Slow-Roasted Pork Belly
with Fig Vinaigrette Dressing
Mosel Riesling
Memories of their grandfather August Giesen travelling to Mosel to buy barrels of the region’s world-famous Riesling prompted the Giesen brothers to purchase a vineyard and make wine in Germany’s most regarded region.
2018 was an excellent wine growing year in Mosel. Ideal weather during flowering was followed by a warm and dry summer which created fruit with intense aroma. Autumn was dry which allowed the grapes to be left on the cane until the end of October meaning they were harvested with highly concentrated flavour.
The Giesen Mosel Riesling vineyard sits within the village of Reil on the banks of the river Mosel. Reil is small village which includes 120 hectares of terraced vineyards. The exceedingly steep Giesen Riesling vineyard sits in the middle of Mosel with an altitude difference of 150 metres from the top to the bottom of the vineyard. Its vines, rooted in mineral-rich, ancient slate soils are on average more than 50 years old and planted along countless small terraces supported by dry stone walls.
A beautiful addition to the award-winning Giesen Riesling family.
Feature Wines
These wines feature something a little bit out of the ordinary - a little bit extra-special. We invite you to explore these delightful wines, discover what makes them unique, and maybe even find a new favourite.
Vineyard
Mosel - Reiler Goldlay, Village of Riel
Winemaking
Handpicking ensures only perfectly ripe fruit is selected. Following harvest, the grapes were gently pressed followed by six hours maceration to ensure their full, intense flavour was retained. The wine was given a cool ferment, before being rested on lees for three months in traditional Mosel German oak Fuder 1000 litre barrels. It was bottled six months after harvest, preserving the Riesling’s fresh and fruity character.
Awards
2019
2018
2018
Reviews
"After emigrating from Germany back in the 1980s and building a hugely successful wine business here in New Zealand, the three Giesen brothers doubled back and purchased a small, terraced vineyard on the banks of Germany’s Mosel river, a place famous for turning out incredible riesling. With a face-slap of bright apple, honeysuckle, a tweak of ginger and loads of lime, it’s crunchy-fresh and has real generosity of texture thanks to 3 months’ maturation in an old, 1000L oak fuder.
2018 Vintage, Reviewed October 2021"
Yvonne Lorkin, Canvas Wine Feature
"It's seductively aromatic on the nose showing lemon sorbet, Gala apple, white floral and subtle flinty notes. The concentrated palate offers terrific fruit purity combined with refined mouthfeel and subtle sweetness, brilliantly balanced by juicy acidity, finishing impressively long and delicious. Style: Medium-dry. At its best: now to 2034.
2019 Vintage; Reviewed July 2021."
94
Sam Kim, Wine Orbit
"It's a perfectly ethereal medium-dry riesling with floral, citrus and mineral flavours flattered by gently mouth-watering acidity.
2018 Vintage"
93
Bob Campbell
"It rocks great flavours of white peach, green apples, lemon zest and finishes on a crisp, lingering note of crispness coupled with succulence. 18.5/20
2018 Vintage"
Joelle Thomson
