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Schloss Saarstein Riesling Schloss Saarsteiner Kabinett Saar 2021

VDP.Grosse Lage / 100% Riesling / sustainable farming / 8% alc. / 48 g/L RS / 10 g/L acidity

I come across this producer infrequently in the US, so I was happy to find a couple of bottles in a Las Vegas wine shop. Pure coincidence that I had just mentioned the estate in my previous post on the Saar. A pungent hit of green herbs, singed orange peel, flint, and ripe peach on the nose. Very lively and pure on the palate with an almost creamy texture with lingering sweet-tart peach, green apple, and guava on the palate. Wonderful Kabinett with a very Saar nose and palate. ***+

#germany #notizbuch #2021 #riesling #mosel #saar #***

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Mosel: Saar

“The wine for before sport, during sport, after sport” - Martin Foradori, Dr. Fischer

"Saar" stems from the Celtic word Sara (streaming water), and that's what it is: a shallow river that rises from the Vosges and flows northward from France to Germany, where the Saar empties into the Mosel at Konz. It's the last 12 kilometers of the Mosel's largest tributary, where you'll find a series of steep, south-facing vineyards that read like a Grand-award winning wine list: Saarburger Rausch, Ayler Kupp, Kanzemer Altenberg, and, of the most famous of them all, Scharzhofberg.

In his classic book, The Wines of Germany, Frank Schoonmaker wrote of Saar wines, "There is a combination of qualities that I can best describe as indescribable." Saar wines taste distinctly different from the Middle Mosel due to their elevation, proximity to the Hunsrück mountains, and cooler climate. The wines are generally lighter, intensely aromatic, and often come with piercing acidity.

Like the rest of the Mosel, Riesling is a dominant variety, and Devonian slate characterizes all the best vineyards. There are pockets of volcanic diabase, most famously at Saarburger Rausch, and reddish iron layers of Rotliegiend in several sites, including the Scharzhofberg and Kanzemer Altenberg. For a survey of Saar's top vineyard sites, I recommend the VDP's online tool: VDP.Vineyard.Online, which identifies the vineyards classified as VDP.Grosse Lage, aka, the grand crus.

Starting way upriver in Serrig, the monopole site of Schloss Saarstein is the Serriger Schloss Saarstein. Greywacke soil with slate, this steep vineyard overlooking the Saar climbs to 220 meters of elevation, and the wines have accentuated acidity and long-aging potential. The next village of Saarburg is home to the Saarburger Rausch, a well-protected vineyard facing the charming town of Saarburg. Devonian slate with volcanic basalt, known as diabase, gives these wines a distinct character. Forstmeister Geltz-Zilliken and Dr. Wagner are the producers to know here.

In Ockfen is the famous amphitheater-shaped Ockfener Bockstein, a classic Saar site of Devonian slate cultivated since Roman times; Bockstein is capable of some of the Saar's finest wines. The Bockstein has many owners, and Von Othegraven makes outstanding wines here. The Ayler Kupp is a 50-hectare hillside of several historic parcels, bottled separately by Peter Lauer: Unterstenberg, Stirn, Kern, and Neuenberg.

At this point in our journey towards the Mosel, the Saar appears to split due to a manufactured canal between Biebelhausen and Hamm, creating an artificial island in arguably the filet section of the Saar. Here, perched above the Saar, is the impressive Van Volxem winery, with holdings of several VDP.Grosse Lage sites throughout the Saar Valley. Wawern lies in a side valley to the west where Van Volxem has holdings in Ritterpfad and Goldberg. It's also where you'll find Von Othegraven's monopole: Großer Herrenberg.

Skipping to the other side of the island, we've now arrived at Scharzhofberg, an Orsteil belonging to the village of Wiltigen and Germany's most famous vineyard. While several excellent VDP estates like Von Hövel, von Kesselstatt, and Van Volxem have holdings here, Scharzhofberg links directly to Egon Müller. Weathered slate with high iron content, good aeration, and perfect exposure, the Egon Müller Scharzhofberg gives legendary wines with incredible longevity and jaw-dropping prices at auction.

