Variety: Riesling

The area of Rheinhessen, tucked between Nahe, Pfaltz, and Rheingau regions, is so often misunderstood. This is mostly due to its production of Liebfraumilch, the sweet and cheap swill popularized after World War II, many considering “the armpit of German wine.” Bringing Rheinhessen out of its dark times has been a long uphill battle; Klaus Peter Keller is the primary factor of bringing about these changes. This brings us to the next “Keller,” a man by the name of Florian Fauth, who is coincidentally brother-in-law to Keller. Florian of Seehof is comfortable in his own skin, his wines sharing the same sentiments. His Rieslings are clean pure examples of what can be done when grown in limestone soils, showcasing the rich marbly texture, contrasted by energetic acidity. To counter this excellent quality, the prices are gosh darn hard to beat, particularly for this competitively priced “basic” estate Riesling.

“Elektrisch” is just what it sounds like—electric! This is a lean and racy Kabinett Riesling with none of the expected sweetness. Even as Seehof’s entry level wine, this is sourced mostly from Florian’s estate holdings, one of which is sourced from a Grand Cru site in Westhofen.