The top 5 wines of 2019 were rounded out by the top-ranking white wine in the list which was also the top-ranking German wine: the Schäfer-Fröhlich Riesling Nahe Felseneck GG 2018. This ethereal riesling from vineyards in the central Nahe region in Germany is an absolute thrill, with flint and gunsmoke coming through in spades, a testament to the steep and stony site.
Superstar Tim Fröhlich has turned his family-run estate into one of Germany’s best, producing exceptional wines that capture the quality of this German terroir in full. And this was a competitive vintage.
Our tasting of more than 800 wines last year proved what high benchmarks German producers are setting these days. We discovered eight perfect 100-point wines as well as 12 99-point wines.
But it was also a hot vintage, and some producers struggled to maintain acidity and elegance. However, the best producers always seem to be able to come though, and the 2018 Schäfer-Fröhlich riesling goes to show what can happen when you combine great winemaking talent with commitment to excellence. This is a wine of great drinkability now, but with a massive amount of age-worthiness too.
Read more: Top 100 Wines of Germany 2019
