Philipp Wittmann (responsible for the cellar and exports) and his father, Günther (vineyards), and mother, Elisabeth (sales), have built a fantastic winery in Westhofen, Rheinhessen. Since 1990, they have been operating organically, and later biodynamically. The guiding principle for their wines is therefore: terroir expression through healthy soil. A low yield per hectare, hand-selection of the best grapes, and very slow vinification with natural yeasts without the addition of sulfites in large wooden vats do the rest. The house is "the benchmark" for Rheinhessen and has become a benchmark for German white wines in general. This is evident from the enormous number of international awards their wines have received, both high and low. For example, Philipp has twice been named Germany's best white winemaker by the prestigious Eichelmann winery: in 2003 and 2013. In 2014, he received the same title from Gault Millau. Philipp is married to Eva Clüsserath who owns her own wine estate in the Mosel and that is where this Ansgar-Clüsserath Trittenheimer Apotheke comes from. The grapes grow in the Trittenheimer Apotheke vineyard, an extremely steep vineyard nestled in a sharp bend in the Mosel River. The soil consists of blue, weathered slate on a stony subsoil. This slate warms up during the day and radiates heat to the vines at night. This allows the grapes to ripen slowly and evenly, maintaining a good balance of ripeness, delicate acidity, and minerality. The vines must penetrate deep into the soil to find water and nutrients. This unique soil gives the wine a distinctive, almost saline minerality. Some of the vines are over 100 years old. The grapes are harvested later than those for Riesling Kabinett, making them riper and higher in sugar. During harvest, the grapes are hand-selected, followed by a gentle pressing. The juice is fermented in large, traditional vats. A few months of lye aging gives the wine a round, creamy texture, beautifully balanced with a fresh minerality. The nose reveals primarily ripe fruit (peach, apricot), lovely floral notes, spice, and a mineral touch. On the palate, a beautiful interplay of (fruity) sweetness and acidity, along with a delightfully palatable alcohol. The finish is long and elegant, with a distinct minerality. A wine with great aging potential