Flowing downstream, the final bends in the river give us the spectacularly steep Gottesfuß (Van Volxem, von Kesselstatt), Braune Kupp (Le Gallais/Egon Müller), Wiltigen Kupp (Von Othegraven), and last but not least the Kanzemer Altenberg. The Altenberg, "as steep as the Matterhorn," as Von Othegraven's owner Günther Jauch likes to say, is an exceptional site with iron-laden sections of weathered Devonian slate.

#germany #mosel #saar

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Weingut Von Othegraven Riesling Kupp Kabinett 2021

VDP.Grosse Lage / 100% Riesling / certified sustainable Fair'n Green / 8% alc. / 50 g/L RS / 10 g/L acidity

The Wiltingen Kupp is classified as Grosse Lage (grand cru) by the VDP and has several famous owners, including Weingut Von Othegraven. Weathered Devonian slate on a very steep 50 to 50 percent gradient. The Kupp forms an amphitheater with Braune Kupp next to it. Spontaneous fermentation. There is an herbal aroma and lots of upfront and forward fruit. Sven says this is typical of Kupp, “more mainstream, opens up faster than the other crus.” Outstanding. ***++

Imported by: Veritable Wines & Estates Miami, FL

download / von othegraven / riesling / saar / 2021

#germany #2021 #riesling #saar #mosel #*** #notizbuch

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Weingut Von Othegraven Riesling Großer Herrenberger Kabinett 2022

VDP.Grosse Lage / 100% Riesling / certified sustainable Fair'n Green / xx% alc. / xx g/L RS / xx g/L acidity

The 3.67-hectare Herrenberger is classified as Grosse Lage (grand cru) by the VDP and is a rare monopole of von Othegraven. The oldest vines are in the filet section called the “Großer Herrenberg." Herrenberger is located in a side valley of the Saar above the village Wawern with Devonian slate and water retaining loam. The site features a south-facing 40% gradient, and Wawern has the highest number of sunshine hours on the Saar. The resulting wine made by spontaneous fermentation is a ripe and intense Saar Kabinett with the herbal delicacy typical of the Saar backed by concentrated green apple and white peach fruit. ****

Imported by: Veritable Wines & Estates Miami, FL

download / von othegraven / riesling / saar / 2022

#germany #notizbuch #2022 #riesling #mosel #****

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Ress Family Winery WHITE RABBIT Riesling Rhein 2022

Landwein Rhein / 100% Riesling / xx% alc. / xx g/L RS / xx g/L acidity

“Follow the White Rabbit to a wonderland of…Riesling!” WHITE RABBIT Riesling comes from growers in the Rheinhessen and is made with a “Kabinett-level” of sweetness. Zippy acidity keeps this wine lively with ripe apple, peach, and floral aromas and flavors. A lingering and satisfying taste of ginger and lemongrass on the finish makes this an ideal choice for Vietnamese or Thai cuisine. **

Imported by: Veritable Wines & Estates Miami, FL

download / ress family winery / riesling / landwein / 2022

#germany #notizbuch #2022 #riesling #**

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Weingut Heitlinger Pinot Gris Baden 2022

VDP.Gutswein / 100% Pinot Gris / certified organic / 12/5% alc. / 3.2 g/L RS / 6.2 g/L acidity

Vinified entirely in stainless steel tanks. Pinot Gris (aka Gruburgunder) represents just 6.5% of total plantings in Germany but 14% of the area under vine in Baden and is ideally suited to the Burgundian-like terroir of the Kraichgau. Pinot Gris' reddish skin sometimes lends a copper tone to the wine's color, especially when a brief maceration on the skin is employed before fermentation. After sorting, this Pinot Gris spent 24 hours in contact with the skin. Straw yellow in the glass with a faint copper hue, the nose shows ripe tree, stone fruit, and notes of spice. Rounded and full on the palate with balancing juicy acidity. ***

