of mirabelle plum and nutmeg. Sweet fruit and floral notes come through first, followed by a delicate bitterness. Expressive and fresh, though not exactly subtle. 88 (FE)

WHITE CUVÉES

Graf Neipperg  Württemberg  Cuvée P.+P. White  2025 - 12.5% / A potpourri of yellow fruits, blossoms and a hint of nutmeg; low acidity, but lively. 86 (FE)

ROSÉ

Graf von Bentzel-Sturmfeder  Württemberg  Sturmfeder Rosé trocken  2025 - Aromas of cherry, apricot and peach; tastes delicate and fresh. 87 (FE)

Jürgen Ellwanger  Württemberg  Muskat-Trollinger  No Guns Only Roses rosé trocken  2025 - 10% / Aromas of honey, plum and blossom; juicy, simple and short. A decent summer wine for casual drinkers, even those who don’t usually drink wine. 84 (FE)

Graf Neipperg  Württemberg  Lemberger  Rosé trocken  2025 - 12.5% / Restrained nose, yellow fruits, rosehips. Has drive and freshness. 87 (FE)

Graf Neipperg  Württemberg  Cuvée P.+P. Rosé  2025 - 12.5% / Delicate nose, not particularly complex, but with pleasant freshness. 85 (FE)