"From younger vines in the Astheimer Karthäuser and cultivated on shallow, stony Muschelkalk soils, the 2022 Chardonnay Astheimer opens with a clear, intense and reductive, very mineral, burnt and chalky nose that represents not just superb terroir but also an impressive class of wine for a moderate price. Straight and fresh yet also refined and very elegant on the palate, this is a lush and beautifully balanced Chardonnay with savory lemon notes. The wine was aged on the gross lees for 18 months, of which 12 months were in small, mostly aged French barrels, whereas the final assemblage with all the lees was aged for another six months in stainless steel. This is a beautifully clear, pure and elegant Chardonnay of great class and style. The finish is fresh and stimulatingly salty, and the balance is out of this world. 12.5% stated alcohol. Natural cork. Tasted at the domaine in April 2024, one day after bottling." (Stephan Reinhardt in Robert Parker's Wine Advocate)
