schiller-wine

Pictures: Tour and tasting at Château Clos Fourtet, Appellation Saint-Emilion, Premier Grand Cru Classé B - Bordeaux Tour 2018 by ombiasy WineTours, France

The history of Château Clos Fourtet goes back as far as the Middle Ages, some even say to Roman times. A defensive settlement was built to protect the town of Saint-Emilion and at the site of Clos Fourtet a military camp was constructed. From the 17th to the 19th century what is now Clos Fourtet was known as Campfourtet. The first vines were planted in the 17th century. The estate changed hands several times.

Picture: Panos Kakaviatos, Chef Jörg Döpfner, Harry H. Hochheimer, Matthieu Cuvelier of Château Clos Fourtet, Annette Schiller and Didier Cuvelier of Château Leoville Poyferre in Frankfurt, Germany, a few Years ago

In 2001 it was purchased by Philippe Cuvelier, a wealthy businessman from Paris. Today his son Matthieu Cuvelier is running the estate. He hired Stéphane Derenoncourt as oenological consultant. Stéphane Drenoncourt is also consultant at Boxwood winery in Middleburg, Virginia. Château Clos Fourtet is located at the entrance of Saint-Emilion and the vineyards are just outside of town starting on the limestone plateau, on which Saint-Emilion sits, and slope down to the plains of clay to the west. The 20 hectares of vineyards are planted with 85% Merlot, 10% Cabernet-Sauvignon, and 5% Cabernet-Franc.

Pictures: Arriving

A Jewel of Saint-Emilion

For centuries, the ancient ‘Camp Fortet’ (small fort) with its modest profile has overlooked the historic town of Saint-Émilion, peacefully surveying it in times of prosperity, protecting it in times of war. The 20-hectare vineyard forms a single plot, planted upon the highest slopes of Western Saint-Émilion. Constructed from the very rock upon which it stands, the chateau and its surrounding wall (hence ‘clos’) are intimate and unassuming. Ever since the beginning of the classification in 1956, Clos Fourtet has been a member of the elite ‘Premiers Grands Crus Classés’ of Saint-Émilion.

The Expression of Great Terroir

The vineyard is situated upon the summit of Saint-Émilion, where limestone soils offer superb drainage. This predominance of limestone brings inimitable freshness to the wines, with minerality and delicate tannins. The result is wines with a strong identity that is dear to passionate enthusiasts who talk of a ‘Clos Fourtet style’. We work gently, at one with the nature that surrounds us, to support and nurture our soils.

Pictures: In the Vineyard

Unique, Natural Caves

A cavernous 13-hectare underground cave network weaves far and wide beneath the vineyards of Clos Fourtet, with a mysterious, elusive history of its own. Dark and sombre, still and untarnished, the vastness of this limestone enclave is hidden 6 to 12 metres below the earth. A natural cellar, it is as functional as it is aesthetic. This sanctuary breathes pure air, which circulates to create an exceptional natural climate for the 250 barrels and 100,000 bottles that rest beneath the earth.

Pictures: In the Caves

The Wines of Clos Fourtet

The wines of Clos Fourtet, Premier Grand Cru Classé, embody the finest of Saint-Émilion. Smooth, intriguing and seductive, their pure natural aromas are delicately woven together in a charming display of the unparalleled potential of our terroir.

Pictures: In the Cellar

Tasting the 2015 Clos Fourtet

wine-searcher average price in US$: 125

Parker : 94+ / 100
R. Gabriel : 18 / 20

Wine Advocate-Parker : Medium to deep garnet-purple colored, the 2015 Clos Fourtet has lifted menthol notes on the nose over a core of chocolate-covered cherries, dried mulberries, baked plums and potpourri plus a touch of cloves. Medium-bodied and very firm with lovely ripe, fine-grained tannins and plenty of freshness, it finishes long and perfumed.

Pictures: Tasting

Bye-bye

Picture: Bye-bye

Evening

The evening was free to enjoy Saint-Emilion. There are many wine shops, restaurants, wine bars, and a wonderful “maison du vin” to visit.

Pictures: Saint-Emilion

After touring the village, we ended up at the bar of Chai Pascal for dinner.

Pictures: Dinner at Chai Pascal

Total Immersion in Bordeaux: World Class Wines and Exquisite French Gourmet Cuisine - Bordeaux Tour 2018 by ombiasy WineTours, France (Published and Forthcoming Postings)

Total Immersion in Bordeaux: World Class Wines and Exquisite French Gourmet Cuisine - Bordeaux Tour 2018 by ombiasy WineTours, France

Total Immersion in Bordeaux: World Class Wines and Exquisite French Gourmet Cuisine - Bordeaux Tour 2017 by ombiasy WineTours, France

Bordeaux Tour by ombiasy WineTours 2016, France

Bordeaux Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2015), France

Bordeaux Wine Tour 2013 by ombiasy

Bordeaux Wines and their Classifications: The Basics

Tour and Tasting at Château La Mission Haut-Brion, Appellation Pessac-Léognan, Cru Classé de Grave - Bordeaux Tour 2017 by ombiasy WineTours, France

Dinner with a View: At Restaurant L’Estacade in Bordeaux City - Bordeaux Tour by ombiasy WineTours 2016, France

Schiller’s Favorite Wine Bars in Bordeaux City - An Update

Schiller’s Favorite Seafood Places in Bordeaux City, France - An Update

Bordeaux - En Primeur, Negociants, Courtiers, the Quai de Chartons and the Place de Bordeaux– A Short Introduction

How Does the Negociant System in Bordeaux Work? Tour and Tasting at Millésima - Bordeaux Tour by ombiasy WineTours 2016, France

Tour and Tasting at Château Mondésir Gazin, Blaye Côtes de Bordeaux, Côtes de Bourg, with Owner/ Winemaker Marc Pasquet - Bordeaux Tour 2018 by ombiasy WineTours, France

Lunch at Restaurant La Terrasse Rouge, Château La Dominique, Appellation Saimt-Emilion, Grand Cru Classé - Bordeaux Tour 2018 by ombiasy WineTours, France

Tour and tasting at Château Fourtet, Appellation Saint-Emilion, Premier Grand Cru Classé B.

Saint Emilion Wines and their Classification, Bordeaux, France

Schiller’s Favorite Wine Bars in St. Emilion, France

Bio in Bordeaux: Cellar Tour, Vineyard Tour and Winepairing Lunch at Chateau Beauséjour and Château Langais, AOC Puisseguin-St.Emilion, with Owner/ Winemaker Gérard Dupuy - Bordeaux Tour 2017 by ombiasy WineTours

Tour and tasting at Château La Conseillante, Appellation Pomerol, with General Manager/ Winemaker Marielle Cazaux

Tour and Tasting at Château La Conseillante, Appellation Pomerol, with GM/ Winemaker Marielle Cazaux - Bordeaux Tour 2017 by ombiasy WineTours

Tour and Lunch at Château Le Bon Pasteur, Appellation Pomerol, with Dany Rolland and General Manager/ Winemaker Benoît Prevot

Tour with Dany Rolland: Château Le Bon Pasteur in Pomerol– Bordeaux Tour 2016 by ombiasy WineTours

Lunch at Château Le Bon Pasteur, Pomerol, with Dany Rolland and Benoit Prévot - Bordeaux Tour by ombiasy WineTours 2017, France

Visit and Tasting (including from Barrel) at Château Tertre-Rôteboeuf, Appellation Saint-Emilion, with Owner/ Winemaker François Mitjavile

Visit of an Ultra-premium Non-mainstream Bordeaux Producer: Tertre Rôteboeuf, with Owner and Winemaker François Mitjavile, France – Bordeaux Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2015)

Tour and Lunch at Château Climens, Appellation Barsac-Sauterne, Première Grand Cru Classé, with Owner/ Winemaker Bérénice Lurton

Visiting and Tasting at Château Climens, Barsac-Sauternes, Première Grand Cru Classé en 1855 - Bordeaux Tour 2017 by ombiasy WineTours, France

Visit and Tasting: Château Smith-Haut-Lafitte, Pessac-Léognan, Grand Cru Classé– Bordeaux Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2015), France

Tour, Tasting and Wine Lunch at a Petit Château and Organic Producer: Château Beauséjour – Bordeaux Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2015), France

Schiller's Favorite Seafood Restaurants in Arcachon and Cap Ferret (Bassin d'Arcachon/ Bordeaux)

Oysters in Bordeaux: Visiting the Oyster Farmer Raphael Doerfler and his Earl Ostrea Chanca Oyster Farm in Grand Piquey/ Bassin d'Arcachon - Bordeaux Tour by ombiasy WineTours 2017, France

Lunch at Pinasse Café, Cap Ferret, Bassin d'Arcachon - Bordeaux Tour 2017 by ombiasy WineTours, France

The 5 Premiers Grands Crus Chateaux en 1855 of Bordeaux, France

What is a Bordeaux Cru Bourgeois? France

Visit and Tasting at Château La Tour de Bessan, Appellation Margaux, Cru Bourgois, with Owner/ Winemaker Marie-Laure Lurton

Tour and Tasting at Château Durfort-Vivens, Appellation Margaux, 2ième Grand Cru Classé, with Pauline Lurton

Tour and Tasting at Château Pichon Longueville Baron in Pauillac - Bordeaux Tour by ombiasy WineTours 2017 France

Wine-Pairing Lunch at Château Pichon Longueville Baron in Pauillac - Bordeaux Tour by ombiasy WineTours 2017 France

Visit and Tasting at Château Ormez de Pez, Appellation Saint-Estèphe

How a Barrel is Made: Visit of the Cooperage Berger & Fils in Vertheuil– Bordeaux Tour by ombiasy WineTours 2017, France

Tour and Tasting, including from Barrel, at Château Lafon-Rochet, Appellation Saint-Estèphe, 4ième Grand Cru Classé, with Owner Basile Tesseron

Tour and Tasting at Château Lafon-Rochet, 4ème Grand Cru Classé St-Estèphe, with Vineyard Manager Anaïs Maillet - Bordeaux Tour by ombiasy WineTours 2017, France

Tour and Tasting at Château Léoville Poyferré, Saint-Julien, 2ième Grand Cru Classé, with Anne Cuvelier - Bordeaux Tour by ombiasy WineTours 2017, France

Tour and Family-style Dinner at Château Le Reysse and Château Lassus, Vignobles Paeffgen, Appellation Médoc, Owner/ Winemaker Stefan Paeffgen and Heike Paeffgen

Tour, Barrel Tasting and Family Dinner with Stefan and Heike Paeffgen, Château Le Reysse and Château Lassus, Vignobles Paeffgen, Appellation Médoc - Bordeaux Tour by ombiasy WineTours 2017, France

Tour and Tasting at Château Léoville-Barton, Appellation Saint-Julien, 2ième Grand Cru Classé, and Château Langoa-Barton, Appellation Saint-Julien, 3ème Grand Cru Classé

Tour and Pique-nique Style Lunch at Château Lascombes, Appellation Margaux, 2ième Grand Cru Classé

Tour and Gourmet Dinner with Wine-pairing at Château Haut-Bailly, Appellation Pessac-Léognan, Grand Cru Classé, with Daina Paulin

Tour and Wine Dinner at Château Haut-Bailly, Graves, Appellation Pessac-Léognan, Grand Cru Classé - Bordeaux Tour by ombiasy WineTours 2017, France

Picture: Discussing with General Manager Björn Probst the Plans for the new Winemaking Facilities of Weingut Kloster Pforta

The visit started with a vineyard tour. Björn Probst then showed us the plans for a new winery that will be built in the next years on the grounds of Kloster Pforta a few miles away from the current location of the winery. He then showed us the cellar of the current winery which will continue to be used until the new winery is ready. We then went to the tasting room for a tasting. We ended the visit with a self-guided tour of the Pforta Abbey, where the new winemaking facility will be built.

Pictures: Welcome

Landesweingut Kloster Pforta

History

Landesweingut Kloster Pforta is one of the five State-owned wine producing estates in Germany, and is owned by the State of Sachsen-Anhalt. Its history mirrors German history. Its origins date back to the Pforta Abbey, founded in 1137 by Cistercian monks (one year after the founding of the monastery Eberbach in the Rheingau). In 1154 the monks started to plant vines in the Pfortenser Köppelberg vineyard, which still today is one of the six vineyards of the winery, producing excellent wines.

Pforta Abbey soon had a reputation as the richest abbey in medieval Thuringia, with vineyard holdings in 192 communes, totaling at least 250 ha (around 625 acres).

The end of the monastery came in the 16th century with the Reformation. After Reformation (during the 16th century the eastern part of Germany became Lutheran and the monks had to leave), ownership went to the kings of Saxony, which subsequently lost the Abbey Pforta to the Kingdom of Prussia at the Vienna Congress in 1814.

After World War II, it became the socialist co-operative VEG (volkseigener Betrieb / company owned by the people) Weinbau Naumburg in the GDR, with 300 acres of land. After the fall of the Wall in 1989, Abbey Pforta was in the hands of the privatization organization Treuhand for a few years, but privatization efforts were not successful and thus the State of Sachsen-Anhalt took over in 1993.

Pictures: Cellar Tour with GM Björn Probst

Vineyards and Grape Varieties

Today, the vineyards total 55 hectares in the Gosecker Dechantenberg (monopoly ownership), Pfortenser Köppelberg, Eulauer Heideberg and Saalhäuser (steep-slope and monopoly vineyard in Bad Kösen).

They are planted with the white wine varieties Müller-Thurgau. Sylvaner. Riesling, Pinot Blanc, Red Traminer. Bacchus. Kerner, White Gutedel ( Chasselas ) Blauer Silvaner, Elbling, Heunisch ( Gouais blanc ) and Pinot Gris as well as the red wine varieties Blauer Portugieser, Zweigelt, Pinot Noir, André and Dornfelder.

Bottle-fermented sparkling wines and brandies are also produced (pomace, grape, fruit). Pforta Monastery is a member of "Latitude 51" ( terroir-oriented Saale-Unstrut Winzer) and Generation Riesling.

Pictures: Vineyard Tour

Björn Probst

Björn Probst has been Managing Director and Winemaker since late 2017. Earlier in 2017, we had met him at Weingut Fürstlich Castell’sches Domänenamt in Franken. He was in Franken for about 2 years. Before joining the Weingut Fürstlich Castell’sches Domänenamt, he was running Weingut zu Weimar and Weinhaus zu Weimar in Sachsen, owned by Georg Prinz zur Lippe. Born in Cologne, he studied at the Geisenheim University.

Pictures: Discussing with General Manager Björn Probst the Plans for the new Winemaking Facilities of Weingut Kloster Pforta

Tasting

We tasted 6 wines with Björn Probst.

Pictures: Tasting

Bye-bye

Thanks Björn for the wonderful visit.

Picture: Bye-bye

Tour of the Pforta Abbey

We ended the visit with a self-guided tour of the Pforta Abbey, where the new winemaking facility will be built.

Pictures: Touring Kloster Pforta

Lunch at Restaurant Stelzenhaus am Heinekanal in Leipzig-Plagwitz

After the visit of Weingut Kloster Pforta, we drove to Leipzig for lunch. Leipzig lies at the confluence of the rivers White Elster, Pleisse and Parthe. There is a system of connecting waterways –canals- in the former industrial area of Leipzig-Plagwitz. There are several charming restaurants sitting on the banks of the rivers and canals.

Pictures: Lunch at Restaurant Stelzenhaus am Heinekanal in Leipzig-Plagwitz

Postings: Germany-East Tour 2018 by ombiasy WineTours: Wine, Art, Culture, History - Berlin, Saale-Unstrut, Sachsen, Württemberg, Franken (Published and Forthcoming)

Germany-East Tour 2018 by ombiasy WineTours: Wine, Art, Culture, History - Berlin, Saale-Unstrut, Sachsen, Württemberg, Franken

Vineyard Tour and Tasting at the Königlicher Weinberg Klausberg in Sanssouci, Potsdam - Germany-East Tour 2018 by ombiasy WineTours: Wine, Art, Culture, History - Berlin, Saale-Unstrut, Sachsen, Württemberg, Franken

Vineyard Tour and Tasting at Weingut Dr. Lindicke in Werder an der Havel, Brandenburg - Germany-East Tour 2018 by ombiasy WineTours: Wine, Art, Culture, History - Berlin, Saale-Unstrut, Sachsen, Württemberg, Franken

Vineyard Tour, Cellar Tour and Tasting at Weingut Born in Salzatal, Saale-Unstrut, with Elisabeth Born - Germany-East Tour 2018 by ombiasy WineTours: Wine, Art, Culture, History - Berlin, Saale-Unstrut, Sachsen, Württemberg, Franken

Vineyard Visit and Wine Tasting Lunch at Weingut Hey in Naumburg, Saale-Unstrut, with Matthias Hey – Germany-East Tour 2016 by ombiasy WineTours

Wine Pairing Dinner at Restaurant Zufriedenheit in Naumburg, with Chef Robert Klaus and his Excellent Food, and Uwe Lützkendorf, Weingut Lützkendorf, and his World-class Wines - Germany-East Tour 2018 by ombiasy WineTours: Wine, Art, Culture, History - Berlin, Saale-Unstrut, Sachsen, Württemberg, Franken

Tasting at Weingut Uwe Lützkendorf, with Uwe Lützkendorf, in Bad Kösen, Saale-Unstrut– Germany-East Tour 2017 by ombiasy WineTours

Schiller's Favorite Winemakers in the Saale Unstrut Region, Germany

Visit and tasting at Landesweingut Kloster Pforta in Bad Kösen, Saale-Unstrut, with Managing Director Björn Probst

Weingut Kloster Pforta: Vineyard Tour, Cellar Tour and Tasting with Managing Director Christian Kloss – Germany-North Wine Tour by ombiasy (2014)

Wine and Music:"Martin Luther Lunch" at the Historic Vincenz Richter Restaurant, Weingut Vincenz Richter, in Meissen with Senior Boss Gottfried Herrlich and the Music of Bach, Mozart and Beethoven – Germany-East Tour 2017 by ombiasy WineTours

Vineyard Tour and Tasting at Weingut Schuh in Coswig, Sachsen, with Katharina Pollmer-Schuh and Matthias Schuh - Germany-East Tour 2018 by ombiasy WineTours: Wine, Art, Culture, History - Berlin, Saale-Unstrut, Sachsen, Württemberg, Franken

Tour and Dinner at Weingut Schloss Proschwitz - Prinz zur Lippe in Zadel, Sachsen, with Georg Prinz zur Lippe - Germany-East Tour 2017 by ombiasy WineTours

Visit and Tasting at the Sächsisches Staatsweingut Schloss Wackerbarth in Radebeul, Sachsen - Germany-East Tour 2018 by ombiasy WineTours: Wine, Art, Culture, History - Berlin, Saale-Unstrut, Sachsen, Württemberg, Franken

Wine and Opera in Dresden: Mozart at Semper Opera and the Best Wines of Sachsen at Wine Bar Weinzentrale in Dresden-Neustadt, with Owner/ Sommelier Jens Pietzonka – Germany-East Tour 2017 by ombiasy WineTours

Schiller's Favorite Winemakers in Sachsen (Saxony), Germany

Cellar Tour and Tasting at Weingut Aldinger in Fellbach (Stuttgart), with Matthias Aldinger - Germany-East Tour 2018 by ombiasy WineTours: Wine, Art, Culture, History - Berlin, Saale-Unstrut, Sachsen, Württemberg, Franken

Vineyard Walk, Cellar Tour and Tasting at Weingut Karl Haidle in Kernen-Stetten, Württemberg, with Moritz Haidle - Germany-East Tour 2018 by ombiasy WineTours: Wine, Art, Culture, History - Berlin, Saale-Unstrut, Sachsen, Württemberg, Franken

Vineyard Tour and Cellar Tour at Weingut Graf Adelmann, Burg Schaubeck, in Steinheim-Kleinbottwar, Württemberg, with Felix Count Adelmann - Germany-East Tour 2018 by ombiasy WineTours: Wine, Art, Culture, History - Berlin, Saale-Unstrut, Sachsen, Württemberg, Franken

Dinner with Felix Graf Adelmann, Weingut Graf Adelmann, at Burg Schaubeck in Kleinbottwar, Württemberg - Germany-East Tour 2018 by ombiasy WineTours: Wine, Art, Culture, History - Berlin, Saale-Unstrut, Sachsen, Württemberg, Franken

Cellar Tour and Tasting at Weingut Zehnthof Luckert, in Sulzfeld, Franken, with Philipp Luckert - Germany-East Tour 2018 by ombiasy WineTours: Wine, Art, Culture, History - Berlin, Saale-Unstrut, Sachsen, Württemberg, Franken

Cellar Tour and Tasting at Staatlicher Hofkeller in Würzburg, Franken, with General Manager Marcel von den Benken– Germany-East Tour 2016 by ombiasy WineTours

Visit and Tasting at Weingut Am Stein Ludwig Knoll in Würzburg, Franken - Germany-East Wine and Art Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2015)

Wine Pairing Dinner at 1 Michelin Star Restaurant Reisers am Stein and Tasting and Tour at Weingut am Stein Ludwig Knoll, with Winemaker Franziska Schömig - Germany-East Tour 2018 by ombiasy WineTours: Wine, Art, Culture, History - Berlin, Saale-Unstrut, Sachsen, Württemberg, Franken

Vineyard Tour, Cellar Tour and Tasting at Weingut Rudolf Fürst in Bürgstadt, Franken, with Sebastian Fürst

Tasting and Tour with the Pinot Noir Legend Paul Fürst, Weingut Rudolf Fürst in Bürgstadt, Franken– Germany-East Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2015)

Visit and Tasting at Weingut Benedikt Baltes in Klingenberg, Franken: The Wines of Weingut Benedikt Baltes and of Weingut Julia Bertram - Germany-East Tour 2018 by ombiasy WineTours: Wine, Art, Culture, History - Berlin, Saale-Unstrut, Sachsen, Württemberg, Franken

Schiller’s Favorites: 2 Legendary Wine Taverns in Würzburg – Juliusspital and Bürgerspital

Schiller’s Favorite Wine Taverns in Würzburg

Pictures: Annette and Christian Schiller with Virginia Governor Terry McAuliffe at the Virginia Governor's Cup Gala 2017

Below is a list of the wine tours, wine dinners and wine tastings planned by Annette and Christian Schiller/ ombiasyPR & WineTours/ schiller-wine for the coming months.

