2024 Gunderloch Fritz’s Riesling | Outstanding Value German Riesling

Outstanding-value German Riesling from one of Rheinhessen’s great historic estates

Roter Hang pedigree for just $31 — fresh, juicy, mineral and ridiculously drinkable.

OUTSTANDING VALUE

Rheinhessen, Germany | Roter Hang | RRP $31 | 100% Riesling | Fresh • Citrusy • Mineral • Delicious

“A brilliant introduction to serious German Riesling — lime, white peach and crisp apple with beautiful acidity, a flicker of spice and the mineral signature of Rheinhessen’s famous red-slate soils.”

Tasting Notes

Appearance: Brilliant pale yellow with fresh green reflections — youthful, vibrant and pristine.

Aroma: Immediately inviting, with lime, citrus, green and red apple, white peach and ripe stone fruit, followed by delicate floral notes, spice and a touch of wet slate.

There's plenty going on here for a wine at this price.

Palate: Fresh, juicy and wonderfully energetic.

Bright lime, apple and mandarin lead the charge, followed by peach and subtle tropical fruit. Crisp natural acidity keeps everything beautifully alive, while a gentle touch of fruit sweetness rounds the edges.

Then comes the interesting bit.

That Roter Hang minerality.

There's a subtle stony, spicy and almost smoky quality running underneath the fruit that gives this far more personality than you'd expect from an entry-level Riesling.

Finish: Long, fresh and mouthwatering, with citrus, stone fruit, spice and mineral characters lingering beautifully.

This is dangerously easy to drink.

Gunderloch – One of the Great Names of Rheinhessen

This isn't some anonymous $31 German Riesling.

THIS IS GUNDERLOCH.

The estate was founded by Carl Gunderloch in 1890 in the village of Nackenheim on the Rhine.

Today it remains in the Hasselbach family, with Johannes Hasselbach representing the sixth generation.

And Gunderloch's reputation has been built around one extraordinary piece of terroir:

THE ROTER HANG.

The estate has become internationally renowned for Riesling from these remarkable steep red-soil vineyards overlooking the Rhine.

Gunderloch was also a founding member of the VDP, the association containing many of Germany's greatest wine estates.

So when you're buying Fritz's for $31, you're buying the entry point into a genuinely serious German Riesling producer.

The Roter Hang – The Famous Red Slope

The vineyard story is one of the reasons this wine punches so far above its price.

Roter Hang literally means:

“RED SLOPE.”

Stretching between Nackenheim and Nierstein, around 20 kilometres south of Mainz, it's one of Rheinhessen's most distinctive vineyard landscapes.

The steep slopes rise dramatically above the Rhine.

And the soils are immediately recognisable.

Ancient red slate and sandstone rich in iron oxide.

That iron is responsible for the extraordinary reddish colour of the hillside.

Combine those soils with:

Excellent sun exposure

Proximity to the Rhine

Steep vineyard slopes

Mineral-rich red soils

and you have an exceptional environment for Riesling.

The wines can achieve beautiful ripeness while retaining the acidity and mineral definition that make Riesling so exciting.

The Story Behind Fritz’s

There's also a lovely personal story behind the name.

Fritz's Riesling is a tribute to Fritz Hasselbach.

Fritz was one of the great personalities behind Gunderloch and a hugely respected figure in German wine.

Today, the wine is made by his son:

JOHANNES HASSELBACH.

Johannes has taken responsibility for this historic estate and continues the family's extraordinary relationship with the Roter Hang.

So Fritz's isn't simply a catchy name.

It's a tribute from one generation to another.

And it's designed as a wonderfully accessible introduction to the Gunderloch style.

2024 – Pure, Fresh & Ridiculously Drinkable

This isn't trying to be an enormous Grosses Gewächs.

It's not supposed to sit in your cellar untouched for twenty years.

It's supposed to be drunk.

And enjoyed.

The 2024 sits at approximately:

12% ALCOHOL

and is made to preserve freshness, fruit and the distinctive mineral personality of the Roter Hang.

The combination is incredibly appealing:

Lime & citrus

Crisp apple

White peach

Mandarin

Delicate florals

Subtle spice

Wet slate & mineral notes

Crisp natural acidity

There's just enough generosity through the middle to balance the acidity.

Everything is in the right place.

The Value Is Ridiculous

This is where Fritz's really shines.

Gunderloch makes some seriously prestigious Rieslings from vineyards such as:

Rothenberg

Pettenthal

Hipping

These are wines sought after by serious German Riesling drinkers.

Fritz's gives you a taste of the same producer, the same regional DNA and the character of the famous Roter Hang at:

RRP $31.

That's why this wine makes so much sense.

You don't need to understand German classifications.

You don't need a cellar.

You don't need to wait ten years.

Put it in the fridge. Open it. Drink it.

It's that simple.

Food Pairings

This is one of those incredibly versatile Rieslings that's worth keeping permanently in the fridge.

Try it with:

• Fresh oysters
• Salt and pepper squid
• Grilled prawns
• Sushi and sashimi
• Thai green curry
• Vietnamese salads
• Spicy pork
• Wiener Schnitzel
• Fish and chips
• Fresh goat's cheese

That combination of fruit, acidity and subtle sweetness also makes Riesling brilliant with chilli and spice.

Why We Love It

Because sometimes you don't need to spend $70, $100 or $150 to drink bloody good Riesling.

Look at what you're getting:

One of Rheinhessen's historic Riesling estates

100% Riesling

Roter Hang vineyard origins

Famous red-slate soils

Vineyards overlooking the Rhine

Citrus & stone fruit

Fresh natural acidity

Mineral character

12% alcohol

And then:

RRP $31.

That's outstanding value.

This is exactly the sort of wine we love finding at Liquid Vibe.

It's affordable enough to drink on a Tuesday night, but there's enough pedigree, vineyard character and quality to keep serious Riesling drinkers interested.

2024 GUNDERLOCH FRITZ’S RIESLING

Rheinhessen, Germany

RRP $31

OUTSTANDING VALUE

Historic producer.

Roter Hang fruit.

Red-slate soils.

12% alcohol.

Fresh.

Mineral.

Bloody delicious.

This is German Riesling you can buy by the dozen without having to think twice.

At $31 RRP, the 2024 Gunderloch Fritz's Riesling is one of those wines that reminds you just how much value still exists in Germany.

A serious producer. A famous terroir. An everyday price.

Load up — this is exactly the sort of Riesling that disappears frighteningly quickly once people taste it.