Sometimes, you come across wines that turn everything upside down—wines that shift your perspective and open new horizons. The 2023 vintage from Seckinger is exactly that. I was there in late January, sitting down with Jonas, tasting, discussing—until that moment hit: Wow. The Seckingers have refined their style even further—more finesse, more balance, without losing that raw, unmistakable Seckinger edge. Instead, what’s emerged is tension, precision, depth—everything on a new level. The quality of their Cru-Wines has taken another leap forward—tight, saline, complex, yet incredibly balanced. But this isn’t luck; it’s the result of years of evolution. And with their 2023 Chardonnays, they’ve made it official: a new German Chardonnay star is rising.
Max Kaindl, March 10, 2025
Reading time about 5 minutes
Seckinger 2023 –
The Fine-Tuning of a Revolution
The Seckinger Story
Three brothers, one vision: uncompromising wines with character. Jonas, Lukas, and Philipp started in 2012 with just a single hectare—a garage, an old basket press, and a potato cellar as their winery. Today, they farm 30 hectares biodynamically, with a full focus on terroir. Their wines? Precise, bone-dry, unapologetic—and now a true benchmark for the Pfalz.
The early vintages were wild, sometimes extreme. Zero grams of residual sugar, brutally high acidity—not exactly everybody’s darling. But they evolved, refined, recalibrated. Now, they’ve arrived. Their Rieslings are among the most exciting in the Pfalz, and their Chardonnays? If their trajectory continues at this pace, they’ll be among Germany’s very best in no time.
2023 is the proof: this isn’t a passing trend—it’s the beginning of a new era. The era of great German Chardonnay.
My tasting notes
Petershöhle Riesling, 2023
A Riesling that crackles with tension. Reduced, tightly wound, and packed with biting phenolics—minerality grips hard here. A dark, delicate fruit core shimmers through while a dense, saline structure digs deep into the palate. Powerful, intense, and demanding.
No easy sipper—this is a wine of razor-sharp focus.
Ölberg Riesling, 2023
Warm, dense, charming—but with structure. Bright fruit shines without overpowering, while the acidity keeps it fresh. At first, it holds back slightly, but after a short time, it fully reveals itself.
A Riesling that embraces rather than overwhelms—smooth, layered, and incredibly drinkable.
1 Tal Riesling, 2023
Spicy, profound, and with a Burgundian soul. Almost like a great Chardonnay, with subtle oak spice and fine phenolics. The density is striking, yet always elegant and structured.
A Riesling with both character and charm—one for purists and pleasure-seekers alike.
Kieselberg Riesling Wurzelecht, 2023
A Riesling on high voltage! Powerful, intensely salty, hyper-concentrated—yet simultaneously dancing and refined. The crystal-clear fruit radiates, while the vibrating acidity and immense length electrify the palate. A masterclass in balancing energy, depth, and elegance.
This is top-tier Riesling, full stop.
Langenmorgen Riesling, 2023
A Riesling of charm and depth. Spicy reduction meets delicate oak, with a warm, inviting fruit core that remains focused. Precise, yet effortlessly drinkable—striking the perfect balance between structure and elegance.
Seductive, complex, and incredibly engaging.
Kapellenberg Chardonnay, 2023
Dense, intense, aged in 100% new oak—and it wears it brilliantly. Smoky reduction, razor-sharp salinity, and seamlessly integrated wood spice. Lemon zest and bright acidity keep everything fresh and taut. Graceful yet deep.
A Chardonnay with power, class, and stunning length.
Linse Chardonnay, 2023
Pure elegance in liquid form. Fine extract, subtle oak, delicate fruit sweetness. Linear and sharply focused, with a perfectly structured texture. The length is immense, the depth impressive.
A Chardonnay for perfectionists—quiet, yet full of inner tension.
A Lasting Impression
Seckinger 2023 proves that the Pfalz is far from finished telling its story. If you thought there was nothing left to discover here, it’s time to rethink. With this vintage, they’ve made it clear: this isn’t just avant-garde—this is the future.