For questions concerning the ombiasy wine tours please consult the ombiasy website.

For all other events please send me (cschiller@schiller-wine.com) or Annette (aschiller@ombiasypr.com) an e-mail.

March 2019

Frankfurt, Germany, March 1: Tasting the Best of Virginia Wines in Frankfurt - Virginia Governor's Cup Case 2017. At Mainlust Desche Otto in Frakfurt, Schwanheim. Euro35.

See:
Invitation: Tasting the Best Wines of Virginia at Mainlust Desche Otto in Frankfurt, Germany: Virginia Governor's Cup Case 2017, with Annette Schiller
Tasting the Best of Virginia Wines in Frankfurt, Germany, with Stuart Pigott: Virginia Governor's Cup Case 2016
Mainlust “Desche Otto” – an Ultra Traditional Apple Wine Tavern, with an Innovative Twist, off the Beaten Track in Schwanheim, Frankfurt am Main, Germany

Washington DC, USA, at the French Embassy/ Restaurant Le Café Descartes, March 6: Tasting Dinner with the Wines of Château Beychevelle, Appellation Saint-Julien, 4ième Grand Cru Classé, and Château Kirwan, Appellation Margaux, 3ième Grand Cru Classé, with Beychevelle General Manager Philippe Blanc Kirwan Owner Sophie Schyler

See:
Invitation: A Special Bordeaux Winemaker Dinner at Le Café Descartes/ French Embassy in Washington DC - Château Kirwan with Owner Sophie Schÿler and Château Beychevelle with Managing Director Philip Blanc, France/ USA
Winemaker Dinner with Alice Rion and Louis Hamman, Domaine Armelle et Bernhard Rion, Vosne Romanée, Bourgogne, at the French Embassy/ Restaurant Le Café Descartes in Washington DC, USA/ France
Tour and Tasting at Château Beychevelle, Appellation Saint-Julien, 4ième Grand Cru Classé, with General Manager Philippe Blanc - Bordeaux Tour by ombiasy WineTours 2017, France
Lunch, Tasting and Tour at Château Kirwan, Appellation Margaux, 3ième Grand Cru Classé, with Owner Natalie Schyler - Bordeaux Tour 2017 by ombiasy WineTours, France

Frankfurt, Germany, March 10: Winepairing Dinner at Zur Golden Kron with Chef Alfred Friedrich and (1) Sophie Lurton-Gogombles, Château Bouscaut, Grand Cru Classé de Graves, (2) Berenise Lurton, Château Climens, Sauternes 1er Cru Classé and (3) Château Desmirail, 3ème Grand Cru Classé en 1855

See:
Visiting and Tasting at Château Climens, Barsac-Sauternes, Première Grand Cru Classé en 1855 - Bordeaux Tour 2017 by ombiasy WineTours, France
Chef's Table Winemaker Dinner at Zur Golden Kron in Frankfurt, Germany, with Michelin-starred Chef Alfred Friedrich, Frankfurt Cult Sommelier Pit Punda and World Class Winemaker Rainer Schnaitmann from Württemberg

April 2019

Rheingau, Mittelrhein, Ahr, Mosel, Nahe: Germany-North Tour 2019. See: Germany-North Tour 2017 by ombiasy WineTours: Quintessential German Riesling and the Northernmost Pinot Noir (sold out)

May 2019

June 2019

Alsace, France, June 18 - 22: Alsace Tour 2019 (Weinfreundeskreis Hochheim) (sold out)

July 2019

Frankfurt, Germany: Tasting Aged American Red Wines (Cabernet Sauvignon/ Merlot)

August 2019

September 2019

Bordeaux, France, September 2019: 2019 Bordeaux Tour by ombiasy WineTours. See: Total Immersion in Bordeaux: World Class Wines and Exquisite French Gourmet Cuisine - Bordeaux Tour 2017 by ombiasy WineTours, France

October 2019

November 2019

December 2019

schiller-wine: Related Postings

Announcement: ombiasy WineTours in 2019 - Germany-North and Bordeaux

Ombiasy Wine Tours 2018: 3 x France and 3 x Germany - Ombiasy Newsletter December 2017

Total Immersion in Bordeaux: World Class Wines and Exquisite French Gourmet Cuisine - Bordeaux Tour 2017 by ombiasy WineTours, France

Germany-North Tour 2017 by ombiasy WineTours: Quintessential German Riesling and the Northernmost Pinot Noir

Invitation: Tasting the Best Wines of Virginia at Mainlust Desche Otto in Frankfurt, Germany: Virginia Governor's Cup Case 2017, with Annette Schiller

Tasting the Best of Virginia Wines in Frankfurt, Germany, with Stuart Pigott: Virginia Governor's Cup Case 2016

Mainlust “Desche Otto” – an Ultra Traditional Apple Wine Tavern, with an Innovative Twist, off the Beaten Track in Schwanheim, Frankfurt am Main, Germany

Visiting and Tasting at Château Climens, Barsac-Sauternes, Première Grand Cru Classé en 1855 - Bordeaux Tour 2017 by ombiasy WineTours, France

Chef's Table Winemaker Dinner at Zur Golden Kron in Frankfurt, Germany, with Michelin-starred Chef Alfred Friedrich, Frankfurt Cult Sommelier Pit Punda and World Class Winemaker Rainer Schnaitmann from Württemberg

Winemaker Dinner with Alice Rion and Louis Hamman, Domaine Armelle et Bernhard Rion, Vosne Romanée, Bourgogne, at the French Embassy/ Restaurant Le Café Descartes in Washington DC, USA/ France

Tour and Tasting at Château Beychevelle, Appellation Saint-Julien, 4ième Grand Cru Classé, with General Manager Philippe Blanc - Bordeaux Tour by ombiasy WineTours 2017, France

Lunch, Tasting and Tour at Château Kirwan, Appellation Margaux, 3ième Grand Cru Classé, with Owner Natalie Schyler - Bordeaux Tour 2017 by ombiasy WineTours, France

Invitation: A Special Bordeaux Winemaker Dinner at Le Café Descartes/ French Embassy in Washington DC - Château Kirwan with Owner Sophie Schÿler and Château Beychevelle with Managing Director Philip Blanc, France/ USA

Bild: Bérénice Lurton und Annette Schiller. See: The 2016 American Wine Society National Conference in California, USA: Seen Through Christian Schiller's Camera Lens

Liebe Weinfreunde,

manchmal ergeben sich die schönsten Dinge kurzfristig, und ich möchte Sie / Euch ganz herzlich einladen, am Sonntag, den 10. März 2019, um 11.30 Uhr einen aussergewöhnlichen Sonntagmittag mit den Winzern und Eigentümern von drei klassifizierten Bordeaux Châteaux bei einem köstlichen Mittagessen - gekocht vom Sterne Koch Alfred Friedrich - und grandiosen Weinen zu verbringen.

Detaillierte Informationen gibt es unten.

Herzliche Grüsse und bis bald in der Golden Kron,

Annette Schiller

PS: Gerne kann diese Information an Freunde und Bekannte weiter gegeben werden.

Bilder: Im Weinberg mit Bérénice Lurton von Château Climens, 1er Cru, Barsac, Appellation Sauterne. See: Total Immersion in Bordeaux: World Class Wines and Exquisite French Gourmet Cuisine - Bordeaux Tour 2018 by ombiasy WineTours, France

Aussergewöhnliches Bordeaux Lunch mit den Winzern von 3 klassifizierten Châteaux

10. März, 2019, 11.30 Uhr in der Golden Kron, Frankfurt

Chef Alfred Friedrich, Mundschenk Pit Punda und Annette Schiller, ombiasy WineTours, freuen sich, die drei prominenten Châteaux Besitzer und Winzer Geschwister Bérénice Lurton von Château Climens, 1er Cru, Barsac, Appellation Sauterne; Sophie Lurton von Château Bouscaut, Grand Cru Classé de Graves, Appellation Pessac-Léognan; und Denis Lurton von Château Desmirail, 3ième Grand Cru Classé en 1855, Appellation Margaux; in der Golden Kron begrüssen zu können.

Wir laden Sie herzlich ein, mit uns einen wunderbaren Wein-Sonntagmittag zu verbringen, um dem Geheimnis der unvergleichlichen Bordeaux Weine in einem Gespräch mit den Winzern näher zu kommen und die perfekt auf die Weine abgestimmte Küche zu geniessen.

Inklusive Wasser und Wein: 189 Euro pro Person.

Zur Golden Kron, Alt - Eschersheim, 60433 Frankfurt am Main.

Da die Teilnehmerzahl begrenzt ist, bitten wir um rechtzeitige Reservierung.

Tel: 069 - 269 411 74; oder www.goldenkron.de; oder aschiller@ombiasypr.com

Bilder: Annette Schiller, Alfred Friedrich, Pit Punda und Rainer Schnaitmann. See: Chef's Table Winemaker Dinner at Zur Golden Kron in Frankfurt, Germany, with Michelin-starred Chef Alfred Friedrich, Frankfurt Cult Sommelier Pit Punda and World Class Winemaker Rainer Schnaitmann from Württemberg

Chef Alfred Friedrich hat folgendes Menu in perfekter Kombination von Speisen und Weinen zusammengestellt:

Menu

Vorspeise

Gänseleber und Rauchaal mit Schwarzkohl und Feige
2010 Château Climens, 1er Cru, Barsac

Zwischengang

Kanada Hummer mit grünem Spargel, Edamame und Vanille
2010 Château Bouscaut Blanc, Grand Cru Classé de Graves, Pessac - Léognan

Zwischengang

Vendée Taube mit Roter Beete und Wasabi
2012 Initial de Desmirail
2012 Château Desmirail, Grand Cru Classé, Margaux

Hauptgang

Onglet vom Rind mit Trevisiano Tardivo, Zwiebelraviolo und Markjus
2012 Château Bouscaut Rouge, Grand Cru Classé de Graves, Pessac - Léognan

Dessert

Williams Birne und Bleu d’Auvergne mit Zichorie
2015 Cyprès de Climens, Barsac

schiller-wine: Related Postings

Zur Golden Kron: Star Sommelier Pit Punda's and Star Chef Alfred Friedrich's new Edelwirtshaus/ new Noble Inn in Frankfurt, Germany

Visiting and Tasting at Château Climens, Barsac-Sauternes, Première Grand Cru Classé en 1855 - Bordeaux Tour 2017 by ombiasy WineTours, France

Chef's Table Winemaker Dinner at Zur Golden Kron in Frankfurt, Germany, with Michelin-starred Chef Alfred Friedrich, Frankfurt Cult Sommelier Pit Punda and World Class Winemaker Rainer Schnaitmann from Württemberg

The 2016 American Wine Society National Conference in California, USA: Seen Through Christian Schiller's Camera Lens

Total Immersion in Bordeaux: World Class Wines and Exquisite French Gourmet Cuisine - Bordeaux Tour 2018 by ombiasy WineTours, France

Chef's Table Winemaker Dinner at Zur Golden Kron in Frankfurt, Germany, with Michelin-starred Chef Alfred Friedrich, Frankfurt Cult Sommelier Pit Punda and World Class Winemaker Rainer Schnaitmann from Württemberg

Pictures: A Journey through the Rhône Valley - Seminar at the 2018 American Wine Society National Conference in Buffalo, New York State,USA, led by Annette Schiller

The 2018 American Wine Society Annual Meetings took place in Buffalo, New York State, from November 1 to 3, 2018. More than 500 members from all over the USA came to this 3-day event, filled with tastings, seminars and presentations.

Annette Schiller, President of ombiasy PR and WineTours and member of the American Wine Society, led 3 wine tastings - Abbey Wines, Pinot Noir from Germany and Burgundy, Rhône Valley - at the 2018 Annual Meetings of the American Wine Society.

In addition, Annette and Christian Schiller poured a selection of German premium wines - all from members of the VDP (Verband Deutscher Prädikatsweingüter), the about 200 elite wine producers in Germany - at the Showcase of Wines event during the second evening.

This posting covers the Rhône Valley Seminar.

For more information on the Rhône Valley, see here:

Rhône Valley Tour December 2017: From Lyon to Avignon - Wine, Food, Culture, History Understanding the Wines of the Rhône Valley: The Classification - AOC/ Vin de Pay/ Vin de France The Rhône Wine Region in Southern France and its Wines: History, Classification, Northern and Southern Rhône
Rhône Valley Tour 2018 by ombiasy WineTours: Wine, Culture and History, France

This is the fourth in a series of postings related to the American Wine Society National Conference 2018 in Buffalo, New York State.

The 2018 American Wine Society National Conference in Buffalo, New York State, USA: Seen Through Christian Schiller's Camera Lens
VDP at AWS: Tasting Premium German Wines at the Showcase of Wines of the 2018 American Wine Society National Conference in Buffalo, New York State, with Annette and Christian Schiller
"Abbey Wines”: The Importance of the Monasteries for the Development of Viticulture - Seminar at the 2018 American Wine Society National Conference in Buffalo, New York State,USA, led by Annette Schiller
Burgundy Pinot Noir and German Pinot Noir: Differences and Similarities - Seminar at the 2018 American Wine Society National Conference in Buffalo, New York State, USA, led by Annette Schiller
A Journey through the Rhône Valley - Seminar at the 2018 American Wine Society National Conference in Buffalo, New York State,USA, led by Annette Schiller

The American Wine Society

The American Wine Society was founded in 1967 as a non-profit, educational, consumer-oriented organization for those interested in learning more about all aspects of wine. On October 7, 1967, around 200 grape growers, home winemakers, and wine lovers gathered at Dr. Konstantin Frank’s vineyard on Keuka Lake near Hammondsport, NY for the AWS’ initial meeting.

Pictures: National Conference of the American Wine Society (AWS) in Buffalo, New York State, November 1 to 3, 2018

In December of the same year, the thirteen charter members, led by Founder Dr. Konstantin Frank, met to determine the organization structure of AWS and elect officers. Now in its 49th year, the American Wine Society is the largest consumer based wine education organization in North America. Membership is open to anyone interested in wine and over 21 years of age.

In the early days, AWS members were located primarily in the eastern part of the country. As the society grew , we established chapters throughout the eastern U.S., then into the south and Midwest, and finally into western states. Today, the American Wine Society has over 5,000 members in 45 states and 120 chapters across the U.S.

Each November the Society hosts a three-day national conference with two full days of nearly 50 educational seminars to choose from. Winery owners, wine educators, and renowned wine makers are selected to present sessions during this national event. In addition, a program educating members to become AWS certified wine judges is conducted on the day preceding the seminars.

Pictures: Annette and Christian Schiller at the 2018 American Wine Society National Conference in Buffalo, New York State

A Journey through the Rhône Valley

Presenter: Annette Schiller, Owner, Ombiasy PR & Wine Tours

The Rhône Valley is one of the oldest wine regions in France and the second largest after Bordeaux. The Greeks introduced viticulture in the 4th century B.C. Since then, the world has discovered Rhône wines, and some of the most famous wines of the world come from the Rhône Valley. The vineyards are located on both sides of the river. The Rhône Valley is divided into two distinctively different regions: the Northern Rhône and the Southern Rhône. We will taste wines from both regions and explore the differences.

Pictures: A Journey through the Rhône Valley - Seminar at the 2018 American Wine Society National Conference in Buffalo, New York State,USA, led by Annette Schiller

Annette presented 6 wines:

2017 Perrin, Côte du Rhône Reserve Blanc
2014 Guigal, Côte du Rhône
2015 Domaine Belle, Crozes-Hermitag, Les Pierelles
2016 Domaine des Pasquiers, Côte du Rhône Village, Sablet
2015 Bastide St. Vincent Vacqueyras
2015 Château la Nerthe, Châteauneuf du Pape

Pictures: A Journey through the Rhône Valley - Seminar at the 2018 American Wine Society National Conference in Buffalo, New York State,USA, led by Annette Schiller

Impressions from the Rhône Valley Tour 2018 by ombiasy WineTours: Wine, Culture and History, Franc

Here are a few pictures from the Rhône Valley Tour 2018 by ombiasy WineTours: Wine, Culture and History, Franc.

Pictures: The Rhône Valley seen through Christian Schiller's Camera - Rhône Valley Tour 2018 by ombiasy WineTours: Wine, Culture and History, France

The Wines Annette Poured

Annette poured 6 wines.

Picture: 6 Wines

2017 Perrin, Côte du Rhône Reserve Blanc

Picture: 2017 Perrin, Côte du Rhône Reserve Blanc

Pictures: Tasting at the Caveau of the Perrin Family in Châteauneuf-du-Pape. See: Rhône Valley Tour 2018 by ombiasy WineTours: Wine, Culture and History, France

2014 Guigal, Côte du Rhône

Picture: 2014 Guigal, Côte du Rhône

The Guigal Estate is a family business and was founded in 1946 by Etienne Guigal. Etienne Guigal worked at Vidal Fleury before establishing his own domaine. Much later in the 1980s Vidal Fleury was acquired by Guigal, but remains independently managed. Today Maison Guigal is run by Philippe Guigal, the third generation of the family who also is the head winemaker. Through carefully selected acquisitions Guigal grew and today the total vineyard holdings is around 120 acres of which half of it is in the Côte Rôtie. The estate also acquired the famous Château d’Ampuis, an important historic and oenological monument whose long history – an ancient fort built in the 12th century- is directly linked to the Côte-Rôtie appellation. The Château sits majestically on a hill surrounded by vineyards overlooking the Rhône river. With a current production of 6,5 million bottles Guigal is also the most important négociant in the Northern Rhône, although the majority of the purchased fruit comes from the Southern Rhône. Marcel Guigal, the second generation is credited with the biggest impact on the quality of the Northern Rhône wines when he introduced single vineyard cuvées from Côte Rôtie in the 1970s. Maison Guigal has the rare distinction of being a quality leader in both estate and négociant wines.

Pictures: Tour and Tasting at Guigal. See: Rhône Valley Tour 2018 by ombiasy WineTours: Wine, Culture and History, France

2015 Domaine Belle, Crozes-Hermitage, Les Pierelles

Picture: 2015 Domaine Belle, Crozes-Hermitag, Les Pierelles

Picture: Tain L'Hermitage. See: Rhône Valley Tour December 2017: From Lyon to Avignon - Wine, Food, Culture, History

2016 Domaine des Pasquiers, Côte du Rhône Village, Sablet

Picture: 2016 Domaine des Pasquiers, Côte du Rhône Village, Sablet

Built on a sandy mound from which it derives its name (sable = sand), this village, like its close neighbour Séguret, invites you to take things easy, as you stroll from one little square to the next via winding lanes and curious stairways with unequal steps. Its gently sloping, drawn-out vineyards are planted in sandy soils, decalcified red clays and gravelly pebbles of various sizes. The Dentelles de Montmirail, at the foot of which the village lies, have been the silent witness to Sablet’s rise to fame over the centuries.

Séguret and Sablet are both breath-taking hilltop villages.

Pictures: Sablet. See: Rhône Valley Tour December 2017: From Lyon to Avignon - Wine, Food, Culture, History

2015 Bastide St. Vincent Vacqueyras

Picture: 2015 Bastide St. Vincent Vacqueyras

Vacqueyras became AOC Côtes du Rhône in 1937 and as late as 1990, Vacqueyras was granted its own AOC, the first in the region since Gigondas in 1971. Located only a few kilometers south of Gigondas, Vacqueyras shares much of the same terroir. The bulk (97%) of the wine is red.

Pictures: Vacqueyras. See: Rhône Valley Tour December 2017: From Lyon to Avignon - Wine, Food, Culture, History

2015 Château la Nerthe, Châteauneuf du Pape

Picture: 2015 Château la Nerthe, Châteauneuf du Pape

Château la Nerthe is a very special estate. It was founded in the 14th century at the time when the Popes resided in Avignon. Historical documents from 1560 mention the estate as a wine domaine. The historic Château was built in 1736. It is one of the oldest estates in Châteauneuf du Pape. Château la Nerthe is a unique estate. There are many ‘firsts’: they were the first to bottle their own wine starting in1784; they were the first in Châteauneuf du Pape to exprt their wines outside of France; they were the first to practice destemming 100% of their vines in the 1800s. In those days Château la Nerthe’s wines were the most expensive in the Southern Rhône. The domaine changes hands several times during the centuries of its existence with ups and downs. By the 1980s the domaine was in a sorry state and had become dilapidated. In 1986 The Richard family – an important family of wine merchants - acquired the estate and invested heavily in new cellars and equipment and vineyard management. In 1991 they expanded their vineyard holdings and today Château la Nerthe has 220 acres under vine. They converted to organic viticulture and were certified organic by Ecocert in 1998. As of the 2015 vintage Ralph Garcia who was before at Jaboulet in Hermitage, became the new manager. Château La Nerthe is truly unique: a large estate with exceptional, sloped terroir with soils of sandy-clay and a layer of large, round galet stones; all terroirs of Châteauneuf du Pape are here in a single estate; all 13 of the permitted main varietals are planted; the average vine is over 40 years old. I quote Berry Bros & Rudd: “La Nerthe's wine is firmly in the modernist camp of accessible Châteauneufs; softer tannins than in Beaucastel or Vieux Télégraphe, and ready to drink earlier. Almost all La Nerthe wines are vinified in wood, many in small barrels, which is rare in Châteauneuf. No filtering takes place. The white wines are richer in fruit than most other white Châteauneufs.”

