Location and History
Kaulenberg is a registered single-vineyard site in Auen in the Nahe wine-growing region of Rhineland-Palatinate. The historic slope site lies on the south-facing slopes above the village. Local winegrowing looks back on a history of around six centuries.
Topography and Soils
The vineyards are situated in a well-elevated, cool side valley of the Nahe at the foot of the Soonwald. For the sites in Auen, weathered sandstone and slate are described as soils.
Grape Varieties and Wine Style
Riesling and Pinot Blanc are documented as the most important grape varieties of the Auen vineyards, including Kaulenberg. Wines from the steep slope sites are described as mineral and expressive. Riesling shows pronounced acidity and stony notes, while Pinot Blanc is associated with citrus and peach notes, along with a lingering, rounded mouthfeel.
Cultivation
The Hees winery cultivates Kaulenberg as part of its Auen steep-slope sites with low yields, extensive manual work on leaves and vines, and selective hand-harvesting. For the wines from the vineyard programme, spontaneous fermentation with natural yeasts, longer contact time on the lees, gentle interventions and a late bottling are also documented.
