Sybille Kuntz
Mosel, Germany
Sybille Kuntz is one of the few German winemakers to have fully mastered her estate, capturing the essence of the Mosel with remarkable clarity and finesse. Over the past 30 years, she has gained renown for producing polished, expressive Rieslings that reflect both the terroir and the traditions of the region.
In 2011, Sybille and her husband Markus expanded their seminal dry-style Riesling range into a complete portfolio encompassing the full spectrum of traditional German viticulture, from Qualitätswein to Trockenbeerenauslese. Organic since 1990 and certified organic (“Bio-Weingut”) since 2013, Sybille works with extremely low yields from vines averaging 45 to 80 years of age. The heart of her production lies in the consecrated soils of the Niederberg-Helden vineyard in Lieser, a site certified biodynamic since 2016.
This selection represents what we consider the most exemplary expression of Sybille Kuntz’s status as a high-profile Mosel producer. The few back-vintage releases we have secured are a testament to her mastery and the exceptional quality of her wines.
We are thrilled to introduce Sybille Kuntz to our portfolio — a producer whose pristine biodynamic wines embody the new generation of Mosel producers, combining reverence for tradition with uncompromising precision and elegance..
2024 Riesling Trocken
The 2024 Mosel Riesling comes from Sybille Kuntz’s vineyards in Lieser and Kues, planted on steep slopes of 30–50% with soils of slate and a touch of quartz. Vines are up to 40 years old, farmed biodynamically with a spontaneous cover crop to maintain natural balance. Low yields are ensured through careful pruning and green harvesting, resulting in small, sun-exposed berries. Harvested mid-October at around 90° Oechsle (22.5° Baumé), the grapes are hand-picked into small crates to preserve their integrity.
Winemaking
After a few hours of skin maceration in a closed tank press to enhance aromatics, the juice is allowed to settle for 12 hours before fermentation with indigenous yeasts in stainless steel at 16–18°C. Fermentation lasts 6–8 weeks under controlled temperatures, and the wine is kept on its lees until filtration in spring. No malolactic conversion occurs, preserving freshness and purity. The wine is finished under Stelvin closure.
Tasting Notes
The 2024 Riesling is fresh and lively, with pronounced fruit, vibrant acidity, and a mineral-driven finish reflecting the slate soils of Schlossberg. Moderate alcohol and delicate residual sugar balance the wine’s texture, while the long ripening period enhances aromatic complexity.
Review
“Light, mineral nose – the sort of wine you'd crave on a hot afternoon or evening. Too light to serve with many foods but a great aperitif wine. Lots of lime flavour – super zesty!” Jancis Robsinon. 16pts
2024 Kabinett Riesling Trocken
The 2024 Mosel Riesling Kabinett comes from Sybille Kuntz’s biodynamic vineyards in the Pauls Valley, a side valley of the Mosel, now part of the single vineyard site Schlossberg in Lieser. Planted on steep slopes of 40–60% with 100% blue Devonian shale, the vines are 40–60 years old and farmed with a spontaneous cover crop to maintain ecological balance. Low yields are achieved through careful pruning and green harvesting, producing small, sun-exposed berries. Harvested mid-October at around 100° Oechsle (25° Baumé), the grapes are hand-picked into small crates to preserve their integrity.
Winemaking
After a few hours of skin maceration in a closed tank press to enhance aromatics, the juice is allowed to settle for 12 hours before fermentation with indigenous yeasts in stainless steel at 16–18°C. Fermentation lasts 6–8 weeks under controlled temperatures, and the wine is kept on its lees until filtration in spring. No malolactic conversion occurs, preserving freshness and purity. The wine is finished under Stelvin closure.
Tasting Notes
The 2024 Kabinett is expressive and lively, with pronounced fruit, vibrant acidity, and a mineral-driven finish reflecting the slate soils of Schlossberg. Moderate alcohol and delicate residual sugar balance the wine’s texture, while the long ripening period enhances aromatic complexity. The bouquet shows wildflower notes and pure biodynamic fruit.
Review
“Chock-full of a bouquet of wild flowers! A stronger-than-usual Kabinett. Pure biodynamic fruit. Really exciting! Throbs on the finish. Though not for those who seek a featherlight wine.” Jancis Robinson. 17 pts
2024 Spätlese Riesling Trocken
From the famed Niederberg-Helden vineyard, this 2024 Mosel Riesling Spätlese embodies the precision and mineral intensity that defines Sybille Kuntz’s top-tier wines. The site’s steep, shale-rich slopes capture maximum sunlight, allowing these old vines—some over 60 years—to reach full physiological ripeness. Biodynamic practices and careful canopy management produce tiny, perfectly exposed berries, harvested late in October at around 110° Oechsle (27.5° Baumé) to maximise aromatic potential and concentration.