Pictures: Tour and Tasting at Château la Nerthe. See: Rhône Valley Tour 2018 by ombiasy WineTours: Wine, Culture and History, France

schiller-wine: Related Postings

Announcement: ombiasy WineTours in 2019 - Germany-North and Bordeaux

Ombiasy Wine Tours 2018: 3 x France and 3 x Germany - Ombiasy Newsletter December 2017

UPCOMING Tours/ Wine Dinners/ Tastings - Annette and Christian Schiller/ ombiasyPR & WineTours/ schiller-wine, Germany, France, USA (Issued: March 1, 2019)

Annette Schiller Presented "Abbey Wines" at the German Wine Society (Washington DC Chapter), USA

Rhône Valley Tour December 2017: From Lyon to Avignon - Wine, Food, Culture, History

Understanding the Wines of the Rhône Valley: The Classification - AOC/ Vin de Pay/ Vin de France

The Rhône Wine Region in Southern France and its Wines: History, Classification, Northern and Southern Rhône

Picture: Germany’s Top 21 Winemakers - Der Feinschmecker 2017/2018

Der Feinschmecker, the leading German wine and food journal, presented its new ranking of the German wine scene. The Feinschmecker awarded 22 winemakers in Germany 5 F's, its top ranking.

For previous years see:

Germany’s Top 22 Winemakers - Der Feinschmecker 2016/2017
Germany’s Top 20 Winemakers - Der Feinschmecker WeinGuide 2015
Germany’s Top 19 Winemakers - Der Feinschmecker WeinGuide 2014
Germany's Top 18 Winemakers - Feinschmecker WeinGuide 2013
Germany's Top 16 Winemakers - Feinschmecker WeinGuide 2012
Germany's Top 16 Winemakers - Feinschmecker WeinGuide 2011
Germany's 15 Top Winemakers - The Feinschmecker WeinGuide 2010

Top 21 Winemakers

Here are those winemakers that got the maximum number of 5 F's, grouped by wine region.

Compared to last year, overall the number has declined by one. Weingut H.J. Kreuzberg, Weingut Egon Müller, Maximin Grünhaus - Weingut der Familie Schubert are no longer on the list. Weingut Bernhard Huber and Weingut Geheimer Rat Dr. von Bassermann-Jordan are new additions.

Picture: Germany’s Top 21 Winemakers - Der Feinschmecker 2017/2018

AHR

Meyer-Näkel

Pictures: Vineyard Walk and Tasting at Weingut Meyer-Näkel in Dernau, Ahr, with Dörte Näkel– Germany-North Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2015)

Jean Stodden

Pictures: Tasting with Alexander Stodden, Weingut Jean Stodden, Ahr. See: Cellar Tour and Tasting at Weingut Jean Stodden, Ahr, with Alexander Stodden - Germany-North Tour 2017 by ombiasy WineTour

BADEN

Bernhard Huber

Pictures: Tasting at Weingut Bernhard Huber in Baden, with Yquem Viehauser and Julian Huber – Germany-South Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2015)

Pictures: Dinner with Sebastian Fürst and Julian Huber. See: Winemaker Dinner with Chef/ King of Spices Ingo Holland and Sebastian Fürst (Weingut Rudolf Fürst, Franken), Julian Huber (Weingut Bernhard Huber, Baden) and Jérôme Legras (Champagne Legras & Haas)

FRANKEN

Rudolf Fürst

Pictures:Paul Fürst, Annette Schiller, Sebastian Fürst and Christian Schiller at Weingut Rudolf Fürst. See: Tasting and Tour with the Pinot Noir Legend Paul Fürst, Weingut Rudolf Fürst in Bürgstadt, Franken – Germany-East Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2015)

Picture: Joel B. Payne and Sebastian Fürst at the Vinum WeinGuide Deutschland 2018 Award Ceremony. See: Germany’s Best Winemakers and Wines – Vinum WeinGuide Deutschland 2018 Awards: The Award Ceremony in Mainz, Germany

Pictures: Winemaker Dinner with Sebastian Fürst, Weingut Fürst, Franken, at Schaumahl, Offenbach/ Frankfurt, 16 Points Gault Millau, Germany

Horst Sauer

Pictures: Vinyard Tour, Cellar Tour and Tasting at Weingut Horst Sauer in Eschendorf, Franken, with Horst Sauer– Germany-East Tour 2016 by ombiasy WineTours

HESSISCHE BERGSTRASSE

None

MITTELRHEIN

None

MOSEL

Fritz Haag

Pictures: At Weingut Fritz Haag, with Oliver Haag. See: Germany-North Tour 2017 by ombiasy WineTours: Quintessential German Riesling and the Northernmost Pinot Noir

Kartäuserhof

Picture: Christian Schiller with Christoph Tyrell, Karthäuserhof, in Mainz, Germany. For more, see: The Karthäuserhof in the Mosel Valley: An Eventful History – From Grenoble in France to New York City in the US

Reichsgraf von Kesselstatt

Pictures At Weingut Reichsgraf von Kesselstadt in Morscheid, Mosel with the late Owner Annegret Reh-Gartner and her Husband Gerhard Gartner, a former 2-star Michelin Chef. See:Lunch and Wine Tasting at Weingut Reichsgraf von Kesselstatt in Morscheid, Mosel with Owner Annegret Reh-Gartner – Germany-South Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2014)

Dr. Loosen

Pictures: Ernst Loosen and Annette and Christian Schiller in Washington DC. See: The Dry and Ultra-premium Dry GG and GG Reserve Rieslings of Weingut Dr. Loosen – Ernie Loosen in Washington DC

Pictures: Ernst Loosen, Annette Schiller and Christian Schiller at Weingut Dr. Loosen. See: Wine Tasting at Weingut Dr. Loosen in Bernkastel-Kues, Mosel– Germany-North by ombiasy WineTours (2015)

Picture: The German Wine and Culture Tour by ombiasy (2013) at Weingut Dr. Loosen. See: German Wine and Culture Tour by ombiasy, 2013

Joh. Jos. Prüm

Picture: Annette Schiller and Manfred Prüm

Picture: Christian Schiller with Katharina Pruem at Wegmans in Virginia. See also: JJ Pruem Goes Supermarket: Meeting Katharina Pruem and Tasting the Incredible JJ Pruem Wines at Wegmans

Pictures: Tasting at the Legendary Weingut J.J. Prüm with Amei Prüm– Germany-North Tour by ombiasy WineTours 2016

Nik Weis - Sankt Urbans-Hof

Picture: Nik and Daniela Weis and Annette and Christian Schiller at Prowein 2014

Pictures: Tasting at Weingut St. Urbans-Hof in Leiwen, Mosel, with Nik Weis – Germany-North Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2015)

Schloss Lieser - Thomas Haag

Pictures: Tasting at Weingut Schloss Lieser in Lieser with Owner/ Winemaker Thomas Haag– Germany-North Tour by ombiasy WineTours 2016

Picture: Thomas Haag, Weingut Schloss Lieser, and Christian Schiller in Mainz. See: Thomas Haag, Weingut Schloss Lieser, Germany’s Winemaker of the Year, Gault Millau WeinGuide Deutschland 2015

Picture: Annette Schiller, Thomas Haag with his Son (Weingut Schloss Lieser) and Stephen Bitterolf at the 2017 Rieslingfeier in NYC. See: The Annual "Slaughterhouse" Riesling Feast in New York: Rieslingfeier 2017, USA

NAHE

Dönnhoff

Picture: Christian Schiller with Helmut Dönnhoff, Weingut Hermann Dönnhoff

Picture: Annette Schiller, Helmut Dönnhoff and daughter Christina Dönnhoff (Weingut Dönnhoff) and Didier Cuevlier (Chateau Leoville Poyferre) at Weingut Dr. Robert Weil

Pictures: An Afternoon with Riesling Star Winemaker Helmut Doennhoff at Weingut Doennhoff in Oberhausen in the Nahe Valley, Germany

Emrich-Schönleber

Picture: Christian Schiller and Werner Schönleber, Weingut Emrich-Schönleber at the 2013 Riesling Gala at Kloster Eberbach, Germany

Pictures: At Weingut Emrich-Schönleber See: Germany-North Tour 2017 by ombiasy WineTours: Quintessential German Riesling and the Northernmost Pinot Noir

Schäfer-Fröhlich

Picture: Christian Schiller and Tim Fröhlich in Wiesbaden

Pictures: Tasting at Weingut Schäfer-Fröhlich in Bockenau, Nahe - Germany-North Tour 2016 by ombiasy WineTours

PFALZ

Geheimer Rat Dr. von Bassermann-Jordan

Pictures: At Weingut Geheimer Rat Dr. von Bassermann-Jordan. See: Cellar Tour and Wine Tasting at Weingut Geheimer Rat Dr. von Bassermann-Jordan in Deidesheim with General Manager Gunther Hauck – Germany-South Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2014)

Knipser

Picture: Stephan Knipser, Sebastian Fürst and Christian Schiller at the Vinum WeinGuide Deutschland 2018 Award Ceremony. See: Germany’s Best Winemakers and Wines – Vinum WeinGuide Deutschland 2018 Awards: The Award Ceremony in Mainz, Germany

RHEINGAU

Künstler

Picture: Christian G.E. Schiller with Gunter Kuenstler at Schloss Johnnisberg. Weingut Kuenstler was founded by my the late Franz Kuenstler. We were both founding members of the Weinfreundeskreis Hochheim: The Wines of Franz Kuenstler from Hochheim, Rheingau, Germany

Pictures: At Weingut Künstler in Hochheim am Main, Rheingau, with Stefan Traub. See:Vineyard Walk, Cellar Tour and Wine Tasting at Weingut Künstler– Germany-North Wine Tour by ombiasy (2014)

Picture: Annette Schiller and Gunter Künstler. See: VDP.Rheingau Invited to a Pre-release Presentation of the 2017 Grosses Gewächs (GG) Wines

Robert Weil

Pictures: Christian and Annette Schiller with Wilhelm Weil at Weingut Robert Weil in Kiedrich

Pictures: Kiedrich: Visit of the Basilica of Saint Valentine and of Weingut Robert Weil - Germany-North Wine Tour by ombiasy (2014)

RHEINHESSEN

Klaus Keller

Picture: Annette Schiller,Julia and Klaus Peter Keller at the 2015 Rieslingfeier in New York, see: A German Riesling Feast in New York City: Rieslingfeier 2015, USA

Wittmann

Pictures: Philipp Wittmann and Eva Clüsserath-Wittmann, Weingut Wittmann, with Annette and Christian Schiller at Prowein 2015 in Düsseldorf

Pictures: Cellar Tour and Wine Tasting with Philipp Wittmann and Eva Clüsserath-Wittmann at Weingut Wittmann in Westhofen – Germany-South Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2014)

Saale-Unstrut

None

Sachsen

None

Württemberg

None

schiller-wine: Related Postings

Announcement: ombiasy WineTours in 2019 - Germany-North and Bordeaux

Ombiasy Wine Tours 2018: 3 x France and 3 x Germany - Ombiasy Newsletter December 2017

UPCOMING Tours/ Wine Dinners/ Tastings - Annette and Christian Schiller/ ombiasyPR & WineTours/ schiller-wine, Germany, France, USA (Issued: March 1, 2019)

Vineyard Walk and Tasting at Weingut Meyer-Näkel in Dernau, Ahr, with Dörte Näkel– Germany-North Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2015)

Tasting and Tour with the Pinot Noir Legend Paul Fürst, Weingut Rudolf Fürst in Bürgstadt, Franken – Germany-East Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2015)

Winemaker Dinner with Sebastian Fürst, Weingut Fürst, Franken, at Schaumahl, Offenbach/ Frankfurt, 16 Points Gault Millau, Germany

Vinyard Tour, Cellar Tour and Tasting at Weingut Horst Sauer in Eschendorf, Franken, with Horst Sauer– Germany-East Tour 2016 by ombiasy WineTours

The German Winemakers at the 4th Riesling Rendezvous in Seattle, USA

The Karthäuserhof in the Mosel Valley: An Eventful History – From Grenoble in France to New York City in the US

Lunch and Wine Tasting at Weingut Reichsgraf von Kesselstatt in Morscheid, Mosel with Owner Annegret Reh-Gartner – Germany-South Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2014)

The Dry and Ultra-premium Dry GG and GG Reserve Rieslings of Weingut Dr. Loosen – Ernie Loosen in Washington DC

Wine Tasting at Weingut Dr. Loosen in Bernkastel-Kues, Mosel– Germany-North by ombiasy WineTours (2015)

A German Riesling Feast in New York City: Rieslingfeier 2015, USA

The Annual "Slaughterhouse" Riesling Feast in New York: Rieslingfeier 2017, USA

JJ Pruem Goes Supermarket: Meeting Katharina Pruem and Tasting the Incredible JJ Pruem Wines at Wegmans

Tasting at the Legendary Weingut J.J. Prüm with Amei Prüm– Germany-North Tour by ombiasy WineTours 2016

Tasting at Weingut St. Urbans-Hof in Leiwen, Mosel, with Nik Weis – Germany-North Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2015)

Tasting at Weingut Schloss Lieser in Lieser with Owner/ Winemaker Thomas Haag– Germany-North Tour by ombiasy WineTours 2016

Thomas Haag, Weingut Schloss Lieser, Germany’s Winemaker of the Year, Gault Millau WeinGuide Deutschland 2015

An Afternoon with Riesling Star Winemaker Helmut Doennhoff at Weingut Doennhoff in Oberhausen in the Nahe Valley, Germany

The Wines of Franz Kuenstler from Hochheim, Rheingau, Germany

Vineyard Walk, Cellar Tour and Wine Tasting at Weingut Künstler– Germany-North Wine Tour by ombiasy (2014)

Kiedrich: Visit of the Basilica of Saint Valentine and of Weingut Robert Weil - Germany-North Wine Tour by ombiasy (2014)

Cellar Tour and Wine Tasting with Philipp Wittmann and Eva Clüsserath-Wittmann at Weingut Wittmann in Westhofen – Germany-South Tour by ombiasyWineTours (2014)

Tasting at Weingut Schäfer-Fröhlich in Bockenau, Nahe - Germany-North Tour 2016 by ombiasy WineTours

Cellar Tour and Tasting at Weingut Jean Stodden, Ahr, with Alexander Stodden - Germany-North Tour 2017 by ombiasy WineTour

Tasting at Weingut Bernhard Huber in Baden, with Yquem Viehauser and Julian Huber – Germany-South Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2015)

Cellar Tour and Wine Tasting at Weingut Geheimer Rat Dr. von Bassermann-Jordan in Deidesheim with General Manager Gunther Hauck – Germany-South Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2014)

VDP.Rheingau Invited to a Pre-release Presentation of the 2017 Grosses Gewächs (GG) Wines

Pictures: Helene Jaume of Domaine Grand Veneur and Doug House of Chain Bridge Cellars at Chain Bridge Cellars

I always liked the wines of the Rhône valley, but after the Rhône Valley Tour 2018 by ombiasy WineTours: Wine, Culture and History, France, I became fascinated with the wines of the Rhône valley. I have them regularly now for lunch and dinner, along with reds from Bordeaux and Bourgogne and dry whites from Germany.

Picture: Helene Jaume with her Brothers and Father

We had considered to visit the Domaine Grand Veneur in Chateauneuf du Pape on the 2018 tour, but in the end did not stop there. Instead we visited Domaine du Pegau, Domaine La Bastide Saint Dominique, Château la Nerthe and Château des Fines Roches in Châteauneuf du Pape. On the next tour (planned for 2020), we will stop at Domaine Grand Veneur for sure and taste the outstanding wines of Vignobles Alain Jaume.See: UPCOMING Tours/ Wine Dinners/ Tastings - Annette and Christian Schiller/ ombiasyPR & WineTours/ schiller-wine, Germany, France, USA (Issued: March 1, 2019)

When I received the announcement that Helene Jaume of Domaine Grand Veneur would be in town and conduct a tasting at Chain Bridge Cellars in McLean, I immediately signed up for Annette Schiller and myself. It was, as expected, a great event with world class wines.

Pictures: Helene Jaume of Domaine Grand Veneur and Doug House of Chain Bridge Cellars

Chain Bridge Cellars: Invitation

As Robert Parker wrote about Domaine Grand Veneur a few years ago:

"This estate, owned by the Jaume family, has been on fire over the last decade. The wines are made in a polished, civilized, modern style, but they do not lack Provencal or Chateauneuf du Pape typicity."

Picture: Châteauneuf du Pape and the Southern Rhône Valley

We're thrilled to have Helene Jaume join us on Sunday, March 3, to share the story of this outstanding Southern Rhone estate and introduce you to some of their most exciting, if not so often seen, wines. Helene and her brothers Sébastien and Christophe grew up in Chateauneuf du Pape as their father, Alain, built the estate and now are jointly leading the house to new heights.

We'll pour eight wines during Helene's visit, including two stunning whites (a specialty here!) and a Tavel rosé that proves the contention that good rosé just improves with a little time. If you're a long-time Southern Rhone fan then this is a great opportunity to get to know one of the best - and best value - estates now working from the heights of Gigondas to the far hills of Ventoux. And if you're just getting into the bold, rich, wines of the Rhone, this is an exciting introduction to just how delicious (and well priced!) these wines can be.

Pictures: Helene Jaume

Alain Jaume: Our Origins

Helene Jaume: In the 14th century, during their stay in Avignon, the popes built a papal castle in Châteauneuf-du-Pape. Impressed by the area's exceptional “terroir” (the soil and its growing conditions), they planted vineyards around the castle on terraces covered with smooth rounded pebbles.

Established in the northern part of Châteauneuf du Pape, the Jaume family has been dedicated to the art of wine growing since 1826.

This venerable profession is our legacy, but above all it is our passion, requiring discipline, perseverance and a respect for nature and the challenges she presents us with. Every vintage is different from the last and we must skillfully adapt our growing techniques to the ever-changing behaviour of the vines, the grapes and the terroir.

Our aim, as skilled wine growers, is to produce, carefully and lovingly, wines that are intense, rich and complex and that reflect and embody the wonderful terroir of the southern Rhône Valley.

Our labels are stamped "Alain Jaume", with humility but also with a certain pride, as our name represents the guarantee of our constant commitment to your satisfaction.

Pictures: Helene Jaume Domaine Grand Veneur in Châteauneuf du Pape and Christian and Annette Schiller of ombiasy WineTours

Vignobles Alain Jaume

The Jaume family first planted vines, under the label Grand Veneur, in 1826. Five generations later, in 1979, Alain Jaume took over, now with the help of his two sons, Sébastien and Christophe, and daughter Helene.

Pictures: At Domaine Grand Veneur in Châteauneuf du Pape. See: The Rhône Valley seen through Christian Schiller's Camera - Rhône Valley Tour 2018 by ombiasy WineTours: Wine, Culture and History, France

The Jaume family holds five brands. The acquisition of Domaine de la Grangette Saint Joseph in 2015 took the total area owned by Alain Jaume to over 200 hectares:

Domaine Grand Veneur in Châteauneuf du Pape
Domaine du Clos de Sixte in Lirac
Chateau Mazane Vacqueyras
Domaine de la Grangette Saint Joseph at Jonquières in the Vaucluse (Côte du Rhône Appellation)
Alain Jaume (Négociant)

Impressions from the Rhône Valley Tour 2018 by ombiasy WineTours: Wine, Culture and History, Franc

Here are a few pictures from the Rhône Valley Tour 2018 by ombiasy WineTours. See: Rhône Valley Tour 2018 by ombiasy WineTours: Wine, Culture and History, France

See also:

Understanding the Wines of the Rhône Valley: The Classification - AOC/ Vin de Pay/ Vin de France
The Rhône Wine Region in Southern France and its Wines: History, Classification, Northern and Southern Rhône

Pictures: The Rhône Valley seen through Christian Schiller's Camera - Rhône Valley Tour 2018 by ombiasy WineTours: Wine, Culture and History, France

The Tasting

We tasted 7 wines with Helene Jaume.

Alain Jaume Tavel Rose Le Cretace 2017

Alain Jaume Vacqueras Grande Garrigue 2016

Château Mazane Vacqueyras 2016

Domaine Grand Veneur Châteauneuf du Pape Vieux Terron 2016

Domaine Grand Veneur Châteauneuf du Pape Rouge Le Miocene 2016

Domaine Grand Veneur Châteauneuf du Pape Rouge Les Origines 2016

Domaine Grand Veneur Châteauneuf du Pape Rouge Veilles Vignes 2011

schiller-wine: Related Postings

Announcement: ombiasy WineTours in 2019 - Germany-North and Bordeaux

Ombiasy Wine Tours 2018: 3 x France and 3 x Germany - Ombiasy Newsletter December 2017

UPCOMING Tours/ Wine Dinners/ Tastings - Annette and Christian Schiller/ ombiasyPR & WineTours/ schiller-wine, Germany, France, USA (Issued: March 1, 2019)

Rhône Valley Tour December 2017: From Lyon to Avignon - Wine, Food, Culture, History

Understanding the Wines of the Rhône Valley: The Classification - AOC/ Vin de Pay/ Vin de France

The Rhône Wine Region in Southern France and its Wines: History, Classification, Northern and Southern Rhône

The Rhône Valley seen through Christian Schiller's Camera - Rhône Valley Tour 2018 by ombiasy WineTours: Wine, Culture and History, France

A Journey through the Rhône Valley - Seminar at the 2018 American Wine Society National Conference in Buffalo, New York State, USA, led by Annette Schiller

Picture: Tour and Tasting at Château La Conseillante, Appellation Pomerol, with General Manager/ Winemaker Marielle Cazaux - Bordeaux Tour 2018 by ombiasy WineTours, France

Pomerol is a tiny winegrowing region, located on the pilgrim road to Santiago de Compostela. Wine has been produced here since Roman times. Later the Knights of the Order of Malta cultivated the vines. In the Middle Ages, these knights established the Commanderie de Pomerol, which still exists today.

