Geil, Riesling Trocken

This is another of the great Riesling wines from the new wave made in the dry German style. From a family farm-holding estate in the town of Bechtheim in the Rheinhessen, this is charming and then rewarding and is a super way to show Riesling as a viable alternative to other white grape varieties.

We went to this estate in 2011 and had we not gone, it's quite possible that the subsequent love for grapes and wines would have gone off the boil all together and the Allotment wouldn't have sprouted up at all. 

Just after Easter time, a small group of us went into the Geil family's small courtyard garden in the warm lunchtime sun for picnic. All the trees were still decorated with little hand-painted Easter eggs and the whole setting was just gorgeous.

Then they poured the wines... they all seemed to unforced and natural; charming and true. That was the take-home sentiment and rallying call to the intrinsic goodness possible in the wine industry and the uplifting positivity is still in The Allotment today.

That was one day from a four day trip and the other visits were just as good, honest and true. This Riesling from our first visit still stays in the mind - fresh crisp and vibrant, it was a gorgeous wine back then, it has become one of the stand-out wines of the Rheinhessen since. It is a wine we love to serve and see the reaction on people's faces "wow, I didn't know Riesling could do that!"