Winemaking
After a few hours of skin maceration in a closed tank press to enhance aromatics, the juice is allowed to settle for 12 hours before fermentation with indigenous yeasts in stainless steel at 16–18°C. Fermentation lasts 6–8 weeks under controlled temperatures, and the wine is kept on its lees until filtration in spring. No malolactic conversion occurs, preserving freshness and purity. The wine is finished under cork closure.
Tasting Notes
Dry, precise, and layered, the 2024 Spätlese shows vibrant citrus and stone fruit, taut acidity, and a mineral-driven finish that speaks of the shale soils of Niederberg-Helden. Moderate alcohol and delicate residual sugar balance the wine’s structure, while the late harvest ensures rich aromatic complexity.
Review
“Tightly wound nose with lots going on underneath promising some exciting evolution. Rich start vibrates like lemon squash on the front palate and then settles down to nervy excitement on the mid palate and a nice long finish. Great tension and the build is not unlike the Muré Alsace Riesling 2022 I have just been tasting. There is admirable nerve to this wine. Very steely overall. You could drink it now but it will surely be more rewarding in the future.” Jancis Robinson. 17 pts
2019 Riesling Auslese Feinherb
The 2019 Mosel Riesling Auslese is crafted from the oldest and most prestigious parcels of the Niederberg-Helden vineyard, an Erste Lage (Grand Cru) site. Planted on steep, stony slopes, the 60–100-year-old vines are partly ungrafted and farmed biodynamically, producing tiny, concentrated berries. A spontaneous cover crop maintains ecological balance, while low yields are ensured through careful pruning, green harvesting, and manual shoot thinning. Harvested in the last week of October at around 120° Oechsle (30° Baumé), the grapes achieve full physiological ripeness, with some affected by botrytis for added richness and complexity.
Winemaking
After a few hours of skin maceration in a closed tank press to enhance aromatics, the juice is allowed to settle for 12 hours before fermentation with indigenous yeasts in stainless steel at 16–18°C. Fermentation lasts 6–8 weeks under controlled temperatures, and the wine is kept on its lees until filtration in spring. No malolactic conversion occurs, preserving freshness and vibrancy. The wine is finished under cork closure.
Tasting Notes
Off-dry and richly textured, the 2019 Auslese shows golden syrup, stone fruit, and delicate citrus notes, balanced by taut acidity and a mineral-driven finish. Moderate alcohol complements the residual sugar, creating a wine of density, elegance, and expressive aromatics.
Review
“Pale gold with green highlights. Hints of golden syrup on the nose – really rather luscious. This is surely a difficult wine to grow and make but it‘s also one of those medium-sweet wines that I find difficult to fit into my drinking schedule. Too sweet and serious to be an aperitif, and too sweet to match to many savoury foods (creamy paté?) but not sweet enough to drink with sweet food. Very admirably made but perhaps more forward than the sort of fruity wine the old guard of German wine lovers bought, aged and appreciated? Well made. I am looking a gift horse in the mouth, clearly.” Jancis Robinson. 16.5pts
2011 Riesling Trockenbeerenauslese
The 2011 Trockenbeerenauslese represents the pinnacle of the Mosel quality pyramid. Grapes are meticulously hand-selected in the Niederberg-Helden single vineyard (Erste Lage/“First Growth”), with pickers sorting only the driest, raisin-like berries directly in the vineyard. Vines were planted in the 1920s and are mostly ungrafted. Steep slopes of 70% and reflected sunlight from the Mosel River intensify grape dehydration.
Harvested at an incredible 220° Oechsle (50° Baumé), the grapes fermented slowly to 7.0% alcohol, leaving 380 g/L residual sugar. Producing 400 L of juice required viewing and sorting over one million raisins. Fermentation was challenging due to the thick, concentrated juice, finishing late in 2012. This rare Riesling embodies the exceptional concentration, aroma, and aging potential that have made Mosel wines world-renowned.
Tasting Notes
The 2011 Trockenbeerenauslese is viscous, richly textured, and intensely aromatic. Layers of ripe pineapple, dried apricot, and peach are complemented by brioche, cream, and spice. Despite its concentration and sweetness (380 g/L residual sugar), the wine maintains balance and freshness, with an almost eternal aging potential.
Review
“Viscous, buttery and rich, with a surplus of brioche, cream, ripe pineapple, dried apricot and peach flavors that are balanced and fresh. Quite voluptuous, featuring a luscious finish filled with ginger and spice. Drink now through 2045.”
Wine Spectator, 93pts
”Orangey gold – looks quite unctuous. Wonderfully pure botrytis. Crystallised apricots. Sweet and lots of acidity and a bit of sulphur. But it's all set for a great future. Brava!” Jancis Robinson. 18pts