Pictures: Arriving

Château La Conseillante/ Berry Brothers and Rudd

Château La Conseillante is amongst the crème de la crème of Pomerol producers. It can trace its history back to 1735 and has been in the hands of the Nicolas family since 1874. La Conseillante's 13 hectares of vineyards are located on a plateau in eastern Pomerol on the boundary with the St-Emilion appellation. Its vineyards border those of L`Evangile, Petit-Village, Vieux Château-Certan and Cheval Blanc. La Conseillante is a blend of 70% Merlot, 25% Cabernet Franc and 5% Malbec. The grapes are harvested by hand and are then fermented in temperature-controlled stainless steel vats. The wine is then aged in small oak casks (90% new) for 18-20 months. It is bottled unfiltered.

Pictures: In the Vineyard at Château La Conseillante, Appellation Pomerol, with General Manager/ Winemaker Marielle Cazaux

The beginnings of Château La Conseillante go back to the mid 18th century. Madame Catherine Conseillan was owner and in charge of the estate and gave it its name. She had no heirs and the estate passed to relatives, was sold and bought a couple times and finally found its masters in the Nicolas family. It was Louis Nicolas, owner of a négociant business in Libourne, who purchased Château La Conseillante in 1871. Since then it has been continuously passed on to the next generation of the family and today the 5th generation is at the helm.

Pictures: In the Cellar at Château La Conseillante, Appellation Pomerol. with General Manager/ Winemaker Marielle Cazaux

Marielle Cazaux

In 1971 the estate underwent a thorough renovation and it was here that stainless steel, temperature controlled vats for fermentation were introduced. A second major renovation was completed in 2012 and concrete tanks were installed.

This estate is relatively small – but typical for the right bank – compared with the châteaux on the left bank. 30 acres of vineyards belong to the château and 80% is planted with Merlot and the rest predominantly with Cabernet Franc.

In 2015 a new director came on board, Marielle Cazaux, who studied enology at Bordeaux and was the director at neighboring Chateau Petit-Village before joining the team at La Conseillante.

Tasting

The tour ended in the tasting room.

Pictures: Tasting at Château La Conseillante, Appellation Pomerol, with General Manager/ Winemaker Marielle Cazaux

The Wines

2007 Château La Conseillante

wine-searcher average price in US$: 106

The 2007 La Conseillante has a very pretty bouquet with tarry black cherry fruit, black truffle and incense. I appreciate the focus and freshness on this Pomerol. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannin, a keen line of acidity, very focused with plenty of freshness and tension on the finish. Maybe the best bottle of this I have encountered, this La Conseillante is well worth hunting down. Tasted February 2017. Drink date 2017 - 2030. Score: 92, Neal Martin, Wine Advocate (231), June 2017

2012 Château La Conseillante

wine-searcher average price in US$: 123

An absolutely amazing wine from the Nicolas family, this is from another estate in Pomerol that is pushing the envelope to higher and higher quality. The final blend has moved to smaller amounts of Cabernet Franc, now approximately 20%, with the balance 80% Merlot. Through crop-thinning, yields have been reduced to an average of 35 hectoliters per hectare. Inky bluish/purple color and stunning sweet tannins embrace a full-bodied opulent Pomerol with beautiful, floral-infused black raspberry, blueberry and cassis fruit. Full-bodied, yet elegant, this is a brilliant marriage between finesse and power. Stunningly pure, this wine can be drunk young or age magnificently for 20 or more years. Drink: 2015 - 2035, Score: 96 Robert Parker, Wine Advocate (218), April 2015

Pictures: The Wines

Bye-bye

Many thanks Marielle Cazaux for a wonderful tour and tasting.

Pictures: Bye-bye

Total Immersion in Bordeaux: World Class Wines and Exquisite French Gourmet Cuisine - Bordeaux Tour 2018 by ombiasy WineTours, France (Published and Forthcoming Postings)

Total Immersion in Bordeaux: World Class Wines and Exquisite French Gourmet Cuisine - Bordeaux Tour 2018 by ombiasy WineTours, France

Total Immersion in Bordeaux: World Class Wines and Exquisite French Gourmet Cuisine - Bordeaux Tour 2017 by ombiasy WineTours, France

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Bordeaux Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2015), France

Bordeaux Wine Tour 2013 by ombiasy

Bordeaux Wines and their Classifications: The Basics

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Schiller’s Favorite Wine Bars in Bordeaux City - An Update

Schiller’s Favorite Seafood Places in Bordeaux City, France - An Update

Bordeaux - En Primeur, Negociants, Courtiers, the Quai de Chartons and the Place de Bordeaux– A Short Introduction

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Schiller’s Favorite Wine Bars in St. Emilion, France

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Tour and tasting at Château La Conseillante, Appellation Pomerol, with General Manager/ Winemaker Marielle Cazaux

Tour and Tasting at Château La Conseillante, Appellation Pomerol, with GM/ Winemaker Marielle Cazaux - Bordeaux Tour 2017 by ombiasy WineTours

Tour and Lunch at Château Le Bon Pasteur, Appellation Pomerol, with Dany Rolland and General Manager/ Winemaker Benoît Prevot

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Visit and Tasting (including from Barrel) at Château Tertre-Rôteboeuf, Appellation Saint-Emilion, with Owner/ Winemaker François Mitjavile

Visit of an Ultra-premium Non-mainstream Bordeaux Producer: Tertre Rôteboeuf, with Owner and Winemaker François Mitjavile, France – Bordeaux Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2015)

Tour and Lunch at Château Climens, Appellation Barsac-Sauterne, Première Grand Cru Classé, with Owner/ Winemaker Bérénice Lurton

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Oysters in Bordeaux: Visiting the Oyster Farmer Raphael Doerfler and his Earl Ostrea Chanca Oyster Farm in Grand Piquey/ Bassin d'Arcachon - Bordeaux Tour by ombiasy WineTours 2017, France

Lunch at Pinasse Café, Cap Ferret, Bassin d'Arcachon - Bordeaux Tour 2017 by ombiasy WineTours, France

The 5 Premiers Grands Crus Chateaux en 1855 of Bordeaux, France

What is a Bordeaux Cru Bourgeois? France

Visit and Tasting at Château La Tour de Bessan, Appellation Margaux, Cru Bourgois, with Owner/ Winemaker Marie-Laure Lurton

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Wine-Pairing Lunch at Château Pichon Longueville Baron in Pauillac - Bordeaux Tour by ombiasy WineTours 2017 France

Visit and Tasting at Château Ormez de Pez, Appellation Saint-Estèphe

How a Barrel is Made: Visit of the Cooperage Berger & Fils in Vertheuil– Bordeaux Tour by ombiasy WineTours 2017, France

Tour and Tasting, including from Barrel, at Château Lafon-Rochet, Appellation Saint-Estèphe, 4ième Grand Cru Classé, with Owner Basile Tesseron

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Tour and Family-style Dinner at Château Le Reysse and Château Lassus, Vignobles Paeffgen, Appellation Médoc, Owner/ Winemaker Stefan Paeffgen and Heike Paeffgen

Tour, Barrel Tasting and Family Dinner with Stefan and Heike Paeffgen, Château Le Reysse and Château Lassus, Vignobles Paeffgen, Appellation Médoc - Bordeaux Tour by ombiasy WineTours 2017, France

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Picture: Eve Faiveley of Domaine Faiveley, Nuits St. Georges, Bourgogne, with Annette and Christian Schiller

The Rheingau Gourmet und Wein Festival brings togather every year leading chefs and winemakers from around the world. The annual event is organized by Hans B. Ullrich, the owner of the Hotel and Restaurant Kronenschlösschen in Hattenheim. It takes place during February/ March and lasts for about 2 and 1/2 weeks.

The Bourgogne tours by ombiasy WineTours of Annette Schiller typically include a visit and tasting of this prestigious Burgundy estate. The last time we were there was just a few months ago during the 2018 Bourgogne Tour by ombiasy WineTours (See: Burgundy (and Champagne) Tour 2018 by ombiasy WineTours: From Lyon to Paris - Wine, Food, Culture and History, France).

Domaine Faiveley is close to our heart and it was an obvious thing to signed up for the dinner with Eve Faiveley of Domaine Faiveley Nuits St. Georges, Bourgogne and 2-star-Michelin Chef Thomas Kellermann, Relais & Châteaux Park Hotel Egerner Höfe in Rottach-Egern, Tegernsee. In addition to the eight world class wines of Domaine Faiveley, two wines of Weingut Balthasar Ress, Hattenheim, Rheingau, were poured as well as a Port Fonseca Vintage 2000.

The evening started with Sekt (NV Geldermann Brut Grand Rosé and Grand Blanc) reception in a party tent in the court yard of Hotel and Restaurant Kronenschlösschen, where people could mingle and had a chance to talk with Eve Faiveley. Amuse-bouches were served there.

Picture: Rheingau Gourmet und Wein Festival Organizer Hans B. Ullrich and Annette Schiller

Picture: Eve Faiveley and Annette Schiller

Picture: Eve Faiveley and Armin Diel

Picture: Christian Schiller, Armin Diel, Annette Schiller

Pictures: Amuse-bouches

Picture: Geldermann Sekt

We then moved to the large dining room of Hotel and Restaurant Kronenschlösschen. Hans B. Ullrich welcomed the 120 guests and handed the microphone to Chef Thomas Kellermann, who explained what he was cooking for us. Hendrik Thoma then took over and led with Eve Faiveley through the evening with charme and wit.

Pictures: Kronenschlösschen Owner Hans B. Ullrich and Chef Thomas Kellermann

Pictures: Eve Faiveley and Hendrik Thoma

Domaine Faiveley

Domaine Joseph Faiveley is one of the biggest domains in the Bourgogne and, many would argue, one of the best. This illustrious company has been based in Nuits St Georges since the days of Pierre Faiveley who founded the business in 1825. His son Joseph gave his name to the family business, to be followed by (1) the first François, (2) Georges who was instrumental in founding the Chevaliers du Tastevin, (3) Guy who developed the business in the Côte Chalonnaise, (4) François who recently retired and (5) now his children Eve and Erwan.

Pictures: At Domaine Faiveley. See: Burgundy (and Champagne) Tour 2018 by ombiasy WineTours: From Lyon to Paris - Wine, Food, Culture and History, France

Guy Faiveley, a brilliant intellectual who had a collection of diplomas, had the difficult job of succeeding his very colorful father. Yet, with his impetus, the domain doubled in size. François Faiveley took over the domain at the age of 25. He was able to give it a new boost – using a precursor of the sorting table and carrying out cold macerations for example. At the same age as his father, Erwan Faiveley took over the domain in 2007, becoming the seventh generation. Recently, he was joined by his sister Eve.

Initially, the company was a classic négociant, buying and selling wine. Bourgogne wines started to experience greater fame in Louis 14th's reign, when those high up in the King's court and foreign ambassadors in Paris started to take an interest. It was against this background that Pierre Faiveley founded the négociant business in 1825.

Pictures: At Domaine Faiveley. See: Burgundy (and Champagne) Tour 2018 by ombiasy WineTours: From Lyon to Paris - Wine, Food, Culture and History, France

But from generation to generation, with a strong commitment to the quality of Burgundy’s patrimony, the Faiveley family has purchased vineyards and is today among the largest owners of classified vineyards in the Côte de Nuits, Côte de Beaune and Côte Chalonnaise.

In 2013, Domaine Faiveley acquired 20 hectares of vines previously owned by Domaine Dupont-Tisserandot, which is based in Gevrey-Chambertin. All together, the firm now owns 123 hectares of vineyards among which 12 hectares are grands crus and 27 premiers crus.

Along with this focus, Erwan and Eve Faiveley and General Manager Bernard Hervet have renovated the cellars, which now boast state-of-the-art barrel presses, custom-designed wooden vats and among the finest, air-cured oak casks available in the world. Unlike many wine growers, Domaine Faiveley has united the management of its vineyards and its cellar under the direction of one technical director, Jerome Flous.

Pictures: At Domaine Faiveley. See: Burgundy (and Champagne) Tour 2018 by ombiasy WineTours: From Lyon to Paris - Wine, Food, Culture and History, France

The grapes are entirely destemmed and fermented in new custom-designed wooden vats for the finer wines, conical stainless steel tanks for the lesser cuvées. Fermentation is slow and at low temperatures.

Wines mature afterwards in oak barrels in 19th century vault cellars that offer ideal conditions for long ageing. These barrels coming from great coopers have been rigorously selected for their fine grain and light toast. Both premier and grand cru wines may receive two-thirds new wood.

Many of Faiveley's top wines are hand bottled with no filtration. This in turn results in clean, opulent wines that often show Pinot Noir at its best.

Faiveley’s white wines are both silky and powerful. They bring together purity, tension and minerality. The red wines are the perfect illustration of a successful marriage of elegance, precision and concentration.

This write up is based on what I learnt from Mathilde Nicolas during recent tours and tastings at Domaine Faiveley in Nuits-Saint-Georges and the Faiveley web site, supplemented by the excellent write-ups on the web site of Berry Bros. and Rudd as well as Frederic Wildmann.

Pictures: At Domaine Faiveley. See: Burgundy (and Champagne) Tour 2018 by ombiasy WineTours: From Lyon to Paris - Wine, Food, Culture and History, France

2-star-Michelin Chef Thomas Kellermann

Thomas Kellermann went to the Hotel-Restaurant Erbprinz in Ettlingen in 1991 and in 1992 to the Wald- und Schlosshotel Friedrichsruhe, where he joined the team of Chef Lothar Eiermann. In 1994 he moved to Munich for six years to work at the Tantris under Chef Hans Haas. He took up his first position as a chef in 2000 at Landhaus Nösse in Sylt, followed by two Berlin restaurants: 2001 Portalis and 2003 Vitrum. Here he was awarded a Michelin star.

From 2008 to 2018 he was the chef of the restaurant Kastell in the Hotel Burg Wernberg in Wernberg-Köblitz. In 2011 he was awarded the second Michelin star. Since June 2018, Thomas Kellermann has been at the Park Hotel Egerner Höfe in Rottach-Egern.

Picture: Chef Thomas Kellermann

The Dinner

Pictures: The Dinner

The Menu

Picture: The Menu

Picture: Champagne Pol Roger Brut Réserve

Picture: The Setting

Der Kleine Aal

Tegernseer Saibling

Seewolf

Krosser Schweinebauch

Brotsuppe mit Imperial Taube

Ananas

Petits Fours

Thanks

It was a great evening. Thanks Eve, Thomas and Hendrik.

Picture: Hotel und Restaurant Kronenschlösschen in Hattenheim

schiller-wine: Related Postings

Announcement: ombiasy WineTours in 2019 - Germany-North and Bordeaux

Ombiasy Wine Tours 2018: 3 x France and 3 x Germany - Ombiasy Newsletter December 2017

UPCOMING Tours/ Wine Dinners/ Tastings - Annette and Christian Schiller/ ombiasyPR & WineTours/ schiller-wine, Germany, France, USA (Issued: March 1, 2019)

Burgundy (and Champagne) Tour 2018 by ombiasy WineTours: From Lyon to Paris - Wine, Food, Culture and History, France

Tasting at Domaine Faiveley in Nuits St. Georges - Bourgogne (and Champagne) Tour 2016 by ombiasy WineTours

Domaine Faiveley in Nuits-Saint-George: Cellar Tour and Wine Tasting with Mathilde Nicolas (Brand Ambassador)– Bourgogne Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2015), France

Hattenheim/ Rheingau: Lunch in 3 Restaurants with 3 Winemakers and 3 Chefs: Adlerwirtschaft and Weingut Hans Lang - Kaufmann, Zum Krug and Wein- und Sektgut Barth, Kronenschlösschen and Weingut Georg Müller Stiftung, Germany

Kuenstler, Meyer-Naekel, Wirsching– Winemaker Dinner at Kronenschlösschen in Hattenheim, Rheingau, Germany

Picture: Visit and Tasting at Domaine de Fussiacus in Fuissé, Poully-Fuissé, Mâconnais, with Owner/ Winemaker Yannik Pacquet - Burgundy (and Champagne) Tour 2018 by ombiasy WineTours: From Lyon to Paris

Owner/ Winemaker Yannik Pacquet was our host.

Situated in the heart of the charming little village of Fuissé, Domaine de Fussiacus has since its creation in 1989 been a producer of top Pouilly-Fuissé wines. Owner Jean-Paul Paquet, son of a winemaker, grandson of a cooper, succeeded his father on an 8 acres domaine in 1978. Over the next 10 years he increased the vineyard surface and made different acquisitions to create Domaine de Fussiacus, named after the Roman lord who founded the village of Fuissé.

In 2005, Yannick, Jean Paul’s son, who had just finished his studies in viticulture and oenology, started to work too in the domaine. Its vineyards are spread over small hills exposes East, South-East, with an average altitude of 250 meters. The only grape variety is Chardonnay. All wines are produced in order to protect the environment, by using techniques from organic farming, hand-picking, pneumatic pressing, temperature control, and no yeast addition. Everything is done to obtain a wine as natural as possible. Jean Paul Paquet crafts Mâconnais’ wines with tremendous character and wonderful intensity of pure fruit, undergoing barrel ageing to add roundness and a slight spicy touch. His wines provide a great introduction to the charm of Mâconnais whites.

Pictures: Welome

Our (Jean-Paul Paquet's) Story

Jean-Paul Paquet: Our story starts with my grandfather, a winegrower and cooper. In 1955, my parents Jean and Germaine left their native Bresse and crossed the Saône to try their luck in the Macon region, in the southern Burgundy region. They started work as vineyard employees in the little village of Fuissé, wich nestles at the heart of Pouilly-Fuissé vineyard country. In 1959 they started tenant farming, finally settling in 1971 in a small 3-hectare domaine that was, at the time, owned by an engineer from Lyon. The domaine was called LES VIEUX MURS.

For as long as I can remember, vines have been part of the fabric of my world. On Thursdays, I used to join my father amongst the vines. I loved the grape harvests. In 1978 I was 20 and when my father died, I took over from him. I was married in 1980 and we've been lucky enough to have 3 children - 2 girls and a boy. Along with my wife Monique, we set up the Domaine de FUSSIACUS in 1989 followed by our 2003 purchase of Domaine des GRANGES, formerly of CHATEAU DE CHAINTRÉ. We re-named it in 2009.

I am proud that I have passed my passion for wine and the vine to our son Yannick. He joined the family business in September 2005 having already completed his studies in viticulture and oenology.

Domaine de Fussiacus

Jean-Paul Paquet: Monique and I set up this Domaine in 1989. It bears the name of FUSSIACUS in homage to the Roman emperor of the same name who made the village his home during the Roman Empire. FUSSIACUS is thought to be the founder of the village of Fuissé.

The Domaine sits in FUISSÉ, at the heart of the POUILLY-FUISSÉ appellation. Our vines stretch over gentle East-South-East facing hills, between 200 and 300 metres high. Our sole grape variety is CHARDONNAY.

Today, the Domaine boasts 8 hectares of vines :

- 3.5 hectares of old POUILLY-FUISSÉ vines
- 2.5 hectares of MÂCON-FUISSÉ
- 0.5 hectare of POUILLY-VINZELLES
- 1.5 hectares of SAINT-VÉRAN

Domaine de Chaintré

Jean-Paul Paquet: In preparation for our son Yannick joining the business, we decided to increase the size of our vineyard. The perfect opportunity to do so arose in 2003 when we purchased this Domaine in Chaintré, in the old vineyard of Château de Chaintré, and comprises 6 hectares that produce Macon-Chaintre and Bourgogne-Chardonnay. Each of these is the product of our single variety, Chardonnay.

The story of the Chateau starts at the begining of the 12th century. Then, it belonged to the Seigneurie des Chaintré, one of the oldest families in the Macon region. Today it is private property and divided into several flats.

Domaine Les Vieux Murs

Jean-Paul Paquet: I started to work on this Domaine in 1978.

Then, the Domaine had 3 hectares of POUILLY-FUISSÉ. Today it has 4, in the best soils that the village of FUISSÉ can offer.

We told tradition very highly. Grape harvesting is still manual and our wines are always matured in 30 year old wooden casks. We believe this lends our wines the best of the flavours of our lands.

In the Vineyard

Jean-Paul Paquet: Passion alone isn't enough. Know-how grows over the course of seasons and vintages. We try to use our know-how every day in growing our vines and in making our wines. Through really watching and listening, as well as through a great deal of patience, I've managed to make the most of exceptional lands boasted by southern Bourgogne region. Our overall respect for these unique lands means we are able to produce authentic, finessed, elegant wines.

Pictures: In the Vineyard

In the Cellar

Jean-Paul Paquet: Work in the cellars is the logical partner to work on the vines. It is not enough to simply respect the land, the grape itself also deserves respect.

Our grape harvests are entirely manual, allowing us fastidious attention to detail. We only select the healthiest, most mature grapes from each vine-plant. To undertake such detailed work, we emply some 25 to 30 people for a fortnight each year.

The grapes are forwarded in stanless steel tubs, until they reach a conveyor belt that gently moves the whole harvest into the pneumatic press. Gentle, moderate pressing allows for maximum juice extraction whilst respecting the grape.

After the pressing stage, the extracted juice is placed in stainless steel tanks for 24 hours of racking. The clear juice that is produced is then placed directly into barrels (Pouilly-Fuissé Vieilles Vignes) or in thermo regulated wooden tuns or tanks.

Alcoholic fermentation takes place slowly at 18° using the grape"s naturally occuring yeasts. This method ensures the preservation of all the natural aromas, best expressing the beauty of our lands. Malolactic fermentation, systematically researched, naturally follows this stage.

