Philipp Wittmann was named Winemaker of the Year 2014 by the Gault Millau Wine Guide, with the judges praising him as “one of the pioneers of organic viticulture and a driving force behind quality developments” in the southern Rheinhessen. “For many years he has produced superb dry Rieslings with fascinating ageing potential,” they went on. “Almost single-handedly he elevated the Morstein site to legendary status.”
Philipp’s ancestors have been winegrowers in the old market town of Westhofen since the mid-1600s. His father Günter put the estate on an organic footing, and it’s been a member of organic farmers’ association Naturland since 1990.
Philipp then took the step to go biodynamic in 2004. He lays the foundation for wines of exceptional quality through intensive, year-round vineyard maintenance, low yields and the uncompromising selection of bunches by hand. For the most part, the wines ferment in traditional, old oak casks or stainless steel and fermentation often continues into the year following the harvest.
Already firmly established as one of Germany’s superstar producers, this young winemaker has a brilliant future ahead of him.
98 Points James Suckling
Anything but a fruit bomb, this has gigantic herbal intensity on the nose, then literally breathtaking concentration on the palate and a finish of crystalline purity – words more often used to describe the much sleeker wines from the Mosel. From biodynamically grown grapes. Respekt certified. Gigantic aging potential, but you can certainly drink it now.
94-96 Points Wine Advocate
Tasted as a barrel sample at the end of April 2018, Wittmann’s 2017 Morstein Riesling GG is deep, ripe, precise and aromatic on the nose and backed up with great and complex chalky minerality. Full-bodied, round and elegant, with lots of salty stones and vitality, this is a great Morstein that Philipp composed very strictly to keep the level of its most famous wine extremely high. The finish is piquant, pure and salty but also intense and perfectly ripe. Bottled with 12.5% alcohol. Only 6,000 bottles were produced (a loss of 50%) due to the hail at the end of August.