Imported by: Veritable Wines & Estates Miami, FL

download / heitlinger / grauburgunder / baden / 2022

#germany #notizbuch #baden #grauburgunder #2022 #***

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Saale-Unstrut: Viticulture on the Edge

Die Weinstraße Saale-Unstrut

Hectares under vine: 798 hectares Climate: continental with cold winters, hot summers, and strong temperature fluctuations between day and night. Soils: weathered shell-limestone, colored sandstone, loess, loam, and marine bituminous marl (Kupferschiefer) Varieties: Grape varieties 2019 (white 74.7%, red 25.3%):  Müller-Thurgau (15.2%), Pinot Blanc (13.7%), Riesling (8.9%), Dornfelder (6.8%), Bacchus (6.4%), Silvaner (6.1%) Bereiche:(3)  Neuenburg, Thueringen, and Naumberg Einzellagen: (34) including Freyburger Edelacker

Saale-Unstrut lies at the 51st parallel and is the northernmost wine region in Germany. Like its east German neighbor Sachsen, the peak of viticulture in Saale-Unstur occurred in the 16th century with 10,000 hectares before the Thirty Years' War. The area under vine ebbed and flowed over the centuries with wars, annexations, and tariffs, coming to a head at the end of the 19th century with blights of mildew and, ultimately, phylloxera in 1887. By 1919, only 100 hectares of vineyard remained in Saale-Unstrut. 

After the two World Wars and the founding of the Deutsche Democratische Republik (DDR), winegrowing in the Saale and Unstrut valleys fell behind the regions of western Germany. Quality plant material and modern equipment were difficult to acquire, and cooperatives produced most of the wine. Growers with small holdings could continue to make wine for personal consumption and were able to sell a few bottles to the local population, a rare source of wealth for those lucky enough to own a few rows of vines. After reunification, some hobby vintners became full-time winegrowers, and much redevelopment, investment, and expertise reinvigorated the region. 

The Rotkäppchen Sektkellerei, which became Rotkäppchen-Mumm in 2002, is a massive facility in Freyburg producing a mind-boggling 330,000 million bottles of sparkling wine yearly. It is one of the few former state-owned companies in the DDR that survived the reorganizational period of eastern Germany during the early 1990s and is a thriving enterprise today. Other cooperative cellars remain essential, but small producers lead the quality charge in Saale-Unstrut today. In 2023, the region has three VDP member estates: Pawis, Böhme & Töchter, and Weingut Hey, each producing an outstanding range. 

Vines grow mainly on south-facing terraces facing the two rivers that give the region its name: the Saale and the Unstrut. Deep frosts in winter or late spring are common, so viticulture is only possible in protected locations. With around 500 mm of precipitation annually, the region is one of the driest in Germany. It receives about 1,600 sunshine hours a year. Yields are naturally low at around 50 hl/ha. Most vineyards are in Saxony-Anhalt, with a smattering of vines in Thuringia and a mere five hectares in Brandenburg. With 798 hectares of vines, Saale-Unstrut is Germany’s fifth smallest wine region, larger than the Ahr but significantly smaller than the Rheingau. 

To counter the challenging climatic conditions, growers experiment with many different vinifera, crossings, and PiWi varieties. Around 30 grape varieties are used today, with Müller-Thurgau as the most planted variety with 15% of the total vineyard area. The mere mention of Müller-Thurgau will make some in the American wine trade roll their eyes, but I have yet to taste a better Müller-Thurgau from Germany than that produced by VDP Weingut Pawis in Saale-Unstrut, a wine of lean but ripe fruit and mineral depth with lovely aromatic precision. That’s how I’d describe many of today’s best Saale-Unstrut wines, whether from Weissburgunder, Riesling, Bacchus, or Silvaner. 