Lees aging is done slowly, for 6-8 months for Mâcon, St Véran, Pouilly-Vinzelles and Pouilly-Fuissé varieties, and up to 12 months for Pouilly-Fuissé Vieilles Vignes. Next is filtration, blendind and finally bottling, which is all done in-house.

We move heaven and earth to ensure our wines are as natural as possible. Our hard work, as well as our passion, aims simply to produce the highest-quality wines that keep our clients happy.

Pictures: In the Cellar

Tasting

At the end of the cellar tour, Yannick invited us for a tasting of his wines.

Pictures: Tasting

The Wines Yannik Pacquet Poured

Yannik Pacquet produces the following wines. We tasted almost all of them.

Château de Chaintré

Mâcon-Chaintré
Bourgogne-Chardonnay
Pouilly-fuissé

Domaine de Fussiacus

Mâcon-Fuissé
Saint-Véran
Pouilly-Vinzelles
Pouilly-Fuissé "Vieilles Vignes"
Pouilly-Fuissé Vers Cras

Domaine Les Vieux Murs

Pouilly-Fuissé

Pictures: Tasting

Bye-bye

Thanks Yannik for a wonderful tour and tasting.

Picture: Bye-bye

Burgundy (and Champagne) Tour 2018 by ombiasy WineTours: From Lyon to Paris - Wine, Food, Culture and History (Forthcoming an already relased Postings)

Burgundy (and Champagne) Tour 2018 by ombiasy WineTours: From Lyon to Paris - Wine, Food, Culture and History, France

Dinner at a Bouchon - Chez Paul - in Lyon: Schiller’s Favorite Bouchons in Lyon, France

Introduction to the Burgundy Wine Region at Antic Wine in Lyon with Flying Sommelier Georges Dos Santos - Burgundy (and Champagne) 2016 Tour by ombiasy WineTours

Lunch at La Table de Chaintré (1 Star Michelin) in Chaintré, with Chef Sébastien Grospellier - Burgundy (and Champagne) Tour 2018 by ombiasy WineTours: From Lyon to Paris

In the Most Prestigious AOC in the Mâconnais: Pouilly-Fuissé, France

Visit and tasting at Domaine de Fussiacus in Fuissé, Poully-Fuissé, Mâconnais, with Owner/ Winemaker Yannik Pacquet

Vineyard tour, cellar tour and tasting at Domaine Desvignes in Givry, Côte Chalonnaise, with Owner/ Winemaker Gautier Desvignes

Lunch at Restaurant Le Mercurey in Mercurey - Bourgogne (and Champagne) Tour 2016 by ombiasy WineTours

At Domaine Theulot-Juillot in Mercurey, Côte Chalonnaise, with Nathalie Theulot - Bourgogne (and Champagne) Tour 2016 by ombiasy WineTours

Tour of Château de Rully and Tasting of Domaine du Château de Rully Wines, with Count Raoul de Ternay - Bourgogne (and Champagne) Tour 2016 by ombiasy WineTours

Dinner at restaurant Le Chevreuil in Meursault, with the wines of Domaine Matrot

Cellar tour and tasting at Cave Ropiteau Frères in Meursault, Côte de Beaune

Cellar Tour and Tasting at Domaine Michel Prunier & Fille in Auxey Duresses, Côte de Beaune - Bourgogne (and Champagne) Tour 2016 by ombiasy WineTours

Where Robert Parker likes to Eat: Lunch at La Crémaillère in Auxey-Duresses - Bourgogne (and Champagne) Tour 2016 by ombiasy WineTours

Vineyard walk and tasting in the vineyards of Meursault, with Karoline Knoth and the Wines of Domaine Pierre Morey

Vineyard Walk in Meursault with Karoline Knoth - Bourgogne (and Champagne) Tour 2016 by ombiasy WineTours

Olivier Leflaive in Puligny Montrachet: Vineyard Walk, Cellar Tour and Lunch, with Patrick Leflaive

Olivier Leflaive in Puligny Montrachet: Vineyard Walk and Cellar Tour, with Olivier and Patrick Leflaive - Bourgogne (and Champagne) Tour by ombiasy WineTours 2016, France

Lunch and Wine Tasting at La Table de Olivier in Puligny Montrachet with Olivier Leflaive – Bourgogne (and Champagne) Tour by ombiasy WineTours 2016, France

Visit and tasting at Château de Chassagne-Montrachet in Chassagne-Montrachet, Côte de Beaune

Tour of the ancient cellars and tasting at Maison Joseph Drouhin in Beaune, Côte de Beaune

Visit and Tasting: Maison Joseph Drouhin in Beaune– Bourgogne (and Champagne) Tour 2016 by ombiasy WineTours, France

Schiller’s Favorite Wine Bars in Beaune, Bourgogne

Visit: Hospices de Beaune– Bourgogne (and Champagne) Tour by ombiasy WineTours 2016, France

Lunch at restaurant Le Carmin (1 Michelin Star) in Beaune

Vineyard tour, cellar tour and tasting at Château de Pommard in Pommard, Côte de Beaune.

Cellar tour and tasting at Domaine Faiveley in Nuits-Saint-George, Côte de Nuits, with Matilde Nicolas, Communications Director

Tasting at Domaine Faiveley in Nuits St. Georges - Bourgogne (and Champagne) Tour 2016 by ombiasy WineTours

Guided tour of the Abbey de Cîteaux

Visit of Château du Clos de Vougeot - Bourgogne (and Champagne) Tour 2016 by ombiasy WineTours

Vineyard tour, cellar tour and tasting at Domaine Armelle et Bernhard Rion in Vosne-Romanée, Côte de Nuits, with Armelle Rion

Cellar Tour and Tasting at Domaine Armelle et Bernhard Rion in Vosne Romanée, Côte de Nuits - Bourgogne (and Champagne) Tour 2016 by ombiasy WineTours

Cellar Tour and Tasting at Domaine Guillon & Fils in Gevrey-Chambertin, Côte de Nuits, with Jean-Michel Guillon - Bourgogne (and Champagne) Tour 2016 by ombiasy WineTours

An Institution: Lunch at Restaurant Chez Guy in Gevrey-Chambertin - Bourgogne (and Champagne) Tour 2016 by ombiasy WineTours

Cellar tour and tasting at Domaine Pierre Gelin in Fixin, Côte de Nuits. with Owner/ Winemaker Pierre Gelin.

Wine Pairing Lunch, Cellar Visit, Vineyard Tour and Tasting at Domaine Jean Marc Brocard in Préhy, Chablis– Bourgogne (and Champagne) Tour 2016 by ombiasy WineTours, France

Schiller’s Favorite Wine Bars and other Wine Venues in Chablis, France

Visit and tasting at Château Long-Depaquit in Chablis, with General Manager Cécilia Trimaille.

Champagne– An Introduction, France

French Champagne Houses and German Roots

Visit and Tasting at Champagne Jean Josselin, a Grower Champagne House in Gyé sur Seine – Bourgogne (and Champagne) Tour 2016 by ombiasy WineTours, France

Tour of the Avenue de Champagne in Épernay

Dinner at 1-Michelin star restaurant Les Berceaux in Épernay

Cellar visit and tasting at the Champagne House Mercier in Épernay

Lunch at La Coupole, Montparnasse, Paris

Dining and Wining on Boulevard Montparnasse in Paris: La Rotonde, Le Dôme and La Coupole, France – Pre-Bordeaux Wine Tour 2016 by ombiasy WineTours, France

Pictures: Dinner at Tor Dining, a Pop-up Restaurant in Frankfurt, Germany

In Frankfurt, Annette and I are members of a group of wine and food aficiniados that meets about once a month in a top restaurant. In late February, we had dinner at Tor Dining, a pop-up restaurant in downtown Frankfurt. There were nine of us. We had a 5-couse menu and 13 bottles of wine.

Tor Art Space

Tor Art Space is a modern-art project in Frankfurt downtown, initiated by Anne Nowitzki and Ulf Appel. It provides art students with space to present their art to the general public in currently unused quarters in the Allerheiligenviertel.

Pictures: Tor Art Space

Tor Dining

The creative works are accompanied by culinary creations: At Tor Dining, a few blocks down the road from TOR Art Space, the two chefs Nick Kircher and Chris Wassmus await their guests.

Tor Dining is open to the general public on Thursday, Friday and Saturday. There is one large communal table, 11 meter long for 32 guests.

There is one menu, with 6 courses, which changes every week. The menu is Euro 63 excluding wine and Euro 101 including wine. We ordered excluding wine and brought our one wine (Euro 10 per bottle corkage fee). Everybody eats at the same time. The open kitchen is staffed with 2 people only, Nick Kircher and Chris Wassmu. Everybody eats togather and has to arrive at the same time, 19:30.

Tor Dining, Innenstadt, Allerheiligenstraße 2-4, Do–Sa ab 18.30 Uhr, Tel. 0151/10432022

Tor Dining/ Katja Appelt on facebook

Katja Appelt on facebook: Frankfurt is full of (foodie) surprises these days - if you walk through the slightly wicked Allerheiligenstraße🏢🏩🏢, hidden behind a bland 1970s style aluminium framed frosted glass door you find one of Frankfurts new culinary secrets 🤩- the pop-up restaurant Tor Art Space - Dining (Tor Dining). Last night, the chefs Nick Kircher & Chris Wassmus gave an impressive insight into there cuisine @ Tor Dining – Tastelab. Gr8 food, impressively tender beef, playful use of spices accompanied by one of my fav wines these days: the W-Files Orion (yes, it is a natural wine from Riesling, MT & SB) AND my lovely sister ... It was a great foodie evening. Btw: Usually Tor Art Dining offers a six course menu - guests are seated at a long table with a view of the open kitchen. An experience not to miss

The Dinner

Sparklers

Gruß aus der Küche

Wildkräuter / Artischocke / Edelpilze / Kopfsalat

Heilbutt / Knoblauch / Schwarzwurzel / Ziegenbutter

Kürbis / Raps / Karotte / Ziegenbutter

Flank / Kaffee / Wildgarnele / Salzmandel

Erbse / Speck / Ahorn / Topinambur

The End

What a feast.

Pictures: The End

schiller-wine: Related Postings

Announcement: ombiasy WineTours in 2019 - Germany-North and Bordeaux

Ombiasy Wine Tours 2018: 3 x France and 3 x Germany - Ombiasy Newsletter December 2017

UPCOMING Tours/ Wine Dinners/ Tastings - Annette and Christian Schiller/ ombiasyPR & WineTours/ schiller-wine, Germany, France, USA (Issued: March 1, 2019)

Lebanon in the Glass: Château Musar Tasting of Weinakademiker/ Frankfurt with Rudi Knoll, Germany

Corso al Gusto: Outstanding Modern Italian Cooking at Biancalani in Frankfurt, with Chef Christoph Kubenz, Germany

Phantastic Dinner at the "New" Weinsinn in Frankfurt, Germany

Dinner at Restaurant Schwarzenstein - Nils Henkel in the Rheingau, with Nils Henkel, Chef of the Year 2017 (Der Feinschmecker), Germany

Wine Pairing Dinner at 1 Michelin Star Restaurant Reisers am Stein and Tasting and Tour at Weingut am Stein Ludwig Knoll, with Winemaker Franziska Schömig - Germany-East Tour 2018 by ombiasy WineTours: Wine, Art, Culture, History - Berlin, Saale-Unstrut, Sachsen, Württemberg, Franken

Wine Pairing Dinner at Restaurant Zufriedenheit in Naumburg, with Chef Robert Klaus and his Excellent Food, and Uwe Lützkendorf, Weingut Lützkendorf, and his World-class Wines - Germany-East Tour 2018 by ombiasy WineTours: Wine, Art, Culture, History - Berlin, Saale-Unstrut, Sachsen, Württemberg, Franken

Dinner with Felix Graf Adelmann, Weingut Graf Adelmann, at Burg Schaubeck in Kleinbottwar, Württemberg - Germany-East Tour 2018 by ombiasy WineTours: Wine, Art, Culture, History - Berlin, Saale-Unstrut, Sachsen, Württemberg, Franken

Lunch at L’Auberge du Pont de Collonges, Paul Bocuse’s Iconic Restaurant in Collonges au Mont d’Or, France - Burgundy (and Champagne) 2016 Tour by ombiasy WineTours

Dining and Wining on Boulevard Montparnasse in Paris: La Rotonde, Le Dôme and La Coupole, France – Pre-Bordeaux Wine Tour 2016 by ombiasy WineTours, France

Dining at Günter Seeger NY, a Temple for Natural Cuisine and German Wine in New York: Brilliance and Simplicity on the Plate and Ultra-premium Dry Red and White Wine from Germany in the Glass

Dinner at Restaurant Schwarzer Adler, 1 Star Michelin, Oberbergen, Kaiserstuhl, Baden - Germany-South and Alsace 2017 Tour by ombiasy WineTours

Promenade au Fleckenstein: Dinner at L'Auberge du Cheval Blanc (2 Stars Michelin) in Lembach, Alsace, with Chef Pascal Bastian - Germany-South and Alsace 2018 Tour by ombiasy WineTours: Baden, Alsace, Pfalz and Rheinhessen

Picture: Dinner at Le Bouchon des Filles in Lyon - Rhône Valley Tour 2018 by ombiasy WineTours: Wine, Culture and History, France

Following the tasting ofthe wines of Éric Texier with his wife Laurence in their ancient cellar in Charnay in the Beaujolais Region, north of Lyon, we returned to Lyon for dinner in a traditional bouchon. See: Cellar Tasting, including from Barrel, at Domaine Éric Texier in Charney, with Laurence Texier - Rhône Valley Tour 2018 by ombiasy WineTours: Wine, Culture and History, France

The bouchon was in walking distance from the hotel. On the way home, we came by one of Lyon's famous mural paintings.Lyon is not only known for its gastronomy, its secret passageways (traboules), the Roman theatre or its old streets. Lyon is also known as one of the cities in the world with the most number mural paintings (frescos). Most of them are really good, but one, the most famous one, is totally amazing.

Lyon and its Bouchons

A bouchon is a type of restaurant found in Lyon, France, that serves traditional Lyonnaise cuisine, such as sausages, duck pâté or roast pork. Typically, the emphasis in a bouchon is not on haute cuisine but, rather, a convivial atmosphere and a personal relationship with the owner.

Originally, the husband would watch over the dining room and pour the wine (Beaujolais or Côtes du Rhône), while the wife cooked every day, family-style cuisine, centered on the offal and cooked meats which Lyon is famous for.

A meal in a bouchon is a "must" when in Lyon. On this tour, Annette picked Le Bouchon des Filles for the obligatory dinner.

For more on bouchons, see here: Dinner at a Bouchon - Chez Paul - in Lyon: Schiller’s Favorite Bouchons in Lyon, France

On the way home, we came by one of Lyon's famous mural paintings.Lyon is not only known for its gastronomy, its secret passageways (traboules), the Roman theatre or its old streets. Lyon is also known as one of the cities in the world with the most number mural paintings (frescos).

Pictures: Arriving at Le Bouchon des Filles

Gault Millau (11/20): Le Bouchon des Filles

Dans le style rétro-moderne d'un quartier qui bouge bien, voilà les filles ! C'est ouvert tous les soirs, et au déjeuner en fin de semaine, le menu est unique et généreux pour 27 €. Les saladiers gourmands pour commencer, avant la quenelle de brochet sauce crustacé, la croustille de boudin aux pommes, le saucisson pistaché ou les rognons de veau à la crème. Les desserts sont classiques et bien faits (cheesecake, moelleux chocolat beurre salé), l'accueil charmant. Et vous pouvez finir sur une chartreuse VEP !

Pictures: Dinner at Le Bouchon des Filles

The Guardian: Top 10 Restaurants in Lyon (2014): Le Bouchon des Filles

Isabelle, Laura and Agathe took over this ancient bouchon six years ago, and it has been fully booked ever since. There is an electric atmosphere every evening as diners settle in for a meal of epic proportions. "We don't do two servings," explains Isabelle, "as it takes all evening to get through all the courses, and the idea here is not to be rushed - neither the chef nor the customers." For that reason, they don't offer a "dish of the day" or lighter set menu at lunch. Here, you go for the full bouchon experience: the starter, a défilé des saladiers arrives at your table with dishes of saucisse de Lyon, a mayonnaisy lentil salad, herrings and new potatoes and a crispy green salad. This is followed by, say, a succulent duck pot-au-feu or a slow-cooked stew of tender pig's cheeks, then "cervelle de canut", literally translated as "silk worker's brain", but actually creamy fromage blanc with herbs and shallots. And finally, there's a soufflé topped with green Chartreuse. • 20 rue Sergent-Blandon,+ 33 478 304044. Four-course menu €25

Le Bon Guide: Le Bouchon des Filles

Dans une petite rue pavée, un bouchon de carte postale, très girly, tenu par des filles charmantes, Isabelle Comerro et Laura Vildi, qui revisitent les classiques de la cuisine lyonnaise avec talent, en allégeant les plats, dont une superbe croustille de boudin. Le tout étant très généreusement servi, attention si vous voulez réservez une place pour les délicieux desserts, mieux vaut zapper les entrées !

The Dinner

Pictures: Dinner at Le Bouchon des Filles

Mural Paintings

On the way home, we came by one of Lyon's famous mural paintings.Lyon is not only known for its gastronomy, its secret passageways (traboules), the Roman theatre or its old streets. Lyon is also known as one of the cities in the world with the most number mural paintings (frescos). Most of them are really good, but one, the most famous one, is totally amazing.

Pictures: Mural Paintings in Lyon

Rhône Valley Tour 2018 by ombiasy WineTours: Wine, Culture and History, France (Already Released and Forthcoming Postings)

Rhône Valley Tour 2018 by ombiasy WineTours: Wine, Culture and History, France

Rhône Valley Tour December 2017: From Lyon to Avignon - Wine, Food, Culture, History

Understanding the Wines of the Rhône Valley: The Classification - AOC/ Vin de Pay/ Vin de France

The Rhône Wine Region in Southern France and its Wines: History, Classification, Northern and Southern Rhône

Cellar Tasting, including from Barrel, at Domaine Éric Texier in Charney, with Laurence Texier - Rhône Valley Tour 2018 by ombiasy WineTours: Wine, Culture and History, France

Traditional Dinner at Le Bouchon des Filles in Lyon

Dinner at a Bouchon - Chez Paul - in Lyon: Schiller’s Favorite Bouchons in Lyon, France

Vineyard Tour, Cellar Tour and Tasting at Maison Guigal in Ampuis, Côte Rôtie, Northern Rhône, with Export Director Stephane Crozet and Technical Director/ Winemaker Jacques Desvernois

Tasting at Maison Clusel-Roche in Ampuis, Côte Rôtie, Northern Rhône

Tasting at Domaine Georges Vernay in Condrieu, Northern Rhône, with Paul Ansellem-Vernay

Dinner with Matching Wines at Restaurant Beau Rivage in Condrieu, Northern Rhône

Cellar Tour and Tasting at Maison Delas-Frères in Saint Jean de Muzols – Saint Joseph, Northern Rhône, with Director Bruno Gonnet

Lunch at Restaurant La Grappe d’Or in Saint-Péray, Northern Rhône

Tasting at Domaine Jean Luc Colombo in Cornas, Northern Rhône

Vineyard Walk and Tasting at Paul Jaboulet Aîné in Tain-l’Hermitage, Hermitage, Northern Rhône

Cellar Tasting at Domaine Laurent Habrard in Gervans, Crozes-Hermitage, Northern Rhône, with Owner/ and Winemaker Laurent Habrad

Cellar Tour and Tasting at Domaine Combier in Pont de l’Isère, Crozes-Hermitage, Northern Rhône, with Owner/ Winemaker Laurent Combier

Lunch at La Grand Table de Michel Chabran, 1 Star Michelin, in Pont d l’Isère

Vineyard Tour, Cellar Tour and Tasting at Domaine Les Bruyères in Beaumont-Monteux, Northern Rhône, with Owner/ Winemaker David Reynaud

Winemaker Dinner with David Reynaud, Domaine les Bruyeres, Crozes-Hermitage in the Rhone Valley, at Chef Bart Vandaele's BToo in Washington DC, USA/ France

Cellar Tour and Tasting at Domaine La Martinelle in Lafare, Ventoux, Southern Rhône, with Owner/ Winemaker Corinna Kruse Faravel

Lunch at Restaurant Le Mesclun in Séguret, Southern Rhône

Cellar Tour and Tasting, including from Barrel, at Domaine Marcel Richaud in Cairanne, Southern Rhône, with Owner/ Winemaker Claire Richaud

Tasting at Domaine de Cabasse, Séguret, Southern Rhône, with Owner/ Winemaker Benoit Baudry

Wine Dinner at Restaurant Hôtel Domaine de Cabasse, Séguret, Southern Rhône

Lunch at Restaurant Le Dolium in Beaumes-de Venise, Southern Rhône

Vineyard Tour, Cellar Tour and Tasting of Wine and Olive Oil at Mas Saint Berthe, Les Baux de Provence, Southern Rhône, with Winemaker Christian Nief

Dinner at Restaurant Benvengudo, Les Baux de Provence, Southern Rhône

Cellar Tour and Tasting at Domaine du Pegau in Châteauneuf du Pape, with Owner/ Winemaker Laurence Féraud and Cellar Master Andreas Lenzenwöger

At Pont du Gard: Lunch at Restaurant Les Terrasses

Cellar Tour and Tasting at Domaine de la Mordorée, Tavel, Southern Rhône, with Owner Ambre Delorme

Cellar tour and tasting at Domaine La Bastide Saint Dominique in Courthézon, Châteauneuf du Pape, with Owner Véronique Bonnet and Owner/ Winemaker Eric Bonnet

Tasting at the Caveau of the Perrin Family in Châteauneuf du Pape

Cellar Tour and Tasting at Château la Nerthe, Châteauneuf du Pape

Wine-pairing dinner at Restaurant Château des Fines Roches, with Chef Hugo Loridan-Fombonnet

New Year’s Eve at Château des Fines Roches in Châteauneuf-du-Pape, France

Picture: Stoping-over in Lisbon on the Way to and from Senegal, Westafrica. See also: Dining, Rallying, Pouring German Wine and Chilling in Dakar, Senegal, West Africa

We spent 2 weeks in Dakar/ Senegal to visit our daughter and her family. We took TAP Air Portugal from Frankfurt to Dakar. On both ways, we stopped in Lisbon.

