Lukas Hammelmann: Dissecting the Pfalz, a Grand Cru Survey

"The Rieslings absolutely screech and blaze across the palate with raw citrus, green herbs, minerals and a bone-chilling acidity... These wines rip."

The Grand Cru Rieslings of Lukas Hammelmann have been compared to the best in the Pfalz (Rebholz), the Rheinhessen (Keller, Wittmann, pick your favorite), the Nahe (Schäfer-Fröhlich), and even a few producers in the Mosel and Saar (Lauer or Vollenweider).

Yet, they are simultaneously absolutely singular. You just have to try them for yourself.

Hammelmann's style is one of force, of lift and energy, of vividly aromatic fruit, of ruthless minerality and delineation. They have quickly become some of the most talked-about Rieslings from Germany.

As the importer vom Boden writes above, "These wines rip."

Today, we are able to offer a cross-section of Hammelmann's 2023 Grand Cru dry Rieslings: four bottlings, four terroirs, four dazzling expressions.

A more thrilling side-by-side (by side-by-side) is hard to imagine. Today, buy four bottles and your pricing goes even lower.

KLOSTERGARTEN: From Hammelmann's hometown terroir of Zeiskam, the Klostergarten is buoyant, juicy, aromatic - sandstone and loam offer the wine a generosity, despite its energy.

ROTER BERG is from the neighboring town of Hochstadt. The soils here are more limestone-dominant. The Roter Berg therefore has more punch, depth, more force and momentum - it screams and laughs in tones of bright citrus and salt.

SCHLOSSBERG comes from the sandstone slopes around Neustadt. This is one of the warmer sites, and the wine has even more amplitude, more complexity, and breadth of fruit and spice.

"WILHELM FRIEDRICH" - here we have Hammelmann's "ode to the Pfalz." This bottle is one of Hammelmann's rarest and is named after his grandfather. It is a powerful, dark Riesling with bass-toned fruit and a dark, brooding minerality. Yet there is also great thrust, a vibrant acidity that sling-shots the wine across the palate. The wine can stay open for days, unfurling layer after layer with time.

Leave all the bottles open as long as you can, drink them over days, and have the best "dry January" you've ever had. Grab as many as you can for the Januarys (and other months) in the years to come.

To order, email offers@crushwineco.com or call the store at (212) 980-9463.

Ian McFadden
Director, Fine & Rare
Crush Wine & Spirits