Pawis is one of the wineries with holdings in the Freyburger Edelacker, a terraced and south-facing site with weathered Fossil-limestone and loess. This historic terraced site has been cultivated since the Middle Ages, and engravings from centuries of farmers are etched into the terrace walls. Edelacker is classified as a Grosse Lage in the VDP’s vineyard classification. Other well-known sites are the Karsdorf Hohe Gräte, a monopole of Lützkendorf, and Gosecker Decantenberg, a 3.5-hectare monopole of the historic Kloster Pforta with pure red sandstone and walled terraces.

#germany #saaleunstrut

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Mittelrhein: Romance on the Rhine

Taking in the view from Bopparder Hamm

Hectares under vine: 468 (2019) Climate: sunny, sheltered from the wind, and ripening aided by the Rhein Soils: slate, greywacke, quartzite Varieties: [white 84.8%, red 15.2%]: Riesling (65%), Müller-Thurgau (4.9%), Spätburgunder (10%)  Berieche: Loreley, Siebengebirge Einzellagen: 111, including Bacharacher Hahn, Bopparder Hamm (a collective site) including Mandelstein, Feuerlay, Ohlenberg, and Engelstein

From an American perspective, Mittelrhein is one of the lesser-known of Germany’s 13 Weinanbaugebeite, but as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2003, perhaps we know it better as a tourist destination. For many day travelers from Bonn and elsewhere in Europe, Mittelrhein means leisure. For decades, it seemed, the only Mittelrhein producer you might encounter in the US is the excellent VDP estate Toni Jost, and I’m guessing very few in the US wine trade take their foot off the gas between Rheingau and Mosel appointments. But this 100-kilometer drive along the Rhine, with vineyards starting opposite Assmanshausen and ending at the outskirts of Bonn, will take you through one of Germany’s most picturesque and romantic places, complete with fairytale stories and medieval castles. 

Don’t let the extended distance from the first vineyard to the last give the wrong impression. Mittelrhein is the second smallest of Germany’s thirteen wine regions, with just 468 hectares. Part of its charm is how narrow and steep the valley is at this point on the Rhine. The famous rock cliffs you’ll pass—the Mittelrhein is the home to the Lorelei rock and legends surrounding it—and the irresistible pull of its attractive villages make it a tourist magnet. This landscape also makes strenuous demands of its winegrowers, who work almost exclusively by hand on terraced steep slopes of barren Devonian slate and quartzite soils on both sides of the Rhine. 

These are the rugged conditions in which Riesling thrives, and Riesling is the Mittelrhein’s most planted grape variety, followed by Müller-Thurgau and Spätburgunder. Riesling on slate and generally higher acidities make for natural comparisons to Mosel wines, and you’ll still find plenty of off-dry styles in this region. Steep vineyards in a northerly climate mean high labor costs, and herein lies the Mittelrhein’s greatest challenge: obtaining realistic prices. Compounding the issue is that thirsty tourists who’ve come more for the scenery are not necessarily looking to spend top dollar at the village tavern for a 750 ML of Jost Bacharacher Hahn GG. 

The market for local wines remains steady, but as of 2023, three additional Mittelrhein estates join Toni Jost in the export-minded VDP: Lanius-Knab, Ratzenberger, and Matthias Müller. During a recent visit to Weingut Matthias Müller, the top wines tasted from this estate were the dry GG Rieslings from Bopparder Hamm (Mandelstein, Feuerlay, and Engelstein). From what I can discern, Mittelrhein remains a source of quality Prädikatswein, as shown by Weingut Volk and Weinhaus Heilig Grab tasted during the same tour of the region. These producers focus on Bopparder Hamm, a 90-hectare collective site with grey and blue Devonian slate soils from a wall of steep south-facing vineyards. 