Going there, we had a lay-over of 7 hours in Lisbon and used the time to tour Lisbon.

Coming back, we stayed over-night in Lisbon. Our stay there coincided with a #winelover dinner in Lisbon, which we attended. The #winelover community was on its way to Madera to celebrate the 7th anniversary there.

Pictures: Flying TAP Air Portugal

Lisbon

Lisbon is the capital and the largest city of Portugal. About 3 million people live in the Lisbon Metropolitan Area. Lisbon lies in the western Iberian Peninsula on the Atlantic Ocean and the River Tagus.

Lisbon is one of the oldest cities in the world, and one of the oldest in Western Europe, predating other modern European capitals such as London, Paris, and Rome by centuries. Julius Caesar made it a municipium called Felicitas Julia, adding to the name Olissipo. Ruled by a series of Germanic tribes from the 5th century, it was captured by the Moors in the 8th century. In 1147, the Crusaders under Afonso Henriques reconquered the city and since then it has been a major political, economic and cultural centre of Portugal.

Most of the Portuguese expeditions of the Age of Discovery left Lisbon during the period from the end of the 15th century to the beginning of the 17th century, including Vasco da Gama's expedition to India in 1498.

Pictures: Arriving in Lisbon from Frankfurt

After the 1755 earthquake, the city was rebuilt largely according to the plans of Prime Minister Sebastião José de Carvalho e Melo, the 1st Marquess of Pombal; the lower town began to be known as the Baixa Pombalina (Pombaline central district). Instead of rebuilding the medieval town, Pombal decided to demolish what remained after the earthquake and rebuild the city centre in accordance with principles of modern urban design. It was reconstructed in an open rectangular plan with two great squares: the Praça do Rossio and the Praça do Comércio. The first, the central commercial district, is the traditional gathering place of the city and the location of the older cafés, theatres and restaurants; the second became the city's main access to the River Tagus and point of departure and arrival for seagoing vessels, adorned by a triumphal arch (1873) and monument to King Joseph I.

Bairros: Locally, Lisbon's inhabitants may commonly refer to the spaces of Lisbon in terms of historic Bairros de Lisboa (neighbourhoods).

Alfama: The oldest district of Lisbon, it spreads down the southern slope from the Castle of São Jorge to the River Tagus. It is an historical quarter of mixed-use buildings occupied by Fado bars, restaurants, and homes with small shops downstairs. Modernising trends have invigorated the district: old houses have been re-purposed or remodelled, while new buildings have been constructed. Fado, the typically Portuguese style of melancholy music, is common (but not obligatory) in the restaurants of the district.

Baixa: The heart of the city is the Baixa or city centre; the Pombaline Baixa is an elegant district, primarily constructed after the 1755 Lisbon earthquake.

Belém: Belém is famous as the place from which many of the great Portuguese explorers set off on their voyages of discovery. In particular, it is the place from which Vasco da Gama departed for India in 1497. Perhaps Belém's most famous feature is its tower, Torre de Belém.

A traditional form of public transport in Lisbon is the tram. Introduced in the 19th century, the trams were originally imported from the US, and called the americanos. Other than on the modern Line 15, the Lisbon tramway system still employs small (four wheel) vehicles of a design dating from the early twentieth century. These distinctive yellow trams are one of the tourist icons of modern Lisbon, and their size is well suited to the steep hills and narrow streets of the central city.

Going to Dakar/ Senegal

Going there, we had a lay-over of 7 hours in Lisbon and used the time to tour Lisbon.

Pictures: Touring Lisbon

Returning from Dakar/ Senegal

Coming back, we stayed over-night in Lisbon. Our stay there coincided with a #winelover dinner in Lisbon, which we attended. The #winelover community was on its way to Madera to celebrate the 7th anniversary there.

Pictures: With the #winelovers in Lisbon

schiller-wine: Related Postings

Announcement: ombiasy WineTours in 2019 - Germany-North and Bordeaux

Ombiasy Wine Tours 2018: 3 x France and 3 x Germany - Ombiasy Newsletter December 2017

UPCOMING Tours/ Wine Dinners/ Tastings - Annette and Christian Schiller/ ombiasyPR & WineTours/ schiller-wine, Germany, France, USA (Issued: March 1, 2019)

Returning to Cahuita in Costa Rica - on the Carribean Side - after 31 Years

An Amazing Week in Nicaragua, Central America, with Beer, Rum and Wine

Pouring Premium German Wines at Africa Gourmet in Dakar/ Senegal, with Annette and Christian Schiller, West Africa/ Germany

Dining, Rallying, Pouring German Wine and Chilling in Dakar, Senegal, West Africa

A Douro Valley Tour from Porto Upstream to the Douro Superior Region, Portugal

Food Tour of Porto with André Apolinário from Taste Porto Food Tours, Portugal

Wining and Dining at the Reborn Quinta de Covela, Vinho Verde Region in the Douro Valley, with Owner Tony Smith and Winemaker Rui Cunha, Portugal

Tasting 2011 Vintage Port at Quinta da Boavista, Douro Valley, Portugal

Tour and Lunch at Quinta da Léda in the Upper Douro Valley, with Winemaker Luís Sottomayor, Portugal

Visit and Tasting at Porto Cálem in Porto / Vila Nova da Gaia, Portugal

Meeting Up-and-coming Winemaker Rita Ferreira Marques from the Douro Area in Portugal at Screwtop Winebar in Clarendon, Virginia

Meeting Rupert Symington from the Symington Family - One of the Oldest Families of Port Producers

Pictures: Annette Schiller, Christian Schiller and Riesling, with the Bernkasteler Doctor Vineyard - all Riesling - in the Background. See also: Invitation: Germany-North Tour 2019 by ombiasy WineTours: Quintessential German Riesling

Germany's most important grape variety, the Riesling, celebrates its birthday on march 13th. On this day of the year 1435, the grape variety was mentioned for the first time in a written document. From Amsterdam (NL) to Toronto (CA), actions under the hashtag #rieslingbirthday take place worldwide.

These range from influencer events to masterclasses, "feast dinner" evening events to digital media campaigns. All 14 ‘Wines of Germany’ information offices as well as the respective social media channels are part of the global birthday activities, e.g.:

Canada: Riesling Birthday Events und Contest
China: Riesling Event in Shanghai
Japan: Influencer-Kampagne
UK feiert #HappyBirthdayRiesling auf Facebook und Instagram
US: Facebook und Instagram
Skandinavien: Online-Wettbewerb (Finnland), Instagram (Schweden und Dänemark), Norwegen: Geburtstagsfeier in Oslo

Almost a quarter of the vineyard acreage in Germany carries Riesling grapes. This variety is considered the figurehead of German viticulture. Riesling determines the global image of the 13 German growing regions like no other variety. Germany is considered the home of Riesling, because 45 percent of all Rieslings worldwide grow here.

Picture: The History of Riesling

The early distribution of Riesling with first evidence in Germany for the 15th century, the growth, the size of the grape berries, the long maturation period and frost resistance show the relationship with wild vines. Winegrowers in the Rheingau and on the Moselle have the longest Riesling tradition; from there there are historical documents dating to the years 1435 and 1465, respectively. Evidence of the spread in today's Rheinhessen and the Pfalz region (Palatinate) date back to the end of the 15th and the first half of the 16th century.

Editor's note: For the years to come, The German Wine Institute (DWI) plans to integrate and establish #RieslingBirthday (march 13^th) in its’ annual communication- and marketing work.

schiller-wine: Related Postings

Announcement: ombiasy WineTours in 2019 - Germany-North and Bordeaux

Ombiasy Wine Tours 2018: 3 x France and 3 x Germany - Ombiasy Newsletter December 2017

UPCOMING Tours/ Wine Dinners/ Tastings - Annette and Christian Schiller/ ombiasyPR & WineTours/ schiller-wine, Germany, France, USA (Issued: March 1, 2019)

Invitation: Germany-North Tour 2019 by ombiasy WineTours: Quintessential German Riesling

Picture: Hansjörg Rebholz, Weingut Ökonomierat Rebholz, with the Germany-South Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2015). See: Germany-South Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2015)

The Vinum WeinGuide Deutschland 2019 was released on Friday, October 26, 2018. The Vinum WeinGuide Deutschland 2019 reviews on about 1000 pages more than 11.000 wines of 1000 wineries. Its rating symbol is a star and Germany’s best winemakers are awarded one to five stars. The wines are rated on the 1 to 100 scale.

The Vinum WeinGuide Deutschland 2019 honored the following three outstanding personalities of the German wine world with Winemaker of the Year, Rising Star of the Year and Discovery of the Year awards:

Winemaker of the Year (Vinum WeinGuide Deutschland 2019): Roman Niewodniczanski, Owner, Weingut van Volxem in Wiltingen/ Saar

Rising Star of the Year (Vinum WeinGuide Deutschland 2019): Niko Brandner, Sekthaus Griesel & Compagnie , Bensheim, Hessische Bergstraße

Discovery of the Year (Vinum WeinGuide Deutschland 2019): Yvonne Libelli and Martin Lucas, Weingut Margarethenhof, Forst, Pfalz

I plan to issue 4 postings with regard to the Vinum WeinGuide Deutschland 2019:

Germany’s Best Winemakers– Vinum WeinGuide Deutschland 2019 Awards
Germany's Best Wines: 10 Categories - Vinum WeinGuide Deutschland 2019
Germany’s Top Winemakers (With 5/5 Stars) - Vinum WeinGuide Deutschland 2019
Winemaker of the Year (Vinum WeinGuide Deutschland 2019): Roman Niewodniczanski, Owner, Weingut van Volxem in Wiltingen/ Saar

Best Winzersekt

The ten top 10 categories are led by Winzersekt of the Year. Volker Raumland from Rheinhessen is (almost) unbeatable in this category. In the VINUM Weinguide 2019 he presents a total of six top 10 Sekte, including this year's winner, the 2008 "MonRose" Extra Brut Prestige (94 points). "Brioche, fresh pastries in the overflowing fragrance, great elegance, finest play - a sparkling wine as big as love," enthuses the jury.

Pictures: Tasting at Sekthaus Raumland with Heide-Rose and Volker Raumland. See: Tasting at Sekthaus Raumland in Flörsheim-Dalsheim, Rheinhessen, with Heide-Rose and Volker Raumland - Germany-South and Alsace 2017 Tour by ombiasy WineTours

Best Spätburgunder

In the Pinot Noir 2016 category, the surprise winner came "after a thrilling neck-to-neck race from a mini-winery in the South Palatinate": with 96 points, the 2016 Pinot Noir from Hans- Erich Dausch with "fine roasted notes, great acidity and clear Burgundy-style" is the Spätburgunder of the Year and thus primus inter pares before of the (equally highly rated) cometitots Rebholz, Metzger, Huber, Knipser and Friedrich Becker.

Best Weißer Burgunder

Unbeatable however was Rebholz (Palatinate) in the white Burgundy category. With 95 points, the 2017 Birkweiler Mandelberg Grosse Gewächs sets itself apart from the competition: "Lush, but not fat, beguiling spice in the Reverberation - what more could you want from a Pinot Blanc? " the jury praised the 2017 Birkweiler Mandelberg Grosse Gewächs of Rebholz.

Picture: In the Cellar of Weingut Ökonomierat Rebholz, Siebeldingen, Pfalz, with Hansjörg and Valentin Rebholz. See: Cellar Tour and Tasting at Weingut Ökonomierat Rebholz in Siebeldingen, Pfalz, with Hansjörg and Valentin Rebholz and Sabine Wagner - Germany-South and Alsace 2017 Tour by ombiasy WineTours

Best Silvaner

In the VINUM WeinGuide, the Silvaner takes its "traditional place among the great German white wine varieties". The outstanding wine of this category and thus Sylvaner of the year is according to the judgement of Joel B. Payne and his tema with 94 points of 2017 Sulzfelder Creutz from Weingut Zehnthof Luckert (Franconia): "Almost weightless, begins to open after hours, is becoming more profound. A great wine! "Was the verdict of the VINUM jury.

Picture: Cellar Tour and Tasting at Weingut Zehnthof Luckert, in Sulzfeld, Franken, with Philipp Luckert. See: Cellar Tour and Tasting at Weingut Zehnthof Luckert, in Sulzfeld, Franken, with Philipp Luckert - Germany-East Tour 2018 by ombiasy WineTours: Wine, Art, Culture, History - Berlin, Saale-Unstrut, Sachsen, Württemberg, Franken

Best (trockener) Riesling

"Great" is already on the label of the winner of the category Riesling dry: Klaus-Peter Keller's GMax 2017 (98 points) impresses with "fine floral scent, creamy body, mineral depth and vibrating energy". There were four wines of Klaus Peter Keller among the ten best of the vintage!

Pictures: Annette Schiller,Julia and Klaus Peter Keller at the 2015 Rieslingfeier in New York. See: A German Riesling Feast in New York City: Rieslingfeier 2015, USA

Best Riesling Feinherb

"The Weber family of Hofgut Falkenstein really knows how to do a feinherb wine", said Payne and Henn. Their 2017 Niedermenninger Herrenberg Spätlese - 23 - took first place in the top 10 list with 94 points. The wine with the same name with the barrel number 4 reached with 93 points third place, behind the second placed Enkircher Batterieberg (Weingut Immich Batterieberg, Mosel).

Picture: Johannes Weber of Hofgut Falkenstein, Mosel in New York City. See: The Annual "Slaughterhouse" Riesling Feast in New York: Rieslingfeier 2017, USA

Best Riesling Kabinett

In the category Riesling Kabinett, theere are only winemakers from the Moselle region this year: All ten top 10 wines come from wineries on the Mosel, Saar and Ruwer. The best is the 2017 Dhroner Hofberg by A.J. Adam (94 points): "Long aftrtaste, a firework of the cool Riesling flavors!"

Best Riesling Spätlese

Hardly less impressive is the number one Riesling Spätlese wine, the 2017 Berncasteler Doctor (97 points) from the Weingut Wwe Dr. Thanisch, Erben Thanisch (Mosel): "Hint of apricots, mountain herbs, good flow, archetype of the classic Riesling Spätlese", it says in the description of the VINUM editors.

Picture: Christian Schiller at the Doctorkeller Weingut Dr. Thanisch. See: The Wines of the Berncasteler Doctor, Bernkastel-Kues in the Mosel Valley, Germany

Best Riesling Auslese

In the past, German winegrowers could produce Rieslings of the predicate grade "Auslese" at most twice, three times a decade, but these exquisite wines made from golden yellow, fully matured grapes are now produced almost every year thanks to global warming. Again, in this category the Mosel region dominates: The best Riesling Auslese of the 2017 vintage produced Fritz Haag with his Brauneberger Juffer-Sonnenuhr - 15 - lange Goldkapsel (98 Punkte) ahead of the equally rated wines of Thanisch, Selbach-Oster and Egon Müller.

Picture: In the Brauneberger Juffer-Sonnenuhr with Oliver Haag, Weingut Fritz Haag, Mosel. See: Tasting and Vineyard Walk with Oliver Haag, Weingut Fritz Haag – Germany-North Tour 2017 by ombiasy WineTours

Best Edelsüßer (Noble-sweet) Riesling

As "elixirs" of "infinite storability" calls Joel B. Payne the royal class of noble sweet Rieslings; a "breathtaking Trockenbeerenauslese"of the young Constantin Richter, Weingut Max Ferd. Judge (Moselle) is the winning wine. With 100 points, his 2017 Brauneberger Juffer-Sonnenuhr Trockenbeerenauslese is one of the very rare perfect wines, according to the critical VINUM jury! 100 points also got the second and third placed Trockenbeerenauslese wines of Fritz Haag and Egon Müller.

schiller-wine: Related Postings

Ombiasy Wine Tours 2018: 3 x France and 3 x Germany - Ombiasy Newsletter December 2017

UPCOMING Tours/ Wine Dinners/ Tastings - Annette and Christian Schiller/ ombiasyPR & WineTours/ schiller-wine, Germany, France, USA (Issued: February 1, 2019)

Germany-South Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2015)

Tasting at Sekthaus Raumland in Flörsheim-Dalsheim, Rheinhessen, with Heide-Rose and Volker Raumland - Germany-South and Alsace 2017 Tour by ombiasy WineTours

Cellar Tour and Tasting at Weingut Ökonomierat Rebholz in Siebeldingen, Pfalz, with Hansjörg and Valentin Rebholz and Sabine Wagner - Germany-South and Alsace 2017 Tour by ombiasy WineTours

Cellar Tour and Tasting at Weingut Zehnthof Luckert, in Sulzfeld, Franken, with Philipp Luckert - Germany-East Tour 2018 by ombiasy WineTours: Wine, Art, Culture, History - Berlin, Saale-Unstrut, Sachsen, Württemberg, Franken

A German Riesling Feast in New York City: Rieslingfeier 2015, USA

The Annual "Slaughterhouse" Riesling Feast in New York: Rieslingfeier 2017, USA

The Wines of the Berncasteler Doctor, Bernkastel-Kues in the Mosel Valley, Germany

Tasting and Vineyard Walk with Oliver Haag, Weingut Fritz Haag – Germany-North Tour 2017 by ombiasy WineTours

Picture: Annette and Christian Schiller at Brasserie Les Haras in Strasbourg, with a Weingut Martin Wassmer Spätburgunder. See also: Cellar Tour and Tasting at Pinot Noir Star Producer Weingut Martin Waßmer in Bad Krozingen, Markgräfler Land, Baden - Germany-South and Alsace 2018 Tour by ombiasy WineTours: Baden, Alsace, Pfalz and Rheinhessen

The Salon des Vins des Vignerons Independants de Strasbourg took place from February 22 to 25, 2019. Annette Schiller and I went there on Monday, February 25, (a) to buy wine for our own consumption and to look for winemakers that might be interesting for ombiasy WineTours to visit on a future tour. We bought 6 cases (of 6 bottles each) and established contact with a number of winemakers. We arrived in the evening in Strasbourg on the evening of February 25 and left Strasbourg in the morning of February 26. We toured Alsace in preparation of the forthcoming Alsace tour by ombiasy WineTours with a group of members of the Weinfreundeskreis Hochheim ( June 19 - 23, 2019).

We tasted lots of wine at the Salon des Vins des Vignerons Independants de Strasbourg, mainly from the Rhône Valley, Burgundy and Bordeaux.In tems of dining, Sunday and Monday are generally two difficult days in France, where the restaurants and bistros tend to be closed. So we had dinner at 2 brasseries, which tend to be open every day.

Wining

We spent one full day tasting at the Salon des Vins des Vignerons Independants de Strasbourg. Some of our friends we met there spent up to 4 days tasting. For me, the tasting started with a dozen of oysters.

Picture: Salon des Vins des Vignerons Independants de Strasbourg

Picture: Oysters at the the Salon des Vins des Vignerons Independants de Strasbourg

Picture: Tasting at the Salon des Vins des Vignerons Independants de Strasbourg

Picture: Purchasing Wine at the Booth of Domaine Le Pay du Maupas in Puymeras, with Owners/ Winemakers Christian et Maryse Sauvage: Passionné nous exploitons aujourd’hui 45 hectares en BIO répartis sur les Appellations d’Origine Contrôlée : Côtes du Rhône, Côtes du Rhône Villages, Côtes du Rhône Villages Puyméras et Cru Vinsobres. See also: Rhône Valley Tour 2018 by ombiasy WineTours: Wine, Culture and History, France

Pictures: Purchasing Wine at the Booth of Domaine Olivier Hillaire, with Owner/ Winemaker Oliver Hillaire, Châteauneuf-du-Pape. See also: Rhône Valley Tour 2018 by ombiasy WineTours: Wine, Culture and History, France

Piture: Annette Schiller with Veronique and Jean Pierre Josselin. See also: Visit and Tasting at Champagne Jean Josselin, a Grower Champagne House in Gyé sur Seine – Bourgogne (and Champagne) Tour 2016 by ombiasy WineTours, France

Picture: Annette Schiller with Louie Hölzinger of Desche Otto and Ralf Müller-Arnold of East Grape, both in Frankfurt am Main, Germany. See also: Mainlust “Desche Otto” – an Ultra Traditional Apple Wine Tavern, with an Innovative Twist, off the Beaten Track in Schwanheim, Frankfurt am Main, Germany

Dining

Brasserie Les Haras

Gault Millau (14/20): Ce grand espace contemporain au seuil de la Petite France s'inscrit dans un superbe bâtiment du Haras National de Strasbourg, que la famille Haeberlin a aménagé avec tout le goût qu'on lui connaît. Et le professionnalisme en cuisine, bien sûr qui fait de cette adresse gourmande l'une des plus sûres de la ville à ce niveau. Les deux toques sont belles, la carte préparée par Marc Haeberlin et son chef François Baur se partage entre de superbes assiettes de terroir (pâté aux quatre viandes et foie gras, tartes flambées, bouchée à ;la reine...) et ds plats de l'époque, (pâtes et risotto, saint-jacques plancha, burger d'agneau...) sous la magnifique charpente XVIIIe. Adroite sélection viticole, desserts bien variés. La terrasse, sur la cour intérieure en galets du Rhin, peut accueillir jusqu'à 100 personnes.

