2019 Weingut Tesch Riesling Krone Nahe 750 ml

Jancis Robinson—our greatest active wine critic and a Master of Wine—called Riesling “the greatest white-wine grape in the world.” She went on to say that “German dry Riesling is one of the wine world’s undervalued treasures.”

Consider the historic Weingut Tesch. The Wine Advocate declared “Martin Tesch is one of the most interesting producers in Germany when it comes to dry, linear…Riesling classics in top quality and for affordable prices.” They described his 2019s as “more than excellent,” saying some might be “the finest he has produced.”

Tesch’s 2019 Krone single-vineyard Riesling belongs in the cellar of anyone who covets exceptional white Burgundy or Sancerre, as it’s made with more care and technique in both the vineyard and the cellar than nearly any white at the price. It hails entirely from the Laubenheimer Krone vineyard, which is ranked as an Erste Lage (aka Premier Cru) by the Nahe’s VDP, the most prestigious grower association.

Weingut Tesch was founded three centuries ago, in 1723, and has been tending vines in the heart of the Nahe region ever since, acquiring land in some of the most coveted crus of the area. The Krone vineyard is primarily weathered red sandstone, offering excellent drainage and producing a wine of exceptional purity and racy intensity. The warmth of the 2019 summer gave this wine beautiful richness on the palate, and the cool finish to the year ensured plenty of zesty acidity and crunchy verve.

It’s hard to think of a meal this wine wouldn’t improve, and we’ve enjoyed it with everything from a Little Gem salad to a char-broiled branzino stuffed with fennel, lemon, and herbs.