Opposite the final Rheingau village of Lorchhausen is the famous town of Bacharach, with a collection of steep, south-facing sites like Posten, Wolfshöle, and Hahn. Bacharacher Hahn is close to the Lorelei and a near monopole of Toni Jost. Its south-, southeast-facing, 55-68% steep slope consists of weathered Devonian slate and is one of the classic sites of the Mittelrhein. Boppard and Bacharach lie within the Bereich of Lorelei in the federal state of Rhineland-Palatinate, as do other key Mittelrhein villages like Kaub, Oberwesel, and Sankt Goar. Way downstream is Königwinter on the outskirts of Bonn. Here, you’ll find the tiny 20-hectare Bereich of Siebengebirge, the final stretch of the Mittelrhein located in the federal state of North Rhine-Westphalia featuring mainly loam, loess, and Greywacke soils.

#germany #mittelrhein

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Weingut Schwedhelm Riesling Zeller Schwarzer Herrgott Pfalz 2021

Lagenwein / 100% Riesling / organic (without certification) / 12.5% alc. / xx g/L RS / xx g/L acidity

Schwedhelm owns the filet piece of the historic grand cru Schwarzer Herrgott in Zell. The English Monk Philipp and his brothers produced wine for the Eucharist here as early as the year 700. The name stems from a huge black crucifix that can be seen from a distance. The 9-hectare, south-facing site sits on a limestone plateau with rocky, pale porous limestone with layers of marl. Classified as Gosse Lage by the VDP, Schwarzer Herrgott is well-protected and dry during the summer months. 40-year-old vines and vinified half in Stückfass and half in stainless steel tanks. Dark and smoky fruit profile with significant grip and structure, "you almost feel like you have to chew it," says Stephan Schwedhelm. Dense, powerful, and structured. An outstanding trocken Riesling from northern Pfalz. ****

Imported by: Veritable Wines & Estates Miami, FL

download / schwedhelm / riesling / pfalz / 2021

#germany #notizbuch #2021 #riesling #pfalz #****

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Strauch Sektmanufaktur Sekt Riesling Vieilles Vignes Extra Brut Rheinhessen NV

Deutscher Sekt / 100% Riesling / 12% alc. / xx g/L RS / xx g/L acidity

Estate-grown, organically-farmed Winzersekt produced in the traditional method from 40-year-old vines and 40 months on the lees. Champagne and indeed most traditional-method sparkling produced around the world tend to focus on Chapenoise varieties like Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. The thing that Germany is uniquely positioned to do is to produce fine traditional method sparkling from Rielsing, a variety with inherent fresh acidity crucial for high-quality bubbles. Riesling's aromatic compounds (monoterpenes), give this wine its fragrant and floral nose, yet with concentrated fruit, minerals, and energetic acidity on the palate. My personal favorite wine from the Strauch Sekt collection. Green apple, sea salt, apple blossom, bone dry. Superb quality ***++

Imported by: Veritable Wines & Estates Miami, FL

download / strauch / riesling / rheinhessen / NV

#germany #notizbuch #riesling #rheinhessen #sekt #***

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Weingut Thörle Spätburgunder Saulheimer Hölle Rheinhessen 2020

Lagenwein / 100% Spätburgunder / certified organic / 13% alc. / xx g/L RS / xx g/L acidity

Hölle is a south-facing slope between two ranges of hills in the west of Saulheim. The vines grow at an altitude of 150m to 230m above sea level. The location warms up extremely quickly and is characterized by its wind-protected climate. The soil of Saulheim's prime location, Hölle, features the highest active limestone content of the estate. Fertile loess layer have been completely washed away by erosion. Calcareous clay, calcareous marl with iron oxides, limestone gravel and sea sand are exposed on the surface. Due to the special microclimate and the barren clay-limestone soil, Pinot Noir is opulent but with precise acidity and enormous minerality from the limestone soil. Part old German Spätburgunder clone, part 777 Dijon. 40% new French barrique. Just 1800-2000 bottles are produced each year. ****+

Imported by: Veritable Wines & Estates Miami, FL

download / thörle / spätburgunder / rheinhessen / 2020

Staurt Pigott (JamesSuckling.com), vintage 2020: 96 points What an incredibly complex nose this has. The cardamon and clove aromas at first are very intense, but then the extravagant mulberry and amarena cherry aromas power through. Enormously structured with a ton of licorice character. So concentrated, but the freshness is remarkable. Built for the long term and will probably develop positively for decades. From organically grown grapes. Drink or hold.