Michelin (Assiette Michelin): Sous la tutelle du grand chef Marc Haeberlin, une table élégante et raffinée, au sein des anciens haras nationaux construits sous Louis XV. On y apprécie de belles recettes traditionnelles, sans oublier quelques plats du terroir local. Et le superbe décor contemporain, avec cuisines ouvertes, vaut le coup d'œil !

We had dinner at the bar, direct, i.e. no menu, only one main course plus a cheese plate we shared. As wine, we chose a German Pinot Noir from Weingut Wassmer. See: Cellar Tour and Tasting at Pinot Noir Star Producer Weingut Martin Waßmer in Bad Krozingen, Markgräfler Land, Baden - Germany-South and Alsace 2018 Tour by ombiasy WineTours: Baden, Alsace, Pfalz and Rheinhessen. We started with a glass of Crémant d'Alsace.

Pictures: Dinner at Brasserie Les Haras in Strasbourg

Brasserie La Chaine d'Or

Quaint brasserie in the heart of Strasbourg. A beautiful and large space with friendly service, very good brasserie food brasserie wine list. Excellent price/ quality ratio. No mention in the Gault Millau or Michelin. Annette and I were very happy.

We both took the 3-course menu (for Euro 19.90), started with a glass of Crémant d'Alsace and had a Vin de France from Languedoc as dinner wine.

Les Caves du Roy: NV Bistrologie Rouge by Jeff Carrel - C'est un vrai vin de copain, que l'on partage sans chichi autour des repas de tous les jours, que Jeff a conçu en pensant à nous. C'est un très bon rapport qualité prix, comme tous les vins de Jeff Carrel, et franchement il passe sur tout.

Jeff Carrel was born in 1969 in Paris and lived there for 22 years where he studied chemistry. In 1991 he decided to change his life and start to study oenology in Montpellier. Jeff graduated in 1994 with a National Diploma in oenology. Today Jeff Carrel vinifies and advises mainly in the Languedoc Roussillon, but also in Priorat, in Bordeaux, Beaujolais and in Bourgogne.

Pictures: Dinner at Brasserie La Chaine d'Orin Strasbourg

Where our Friends Ate

Friends of us who also went to the Salon des Vins des Vignerons Independants de Strasbourg ate at the following places:

Louie:

Winstub Chez Yvonne, Strasbourg 11,5/ 20 Gault Millau
L'Ami Schutz, Strasbourg Petite France, Bierstub
À l'Agneau, Katzental, Assiette Michelin

Dirk:

Table Christoph, Strasbourg, 11/20 Gault Millau

Bernd + Barbara:

La Carambole in Schilligheim, 1 star Michelin, 4 courses Euro 62

Hotel

We stayed at the Maison Rouge, right in the center of Strasbourg, which is in the process of being upgraded.

Pictures: Hotel Maison Rouge

Touring Alsace

Following the Salon des Vins des Vignerons Independants de Strasbourg, Annette and I went on a short Alsace tour, in preparation of the forthcoming Alsace tour of the Weinfreundeskreis Hochheim (June 19 to 23), which Annette is organazing. The tour is sold-out.

Picture: Touring Alsace. See also: UPCOMING Tours/ Wine Dinners/ Tastings - Annette and Christian Schiller/ ombiasyPR & WineTours/ schiller-wine, Germany, France, USA (Issued: March 1, 2019)

schiller-wine: Related Postings

Announcement: ombiasy WineTours in 2019 - Germany-North and Bordeaux

Ombiasy Wine Tours 2018: 3 x France and 3 x Germany - Ombiasy Newsletter December 2017

UPCOMING Tours/ Wine Dinners/ Tastings - Annette and Christian Schiller/ ombiasyPR & WineTours/ schiller-wine, Germany, France, USA (Issued: March 1, 2019)

Cellar Tour and Tasting at Pinot Noir Star Producer Weingut Martin Waßmer in Bad Krozingen, Markgräfler Land, Baden - Germany-South and Alsace 2018 Tour by ombiasy WineTours: Baden, Alsace, Pfalz and Rheinhessen

Mainlust “Desche Otto” – an Ultra Traditional Apple Wine Tavern, with an Innovative Twist, off the Beaten Track in Schwanheim, Frankfurt am Main, Germany

Visit and Tasting at Champagne Jean Josselin, a Grower Champagne House in Gyé sur Seine – Bourgogne (and Champagne) Tour 2016 by ombiasy WineTours, France

Rhône Valley Tour 2018 by ombiasy WineTours: Wine, Culture and History, France

Pictures: Wine-pairing Lunch at Château Le Bon Pasteur, Pomerol, with Dany Rolland, GM Benoit Prévot and Chef Frédéric Bozzo - Bordeaux Tour 2018 by ombiasy WineTours, France

Following a tour and tasting at Château La Conseillante, Appellation Pomerol, with General Manager/ Winemaker Marielle Cazaux, we drove over to Château Le Bon Pasteur, to have lunch with Dany Rolland and Benoit Prévot, General Manager and Winemaker. See: Tour and Tasting at Château La Conseillante, Appellation Pomerol, with General Manager/ Winemaker Marielle Cazaux - Bordeaux Tour 2018 by ombiasy WineTours, France

Chef Frédéric Bozzo prepared the outstanding lunch for us.

Before lunch, Dany and Benoit gave us a tour.

Pictures: Welcome - Dany Roland and Benoit Prévot

Change of Ownership

Château Le Bon Pasteur was acquired by the Rolland family around 1920. The grandson of the original owner, Michel Rolland, well known around the world as “flying winemaker” and wine consultant, and his wife Dany, also an oenologist, created a model vineyard and produce outstanding wines. Not so long ago, they sold it to Pan Sutong, a Hong Kong businessman and entrepreneur.

According to Forbes 2015 World Billionaire's list published in March 2015, Sutong was placed at number 153 with an estimated net worth of $8.6 billion. Pan Sutong is a wine lover. In 2011, his Goldin Group bought the Sloan Estate in the Napa Valley. The Sloan 2002 and 2007 vintages were awarded 100 points by Robert Parker.

In 2013, the Group purchased three châteaux in Bordeaux, namely Château Le Bon Pasteur in Pomerol, Château Rolland-Maillet in Saint-Émilion and Château Bertineau St-Vincent in Lalande-de-Pomerol. As Goldin Financial’s long-term working partner, Michel Rolland facilitated this acquisition. Similar to Sloan, despite the transfer of ownership, nothing changed in terms of wine-making procedures and staff.

Pictures: Château Le Bon Pasteur, Pomerol - Vineyard Tour with Benoit Prévot

Pomerol

Pomerol is remarkable for being unremarkable. It is not a long-established area. There are no beautiful chateaux. There is no real town center, just roads connecting the lands and small, farmhouse style wineries. Pomerol has no classification system. With 800 hectares, it is a small area, with small domains. By contrast: The vineyards of St. Emilion cover more than 5000 hectares; the production of Petrus is just 10% of that of Lafite.

Nevertheless, Pomerol has managed to earn itself a place among the region's most-respected names. The list of the Pomerol’s best properties includes Le Pin, one of the precursors of the Garagistes style, Petrus and Lafleur, with all three of them regarded as "hors classe" growths, and: Eglise-Clinet, Trotanoy, Vieux-Château Certan, L´Evangile, Certan-de-May, La Fleur-Pétrus, Clinet, Bon Pasteur, Le Gay, Rouget, Clos l'Eglise, Nénin, Petit-Village, Lagrange and Gazin. Pomerol, with the wines of Chateau Petrus and Chateau Le Pen, now commands higher prices than those of the long-established Medoc.

Pomerol has the highest Merlot share in Bordeaux, with Merlot accounting for 80% and Cabernet Franc for the rest. Vines are old and yields are extremely low.

Over the centuries, Pomerol had always been in the shadow of Medoc, Graves and even St. Emilion. Only at the beginning of the 20th century, things changed when Belgians and primarily Dutchmen were more and more interested in the red Pomerol wines. It was not until the 1950s that British merchants woke up to the wines and began to import them into the UK.

Pictures: Château Le Bon Pasteur, Pomerol - Cellar Tour with Dany Rolland and Benoit Prévot

Château Le Bon Pasteur

Château Le Bon Pasteur was acquired by the Rolland family - Joseph and Hermine Dupuy - in 1920. The grandson of the original owner, Michel Rolland, well known around the world as “flying winemaker” and wine consultant, and his wife Dany, also an oenologist, created a model vineyard and produce outstanding wines. In May, 2013, Le Bon Pasteur (including the two affiliated properties) was sold to Sutong Pan, the first Asian investor to buy a truly legendary Pomerol estate. Dany and Michel Rolland continue to manage the estate and make the wine.

In the beginning, the owners grew the grapes, but sold the harvest in bulk to negociants. The Dupony family later passed Le Bon Pasteur on to their children, Serge and Geneviève Rolland. In 1978, the Rolland family continued the tradition and gave Chateau Le Bon Pasteur to their children Michel and Jean-Daniel Rolland. This gave birth to the modern era for Le Bon Pasteur and the start of the career for Michel Rolland.

The property Le Bon Pasteur originally consisted of vineyards in the three communes of Pomerol, Saint-Émilion and Néac, the last one in the appellation Lalande-de-Pomerol. Originally all three wines were called Le Bon Pasteur, with the respective appellation indicated. From 1978, the wine from Saint-Émilion has been called Château Rolland-Maillet and that from Lalande-de-Pomerol called Château Bertineau Saint-Vincent. They are all produced at Le Bon Pasteur.

Le Bon Pasteur consists of 7 hectares with 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc. Production averages 2,500 cases.

Starting with the 2010 vintage, the grapes are fermented in barrel, with the barrels being regularly turned during the maceration period. Also, in 2010, Michel and Dany Rolland started to include about 1/3 whole clusters in the fermentation. The wines are aged for 15 to 18 months in 100% new French oak barrels and then bottled without fining and filtering.

The closest neighbor is Château l’Evangile, and possibly some parts of the next neighbor Château La Conseillante are also visible.

Michel and Dany Rolland

Michel Rolland grew up on Château Le Bon Pasteur. He studied at the prestigious Bordeaux Oenology Institute, where he met his wife and fellow oenologist, Dany Rolland, and graduated as part of the class of 1972. In 1973, Michel Rolland and his wife bought into an oenology lab in Libourne. They took over full control of the lab in 1976 and expanded it to include tasting rooms. Michel and Dany Rolland's two daughters, Stéphanie and Marie, also work at the lab.

After having sold Château Le Bon Pasteur, Château Bertineau Saint-Vincent in Lalande de Pomerol and Château Rolland-Maillet in Saint-Émilion, the Rollands still own several properties in Bordeaux, including Château Fontenil in Fronsac, and Château La Grande Clotte in Lussac-Saint-Émilion. In addition, they are joint venture partnerships with Bonne Nouvelle in South Africa, Val de Flores in Argentina, Campo Eliseo in Spain and Yacochuya and Clos de los Siete in Argentina.

In addition, Michel Rolland consults for many producers in Bordeaux, in Argentina, South Africa (Simonsberg Stellenbosch), and Spain (Toro).

Lunch with Dany Rolland

Reception

Pieces of Serrano
Cuillère of salmon tartare with dill
Toast of foie gras
King prawn rolled in bacon

Chef Frédéric Bozzo us a few extras from the kitchen that were not on the lunch menu.

Mariflor Argentine Mendoza Sauvignon Blanc 2016 US$21)

The wine searcher average prices in Euro per bottle are given in parenthesis.

Pictures: Lunch at Château Le Bon Pasteur, Pomerol, with Dany Rolland and Benoit Prévot

Lunch

From there, we moved to the lunch table.

Appetizer

Cassolette of Langoustines with Chanterelles

Château La Grande Clotte Blanc 2010 (US$34)
Château La Grande Clotte Blanc 2014 (US$29)

Main Course

Veal Medaillon and its cream of Morels

Mariflor Pinot Noir 2012 US$35)

Château Fontenil France Fronsac 2010 (US$39)

Cheese

Cheese Selection

Château Le Bon Pasteur France Pomerol 2009 (US$96)

Dessert

Hot cholocate fondant with red berries coulis

Val de Flores Argentine Mendoza 2011(US$61)

The Val de Flores vineyard is ten hectares and is planted with Malbec which are more than fifty years old. The vineyard is situated at the foot of the Andean mountains at Vista Flores in South Mendoza. The vineyard soils is alluviums and deep silts. This wine was aged for 14 months in new French oak barrels and bottled unfined and unfiltered.

Yacochuya 2009 (US$75)

Coffee & Cannelés de Bordeaux

We finished with coffee and ccffee & cannelés de Bordeaux. Dany had a cigarillo.

Dany and the Chef

Dany presented Chef Frédéric Bozzo.

Pictures: Dany Rolland with Chef Frédéric Bozzo

Gift: A Dry German Riesling from the Rheingau

Before leaving, Annette gave Dany and Benoit a gift, a dry German Riesling from the Rheingau (Weingut von Oetinger, Grand Cru)

Pictures: Bordeaux and the Rheingau

Bye-Bye

Many thanks Dany Rolland and Benoit Prévot for a most entertaining event.

Pictures: Bye-bye

Total Immersion in Bordeaux: World Class Wines and Exquisite French Gourmet Cuisine - Bordeaux Tour 2018 by ombiasy WineTours, France (Published and Forthcoming Postings)

Total Immersion in Bordeaux: World Class Wines and Exquisite French Gourmet Cuisine - Bordeaux Tour 2018 by ombiasy WineTours, France

Total Immersion in Bordeaux: World Class Wines and Exquisite French Gourmet Cuisine - Bordeaux Tour 2017 by ombiasy WineTours, France

Bordeaux Tour by ombiasy WineTours 2016, France

Bordeaux Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2015), France

Bordeaux Wine Tour 2013 by ombiasy

Bordeaux Wines and their Classifications: The Basics

Tour and Tasting at Château La Mission Haut-Brion, Appellation Pessac-Léognan, Cru Classé de Grave - Bordeaux Tour 2017 by ombiasy WineTours, France

Dinner with a View: At Restaurant L’Estacade in Bordeaux City - Bordeaux Tour by ombiasy WineTours 2016, France

Schiller’s Favorite Wine Bars in Bordeaux City - An Update

Schiller’s Favorite Seafood Places in Bordeaux City, France - An Update

Bordeaux - En Primeur, Negociants, Courtiers, the Quai de Chartons and the Place de Bordeaux– A Short Introduction

How Does the Negociant System in Bordeaux Work? Tour and Tasting at Millésima - Bordeaux Tour by ombiasy WineTours 2016, France

Tour and Tasting at Château Mondésir Gazin, Blaye Côtes de Bordeaux, Côtes de Bourg, with Owner/ Winemaker Marc Pasquet - Bordeaux Tour 2018 by ombiasy WineTours, France

Lunch at Restaurant La Terrasse Rouge, Château La Dominique, Appellation Saimt-Emilion, Grand Cru Classé - Bordeaux Tour 2018 by ombiasy WineTours, France

Tour and tasting at Château Clos Fourtet, Appellation Saint-Emilion, Premier Grand Cru Classé B - Bordeaux Tour 2018 by ombiasy WineTours, France

Saint Emilion Wines and their Classification, Bordeaux, France

Schiller’s Favorite Wine Bars in St. Emilion, France

Tour and Tasting at Château La Conseillante, Appellation Pomerol, with General Manager/ Winemaker Marielle Cazaux - Bordeaux Tour 2018 by ombiasy WineTours, France

Tour and Tasting at Château La Conseillante, Appellation Pomerol, with GM/ Winemaker Marielle Cazaux - Bordeaux Tour 2017 by ombiasy WineTours

Tour and Lunch at Château Le Bon Pasteur, Appellation Pomerol, with Dany Rolland and General Manager/ Winemaker Benoît Prevot

Tour with Dany Rolland: Château Le Bon Pasteur in Pomerol– Bordeaux Tour 2016 by ombiasy WineTours

Lunch at Château Le Bon Pasteur, Pomerol, with Dany Rolland and Benoit Prévot - Bordeaux Tour by ombiasy WineTours 2017, France

Visit and Tasting (including from Barrel) at Château Tertre-Rôteboeuf, Appellation Saint-Emilion, with Owner/ Winemaker François Mitjavile

Visit of an Ultra-premium Non-mainstream Bordeaux Producer: Tertre Rôteboeuf, with Owner and Winemaker François Mitjavile, France – Bordeaux Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2015)

Tour and Lunch at Château Climens, Appellation Barsac-Sauterne, Première Grand Cru Classé, with Owner/ Winemaker Bérénice Lurton

Visiting and Tasting at Château Climens, Barsac-Sauternes, Première Grand Cru Classé en 1855 - Bordeaux Tour 2017 by ombiasy WineTours, France

Visit and Tasting: Château Smith-Haut-Lafitte, Pessac-Léognan, Grand Cru Classé– Bordeaux Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2015), France

Wine pairing lunch at Château Beauséjour, Appellation Puisseguin Saint-Emilion

Tour, Tasting and Wine Lunch at a Petit Château and Organic Producer: Château Beauséjour – Bordeaux Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2015), France

Bio in Bordeaux: Cellar Tour, Vineyard Tour and Winepairing Lunch at Chateau Beauséjour and Château Langais, AOC Puisseguin-St.Emilion, with Owner/ Winemaker Gérard Dupuy - Bordeaux Tour 2017 by ombiasy WineTours

Schiller's Favorite Seafood Restaurants in Arcachon and Cap Ferret (Bassin d'Arcachon/ Bordeaux)

Oysters in Bordeaux: Visiting the Oyster Farmer Raphael Doerfler and his Earl Ostrea Chanca Oyster Farm in Grand Piquey/ Bassin d'Arcachon - Bordeaux Tour by ombiasy WineTours 2017, France

Lunch at Pinasse Café, Cap Ferret, Bassin d'Arcachon - Bordeaux Tour 2017 by ombiasy WineTours, France

The 5 Premiers Grands Crus Chateaux en 1855 of Bordeaux, France

What is a Bordeaux Cru Bourgeois? France

Visit and Tasting at Château La Tour de Bessan, Appellation Margaux, Cru Bourgois, with Owner/ Winemaker Marie-Laure Lurton

Tour and Tasting at Château Durfort-Vivens, Appellation Margaux, 2ième Grand Cru Classé, with Pauline Lurton

Tour and Tasting at Château Pichon Longueville Baron in Pauillac - Bordeaux Tour by ombiasy WineTours 2017 France

Wine-Pairing Lunch at Château Pichon Longueville Baron in Pauillac - Bordeaux Tour by ombiasy WineTours 2017 France

Visit and Tasting at Château Ormez de Pez, Appellation Saint-Estèphe

How a Barrel is Made: Visit of the Cooperage Berger & Fils in Vertheuil– Bordeaux Tour by ombiasy WineTours 2017, France

Tour and Tasting, including from Barrel, at Château Lafon-Rochet, Appellation Saint-Estèphe, 4ième Grand Cru Classé, with Owner Basile Tesseron

Tour and Tasting at Château Lafon-Rochet, 4ème Grand Cru Classé St-Estèphe, with Vineyard Manager Anaïs Maillet - Bordeaux Tour by ombiasy WineTours 2017, France

Tour and Tasting at Château Léoville Poyferré, Saint-Julien, 2ième Grand Cru Classé, with Anne Cuvelier - Bordeaux Tour by ombiasy WineTours 2017, France

Tour and Family-style Dinner at Château Le Reysse and Château Lassus, Vignobles Paeffgen, Appellation Médoc, Owner/ Winemaker Stefan Paeffgen and Heike Paeffgen

Tour, Barrel Tasting and Family Dinner with Stefan and Heike Paeffgen, Château Le Reysse and Château Lassus, Vignobles Paeffgen, Appellation Médoc - Bordeaux Tour by ombiasy WineTours 2017, France

Tour and Tasting at Château Léoville-Barton, Appellation Saint-Julien, 2ième Grand Cru Classé, and Château Langoa-Barton, Appellation Saint-Julien, 3ème Grand Cru Classé

Tour and Pique-nique Style Lunch at Château Lascombes, Appellation Margaux, 2ième Grand Cru Classé

Tour and Gourmet Dinner with Wine-pairing at Château Haut-Bailly, Appellation Pessac-Léognan, Grand Cru Classé, with Daina Paulin

Tour and Wine Dinner at Château Haut-Bailly, Graves, Appellation Pessac-Léognan, Grand Cru Classé - Bordeaux Tour by ombiasy WineTours 2017, France

Pictures: Sophie Schÿler, Owner, Château Kirwan, Appellation Margaux, Philippe Blanc, General Manager, Château Beychevelle, Appellation Saint-Julien and Annette Schiller, Owner, ombiasy PR and WineTours, for a Winemaker Dinner at the French Embassy, Le Café Descartes, in Washington DC, USA

Sophie Schÿler, Owner, Château Kirwan, Appellation Margaux, 3ième Grand Cru Classé en 1855, and Philippe Blanc, General Manager, Château Beychevelle, Appellation Saint-Julien, 4ième Grand Cru Classé en 1855, were in town (Washington DC) for the annual Heart's Delight Wine Tasting & Auction. They had arranged with Annette Schiller, Found and Owner, ombiasy PR and WineTours, a joint winemaker dinner in Washington DC. Anntte had agreed with Le Café Descartes at the French Embassy in Washington Dc to host the dinner.

Pictures: Having Fun

Inviation

A Special Bordeaux Winemaker Dinner, March, 6th, 2019, 6.30 pm at Le Café Descartes, Ambassade de France in Washington DC, USA

The Café Descartes/ French Embassy in Washington DC and ombiasy PR and WineTours are excited to announce that we are hosting a Bordeaux winemaker dinner on March 6th, 2019 with the wines of Château Kirwan, 3ième Grand Cru Classé en 1855, appellation Margaux, and Château Beychevelle, 4ième Grand Cru Classé en 1855, appellation Saint-Julien.