Stephan Reinhardt (Robert Parker's Wine Advocate), 2020 vintage: 92-93 points From vines up to 44 years old, the 2020 Saulheimer Hölle Spätburgunder opens with a deep, intense and darker-toned bouquet of black berries, blackcurrant, black cherries and very fine toast and also saline notes. Aged for 18 months in 40% new and 60% used French barriques, this is a full-bodied, intense and silky-textured Pinot with fine tannins and crystalline acidity. The finish is warm, intense and fruity yet still firm and straight, leaving the palate with salivating tannins and fine bitters. A promising, very good Pinot Noir indeed. Tasted as a sample just before bottling in August 2022.

#germany #notizbuch #2020 #rheinhessen #spaetburgunder #****

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Weingut Thörle Spätburgunder Saulheimer Probstey Rheinhessen 2020

Lagenwein / 100% Spätburgunder / certified organic / 13% alc. / xx g/L RS / xx g/L acidity

Probstey (a site owned by the catholic church in the middle ages) orients to the south, with gradients of up to 25% at lower altitude. The soil is characterized by clay marl and limestone with loess and yellow sand in some sections and bareen limestone in the fillet section of the 27.3 hectare site, the deep loess soil has been washed away by erosion over millions of years. It's the hottest single vineyard in the collection and a very demanding soil for the old vines Spätburgunder vines planted here. Probstey produces voluminous and wines with extraordinary length. ****++

Imported by: Veritable Wines & Estates Miami, FL

download / thörle / spätburgunder / rheinhessen / 2020

Stuart Pigott (JamesSuckling.com), Jahrgang 2020: 97 Points Enveloping nose of black raspberry and amarena cherry with a slew of subtle spicy notes. Enormous concentration and energy, but also great super-fine tannins that almost perfectly underline this brilliance. Staggering freshness at the super-long and clean finish that must be tasted to be believed. From organically grown grapes. Drink or hold.

Stephan Reinhardt (Robert Parker´s Wine Advocate), Jahrgang 2020: 93-94 Points From clayey marl, limestone and sandy soils of a south-facing, gently rising vineyard, the 2020 Saulheimer Probstey Spätburgunder opens with a deep, intense and spicy as well as refined and beautifully pure bouquet of dark fruits that are well interwoven with toasty and saline nuances. The generosity of the nose is reflected on the palate, which is full-bodied, rich and lush. This is a very elegant and refined Pinot Noir with fine, mineral acidity intermingled with delicate, crunchy tannins. The finish is long and intense, finely saline and beautifully balanced. Next to the Silvaner, this is another top wine from this less-well-known cru. Tasted as a sample shortly before bottling in August 2022. Bone dry.

#germany #notizbuch #2020 #spaetburgunder #rheinhessen #****

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Weingut Schwedhelm Riesling Pfalz 2022

Gutswein / 100% Riesling / organic (without certification) / 12% alc. / xx g/L RS / xx g/L acidity

From young estate vineyards (less than 15 years) in Zellertal, vinified and aged in stainless steel tanks. Steely and limestone-influenced with a distinctive salty minerality on the nose. The palate tastes of salted yellow peach, fully ripe, with a zing of acidity carrying the finish. A perfect example of the Zellertal terroir and Schwedhelm style. ***

Imported by: Veritable Wines & Estates Miami, FL

download / schwedhelm / riesling / pfalz / 2022

#germany #notizbuch #2022 #riesling #pfalz #***

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Weingut Von Othegraven Riesling “Max” trocken Saar 2021

VDP.Gutswein / 100% Riesling / 11.5% alc. / xx g/L RS / xx g/L acidity

Günther Jauch’s grandmother was born von Othegraven, and her brother Max took over the estate in 1925. Max is always the dry estate Riesling from the slopes of Herrenberg, Altenberg, and Bockstein (all classified as Grosse Lage (grand cru) in the VDP's vineyard classification). Spontaneous fermentation then aged part in 1,300 L barrel and part in stainless steel tanks. After leaving the 2020 on the lees for a full 14 months before bottling (due to pandemic-related capsule shortages), Sven Klinger took the decision to wait longer on the lees before bottling future vintages of Max; the wine is that much better! Ripe apple, white peach, savory herbs, and apple blossom on the nose. Savory and salty palate impression with a lingering herbal quality on the palate. ***++

Imported by: Veritable Wines & Estates Miami, FL

download / von othegraven / riesling / saar / 2021

#germany #notizbuch #2021 #riesling #mosel #saar #***

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Weingut Eckehart Gröhl Spätburgunder Rheinhessen 2021

Gutswein / 100% Spätburgunder / organic (in conversion) / 12% alc. / xx g/L RS / xx g/L acidity

Hand-harvested, young vines in Dahlheim, some in Weinolsheim, mostly from loess and clay soils, completely destemmed, no new oak barrels, the normal barrel for this wine is Stückfäss (bought by Johannes’ grandfather). Johannes’s first full vintage was in 2020 and likes to say, “half of my heart is for Riesling, half of my heart is for Pinot Noir.” The winery produces 30% red wine today. Wild blackberries, forest floor, licorice. ***

Imported by: Veritable Wines & Estates Miami, FL

download / gröhl / spätburgunder / rheinhessen / 2021

#germany #2021 #spaetburgunder #rheinhessen #*** #notizbuch

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Weingut Eckehart Gröhl Riesling Niersteiner Ölberg Rheinhessen 2021

Lagenwein / 100% Riesling / organic (in conversion) / 12.5% alc. / 4.7 g/L RS / 7.6 g/L acidity

Ölberg is a south-facing site, next to Hipping. Classic Roter Hang (Rotliegend) red soil. Johannes notes that “there is always wind at the top of this site.” Vinified in half Stückfass, half stainless steel tank. Compact aromas on the nose of grilled peach, smoke, and gunflint with superb length and layered finish. “Ölberg is always calm, not stressed on the palate,” says Johannes Gröhl who spent time honing skills as a Riesling and Spätburgunder specialist at Weingüter Rings and Philipp Kuhn in the Pfalz, and Matthias Knebel in the Terrassenmosel. It is presumed that the Ölberg (Oil Mountain) was named for the oily texture of its wines. ****

Imported by: Veritable Wines & Estates Miami, FL

download / gröhl / riesling / rheinhessen / 2021

#germany #notizbuch #riesling #rheinhessen #2021 #****

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Weingut Thörle Spätburgunder Rheinhessen 2020

Gutswein / 100% Spätburgunder / certified organic / 13.5% alc. / xx g/L RS / xx g/L acidity

From estate grown young organic vineyards around Saulheim. The soils are characterized by limestone sediments and loess-loam overlays. Harvesting is done by hand. Spontaneous fermentation, aged 100% in traditional French barriques for 22 months. Bottled unfiltered. Wild aromas and intense dark fruit on the nose. On the palate, hints of herbaceous mint, tarragon, and smoke, fleshy and ripe but with freshness and well-integrated tannins. ***+

Imported by: Veritable Wines & Estates Miami, FL

download / thörle / spätburgunder / rheinhessen / 2020

#germany #notizbuch #2020 #rheinhessen #spaetburgunder #***