Picture: Sophie Schÿler, Owner, Château Kirwan, Appellation Margaux, Philippe Blanc, General Manager, Château Beychevelle, Appellation Saint-Julien and Annette Schiller, Owner, ombiasy PR and WineTours, for a Winemaker Dinner at the French Embassy, Le Café Descartes, in Washington DC, USA

Please join us in welcoming owner Sophie Schÿler, who will present the wines of her family estate Château Kirwan and Philip Blanc, Managing Director and winemaker at Château Beychevelle who will present the wines of Château Beychevelle. This is a rare opportunity to taste wines from two prestigious Médoc appellations side by side.

Reserve your seats for this event at $ 159.00 per person (excluding tax and including gratuity) now by contacting Le Café Descartes at (202)944-6075 or via
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/chateau-kirwan-and-chateau-beychevelle-at-the-embassy-of-france-tickets-55907599134

Embassy of France, Le Café Descartes
4101 Reservoir Rd NW Washington DC, 20007

Pictures: Checking the Wines

Château Beychevelle

This historic château is one of the largest properties in Bordeaux. The château was constructed in 1565 by Bishop François of Foix-Candale and is well-known as the “Versailles of the Médoc” with its beautiful architecture, exquisite interior, and magnificent park.

See: Tour and Tasting at Château Beychevelle, Appellation Saint-Julien, 4ième Grand Cru Classé, with General Manager Philippe Blanc - Bordeaux Tour by ombiasy WineTours 2017, France

Pictures: The Historic Château Beychevelle and the New Winery of Château Beychevelle

A sequence of illustrious, noble proprietors enlarged the buildings and made the garden into one of the most spectacular in the Bordelais.

In 1875 Château Beychevelle was purchased by Armand Heine, the cousin of the famous German poet Heinrich Heine, who is best known outside of Germany for his lyric poetry which was set to music by composers such as Robert Schumann and Franz Schubert.

Since 1986 the property belongs to the Grands Millésimes de France. Manager has since been Aymar de Bailleux. A huge renovation project was underway for several years and finished in 2016. The new cellars are surrounded by glass walls.

Pictures: Barrel Cellar Tour

Château Beychevelle has 250 hectares of land, about 90 of which are planted with vines. The rest consists of grassland where Limousin cows graze, and of pine forests, poplar, ash and walnut trees.

The vines have an average age of 30 years and are closely planted, with densities of 8,300 to 10,000 vines per hectare; they have developed substantial root systems, enabling them to draw nutrients from deep in the soil, and to cope with the sometimes difficult weather conditions, such as when there are droughts in the summer.

Pictures: In the Vineyard

The vineyard is planted with the Médoc’s four traditional grape varieties: 52% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Franc and 3% Petit Verdot.

The heart of the vineyard is located on two plateaus of deep Garonne gravel from the Gunzian period, on the edge of the Gironde, providing ideal conditions for Cabernet Sauvignon. These are the famous gravelly hilltops of the Médoc, close to the Gironde, which offer the best conditions for the classic Bordeaux varietals. Returning the sun’s warmth during the night, and draining away excess rain water, the vines are able to flourish and the grapes ripen perfectly. The resulting deep red wines are well-balanced and generous, offering power tempered by a silky texture.

Château Beychevelle’s new winery has been custom-made to suit the vineyard, with every vine having a place in a plot-by-plot vinification process, that enables each terroir to express its full complexity and depth.

More spacious, and with an improved layout, the new facilities also permit a gentle transfer of the grapes by gravity, very precise temperature control, and extractions adjusted to the characteristics of each vat.

Combining innovation and tradition, the winery is a perfect reflection of Château Beychevelle’s “haute-couture” expertise.

Pictures: Tour of the New Winery

Château Beychevelle produces 3 different wines.

Château Beychevelle
Grand Cru Classé

Ever since it was first produced, and down through the various vintages, Château Beychevelle has reflected the elegance and finesse of Saint Julien's finest terroirs.Graceful and complex, with a tremendous aromatic richness, Château Beychevelle is made from the best plots in the vineyard and undergoes a rigorous selection process.It reveals its character after about ten years, and can be kept for several decades, depending on the vintage.

Aging and fining: In French oak barrels for 18 months, with 50% in new oak barrels. The wine is then fined with egg whites, with traditional racking by candle light.

40 000 to 50 000 cases

Amiral de Beychevelle
Château Beychevelle's Second Wine

The rigorous selection process undergone by the grand vin results in the creation of its younger brother, Amiral de Beychevelle.Despite being made from young vines, Amiral de Beychevelle benefits from the same growing techniques, meticulous sorting, and traditional barrel ageing.It has the same elegance and finesse as its older brother, but reveals its character more quickly, offering wine-enthusiasts the full vivacity of its youth. It can be kept for up to fifteen years, depending on the vintage.

Aging and fining: In French oak barrels for 12 months, with 30% in new oak barrels. The wine is then fined with egg whites, with traditional racking by candle light.

Brulières de Beychevelle

Brulières de Beychevelle's 12 hectares of vines are 5 km from Beychevelle's vineyard; being further from the Gironde estuary, they benefit from a cooler climate.The vineyard is in the Haut-Médoc appellation and has been managed organically since 2008.Brulières' blend consists of just two grape varieties: Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot.Vinified and aged in a separate winery, it is produced with the same level of care as Château Beychevelle and Amiral de Beychevelle.

Pictures: Tasting with General Manager Philippe Blanc

Château Kirwan

Château Kirwan is a 3ème Cru Classé property in Margaux. It is owned by the Schÿler family.

The history of Château Kirwan begins with the English merchant Sir John Collingwood, one of the first négociants in history. For nearly a century he reigned over the noble "de Lasalle" land, acquired in 1751 and adjoining the Ganet property.

See:
Tour, Tasting and Lunch at Château Kirwan, Appellation Margaux, 3ième Grand Cru Classé, with Owner Natalie Schyler - Bordeaux Tour by ombiasy WineTours 2016, France
Lunch, Tasting and Tour at Château Kirwan, Appellation Margaux, 3ième Grand Cru Classé, with Owner Natalie Schyler - Bordeaux Tour 2017 by ombiasy WineTours, France
Sophie Schÿler, Owner of Château Kirwan, 3ième Grand Cru Classé, Margaux, for a Wine Pairing Luncheon at Evo Bistro in McLean, with the Wines of RdV and Clemens Busch, USA/ France/ Germany

Pictures: In the Vineyard with Natalie Schÿler

Château Kirwan takes its name from the Irishman Mark Kirwan, who became part of the estate's history by marrying one of the daughters of Sir John Collingwood. In 1760 he inherited the estate. He united the "de Lasalle" and Ganet lands. Rather unfortunately, he was guillotined in 1792.

Thomas Jefferson, then Ambassador of the United States in France, visited the Bordeaux vineyards in May 1787. He was not only the future president of the United States, but the greatest emissary of Bordeaux wines. In his travel diary and his book "Jefferson on Wine", he elevated Kirwan wine - then spelled "Quirouen" - to second classified growth, making it much more recognizable on the far shores of the Atlantic.

The heirs of the Kirwan family sold the estate in 1827, in the midst of a severe economic crisis after the upheavals of the Revolution and the First Empire. After a period of instability, the owner of Château Kirwan and mayor of Bordeaux Camille Godard left the estate to the city, which used it for a time as a hotel and reception venue.

Pictures: In the Cellar with Natalie Schÿler

In 1925, it became the property of the Schÿler family, whose family trading house had already been distributing the wine for several years. Since 1950, Jean-Henry Schyler invested heavily in the châteaux and brought Châteaux Kirwan back to its former glory. He passed away in November 2016, a few weeks after our visit.

Jean Henri Schyler was in charge of managing the chateau until he passed away, November, 2016 at the age of 85.

Today the châteaux is managed by the next generation Yann, Natalie and Sophie Schyler.

Pictures: At the Residence of the late Jean-Henry Schÿler.

Last year, Château Kirwan completed a renovation of the winemaking facilities. Importantly, the old stainless steel tanks were replaced by concrete tanks.

The property is located in the commune of Cantenac and consists of a beautiful 18th century château and 35 hectares of vineyards. The wine is typically a blend of 40% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc and 10% Petit Verdot. The grapes are hand-harvested and then fermented in temperature-controlled, concrete tanks. The wine is then matured in oak barriques (30-50% new) for 18 months. It is bottled after a light fining and filtration. Its second wine is called Les Charmes de Kirwan. Château Kirwan produces on average 16,000 cases per year.

Following the tour and tasting we sat down for a lovely lunch with Natalie Schÿler.

Pictures: Lunch with Natalie Schÿler

Wine-pairing Dinner at Le Café Descartes/ French Embassy in Washington DC, USA

Executive Chef Mark Courseille prepared the following menu matching the food with the earth and fruit profiles of the wines.

Picture: Executive Chef Mark Courseille

Reception

Truffle Charcoal / Smoked Salmon Terrine / Mornay Gougères
Champagne Pierre Mignon Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru (US$42)

Wine-searcher average prices in brackets.

Opening Remakrs

General Manager Max Jacquet welcomed the guests, Annette Schiller introduced the 2 guests of honor and Sophie Schÿler and Philippe Blanc introduced their châteaux.

The Dinner

We had 5 course with 6 wines.

First

Chestnut Velonté
Les Carmes de Kirwan 2014 (US$36)

Second

Crumble of Escargot, Garlic Flan
Amiral de Beychevelle 2009 (US$42)

Third

Paleron de Boeuf, Fois Gras Flan, Pomme Purée Facon Robuchon, Red Wine Sauce

Château Beychevelle 2005 (US$147)
Château Kirwan 2000 (US$112)

Fourth

Saint Nectaire, Cantal, Comté

Château Kirwan 2015 (US$109)
Château Beychevelle 2015 (US$57)

Fifth

Valhrona Guanaja Grand Cru Chocolate Mille Feuille

Café

Bye-bye

Thanks Sophie and philippe for an outstanding evening.

Pictures: Bye-bye

schiller-wine: Related Postings

Ombiasy Wine Tours 2018: 3 x France and 3 x Germany - Ombiasy Newsletter December 2017

UPCOMING Tours/ Wine Dinners/ Tastings - Annette and Christian Schiller/ ombiasyPR & WineTours/ schiller-wine, Germany, France, USA (Issued: February 1, 2019)

Total Immersion in Bordeaux: World Class Wines and Exquisite French Gourmet Cuisine - Bordeaux Tour 2018 by ombiasy WineTours, France

Tour and Tasting at Château Beychevelle, Appellation Saint-Julien, 4ième Grand Cru Classé, with General Manager Philippe Blanc - Bordeaux Tour by ombiasy WineTours 2017, France

Tour, Tasting and Lunch at Château Kirwan, Appellation Margaux, 3ième Grand Cru Classé, with Owner Natalie Schyler - Bordeaux Tour by ombiasy WineTours 2016, France

Lunch, Tasting and Tour at Château Kirwan, Appellation Margaux, 3ième Grand Cru Classé, with Owner Natalie Schyler - Bordeaux Tour 2017 by ombiasy WineTours, France

Sophie Schÿler, Owner of Château Kirwan, 3ième Grand Cru Classé, Margaux, for a Wine Pairing Luncheon at Evo Bistro in McLean, with the Wines of RdV and Clemens Busch, USA/ France/ Germany

Pictures: Vineyard Tour, Cellar Tour and Tasting (from Barrel and from Bottle) at Weingut Rudolf Fürst, Franken, with Sebastian Fürst - Germany-East Tour 2018 by ombiasy WineTours: Wine, Art, Culture, History - Berlin, Saale-Unstrut, Sachsen, Württemberg, Franken

On the Germany-East Tour 2018 by ombiasy WineTours: Wine, Art, Culture, History - Berlin, Saale-Unstrut, Sachsen, Württemberg, Franken, we visited 4 wine producers in Franken. I have already reported about 3 of the 4 visits:

Cellar Tour and Tasting at Weingut Zehnthof Luckert, in Sulzfeld, Franken, with Philipp Luckert - Germany-East Tour 2018 by ombiasy WineTours: Wine, Art, Culture, History - Berlin, Saale-Unstrut, Sachsen, Württemberg, Franken

Cellar Tour and Tasting at Staatlicher Hofkeller in Würzburg, Franken, with General Manager Marcel von den Benken– Germany-East Tour 2016 by ombiasy WineTours

Wine Pairing Dinner at 1 Michelin Star Restaurant Reisers am Stein and Tasting and Tour at Weingut am Stein Ludwig Knoll, with Winemaker Franziska Schömig - Germany-East Tour 2018 by ombiasy WineTours: Wine, Art, Culture, History - Berlin, Saale-Unstrut, Sachsen, Württemberg, Franken

Visit and Tasting at Weingut Benedikt Baltes in Klingenberg, Franken: The Wines of Weingut Benedikt Baltes and of Weingut Julia Bertram - Germany-East Tour 2018 by ombiasy WineTours: Wine, Art, Culture, History - Berlin, Saale-Unstrut, Sachsen, Württemberg, Franken

This posting covers the fourth and final visit in Franken at Weingut Rudolf Fürst.

Sebastian Fürst took us through the vineyards and the wine cellar, where we also met Paul Fürst. Paul got a bit of a health issue but he is doing very well. In the cellar, we tasted a large number of wines from barrel. The visit ended in the tasting room where we tasted more wines, from bottle, with Sebastian Fürst.

Pictures: Weingut Rudolf Fürst

Sebastian Fürst was Falstaff/ Germany Winemaker of the Year 2018

Falstaff/ Christian Schiller Translation: We have to thank Monika and Paul Fürst that wine connoisseurs began to discover Bürgstadt in Churfranken in the 1980s: With its subtle Spätburgundern, but also with ripe white wines, Weingut Fürt created a reputation for itself beyond national borders. After a few years at his father's side, Sebastian Fürst now shoulders the burden of responsibility alone. He continues with a steady hand, what has proven itself, but sets with great sovereignty own accents.

Picture: Falstaff WeinGuide Deutschland 2018

“Rudolf Fürst is an acknowledged Pinot magician in Germany, not just with Spätburgunder (Pinot Noir) but also the earlier-ripening Frühburgunder.” Jancis Robinson MW, The Financial Times,13th November 2011.

“18 ha estate in Bürgstadt where some of the best Franconian wines are produce, especially the burgundy style Spätburgunders (rightly regarded as the finest in Germany).” Hugh Johnson, Wineguide 2012

Picture: Sebastian Fürst and his Wife (Photo: Falstaff/ Alois Müller)

Picture: The Nominees - Falstaff Wine Trophies 2018, with Ursula Haslauer and Ulrich Sauter (both Falstaff) (Photo: Falstaff/ Alois Müller). See: Best German Winemakers: Falstaff Wine Trophies 2018

Weingut Rudolf Fürst

The Miltenberg basin in the western tip of Franken between the forested hills of the Odenwald and the Spessart, where Bürgstadt is located, provides ideal climatic conditions for first-class viticulture. The weathered colored sandstone of the Centgrafenberg vineyard in Bürgstadt and the extremely steep slopes of the Schlossberg vineyard in Klingenberg are home to the most extraordinary Frühburgunder and Spätburgunder (Pinot Noir Précos and Pinot Noir) produced by Paul Fürst and his son Sebastian.

Frühburgunder (also known as Pinot Madeleine) is an old variety, autochthonous to this region, which yields full bodied wines and has attracted more and more attention over the last years. Roughly 60% of the wine produced is red.

In addition to the reds, brilliant white wines, such as Riesling, Weissburgunder and Franken’s signature wine, Silvaner, are also produced here.

The Fürst family has been producing wine in this area since 1638. In 1979 Paul and Monika Fürst built the new estate amidst the vineyards and in 2007 they were joined by their son Sebastian.

Picture: Annette Schiller and Sebastian Fürst, Weingut Fürst, at Restaurant SchauMahl with a 2003 Weingut Fürst Hundsrück Spätburgunder in the Double-Magnum (3 Liters). See: Winemaker Dinner with Sebastian Fürst, Weingut Fürst, Franken, at Schaumahl, Offenbach/ Frankfurt, 16 Points Gault Millau

The Vineyards

For the Fürsts and their viticulturist Sebastian Schür the vineyards are the biggest asset in the production of high qualitiy wines. Whether it's the high density of planting, best rootstocks and scions, low trellises, optimal humus content, plant protection and selective picking, all aspects are regarded as equally essential and from pruning to picking all the most important work in the vineyards is done by hand. Altogether Weingut Fürst has 20 hectares of vines, with 13 hectares of the Centgrafenberg vineyard the biggest block.

Pictures: Vineyard Tour with Sebastian Fürst

Centgrafenberg

Bürgstadt, 11 ha. As a result of the practice of gavelkind over centuries, the vineyards are split into 20 plots, creating a broad spectrum of soil composition. The higher the content of fertile loam, the better the soils are suited for growing white wines, whereas the more stony plots are perfect for the reds.

Hundsrück

Bürgstadt, 2.5 ha, partially terraced, Großes Gewächs since 2003, primary rock covered by 0.5-2m of warm, well drained and aerated surface soil The ideal vineyard soil, though quite unforgiving when it comes to mistakes in husbandry. Each year the Hundsrück makes for the most powerful and spicy Pinot in our portfolio.

Schlossberg

Klingenberg, 1.3 ha, steep terraces, red sandstone, one of Germany's famous historical pinot sites, In 2004 Paul and Sebastian bought 3 plots on this impressive slope, including the one between the wing walls of Clingenburg castle . Between 2004 and 2006 they were planted with the best Pinot vines and hundreds of yards of dry stone wall were restored.

Karthäuser

Volkach, shell limestone, Chardonnay ,Pinot Blanc, Silvaner, named for the adjacent charterhouse of Astheim.

The Cellar Philosophy

Our cellar philosophy is simple, just sustain what comes in from the vineyards. After fermentation on the skins in open vats, the red varieties are left in french oak barrels for 12 to 20 months to mature and settle. All red wines are bottled unfiltered. White wines are pressed gently, fermented and aged in both barrels and stainless steel tanks for 6 - 12 months. Lowtech vinification assures each wine gets the necessary time to develop.

Pictures: Meeting Paul Fürst in the Cellar

Berry Bros and Rudd: Weingut Rudolf Fürst

In the westernmost corner of the Franconian wine region, framed by the low mountain ranges of Spessart and Odenwald, the Fürst family has been making wine since 1638. In 1979 Paul and Monika Fürst built the new estate amidst the vineyards and in 2007 they were joined by their son Sebastian.

Facing due south and overlooking the picturesque towns of Miltenberg and Bürgstadt the slopes of the Centgrafenberg are home to most of the vines. Pinot Noir and Riesling thrive in the warm and iron rich soils formed by the weathering of red sandstone. The quality of the wines is founded on minimal intervention in the vineyards, reduced yields, gentle vinification and long barrel ageing (12-20 months). Red wines are bottled unfiltered.

Pinot Noir has been cultivated on the hot red sandstone of Centgrafenberg, Hundsrück and Schlossberg for centuries. Frühburgunder (also known as Pinot Madeleine) is an old variety, indigenous to this region, which yields full bodied wines and has attracted more and more attention over the last years. Spätburgunder (Pinot Noir) is complemented by other classic Franconian wines (all dry) from Riesling, Weißburgunder (Pinot Blanc), and Silvaner. White wines are pressed gently, fermented and aged in both barrels and stainless steel tanks for 6 – 12 months.

Tasting

We tasted from Barrel and from Bottle.

Tasting from Barrel

2017 Weingut Rudolf Fürst Spätburgunder Tradition Gutswein
2017 Weingut Rudolf Fürst Bürgstädter Berg Spätburgunder Erste Lage
2017 Weingut Rudolf Fürst Centgrafenberg Spätburgunder GG Grosse Lage
2017 Weingut Rudolf Fürst Schlossberg Spätburgunder GG Grosse Lage
2017 Weingut Rudolf Fürst Hundsrück Spätburgunder GG Grosse Lage

Pictures: Tasting from Barrel in the Cellar

Tasting from Bottle in the Tasting Room

The visit ended in the tasting room where we tasted more wines, from bottle, with Sebastian Fürst.

Pictures: Tasting from Bottle in the Tasting Room with Sebastian Fürst

2016 Weingut Rudolf Fürst Klingenberger Spätburgunder Ortswein
2016 Weingut Rudolf Fürst Bürgstadter Berg Spätburgunder Erste Lage
2016 Weingut Rudolf Fürst Frühburgunder R Frühburgunder (also known as Pinot Madeleine) is an old variety, autochthonous to this region, which yields full bodied wines and has attracted more and more attention over the last years.
1998 Weingut Rudolf Fürst Spätburgunder R
2017 Weingut Rudolf Fürst Pure Minerale Riesling Gutswein
2015 Weingut Rudolf Fürst Pure Minerale Riesling Gutswein
2007 Weingut Rudolf Fürst Centgrafenberg Riesling GG Grosse Lage

Pictures: The Wines

Bye-bye

Thanks Sebastian for the great vineyard tour and tastings from barrel and bottle.

Picture: Bye-bye

Postings: Germany-East Tour 2018 by ombiasy WineTours: Wine, Art, Culture, History - Berlin, Saale-Unstrut, Sachsen, Württemberg, Franken (Published and Forthcoming)

Germany-East Tour 2018 by ombiasy WineTours: Wine, Art, Culture, History - Berlin, Saale-Unstrut, Sachsen, Württemberg, Franken

Vineyard Tour and Tasting at the Königlicher Weinberg Klausberg in Sanssouci, Potsdam - Germany-East Tour 2018 by ombiasy WineTours: Wine, Art, Culture, History - Berlin, Saale-Unstrut, Sachsen, Württemberg, Franken

Vineyard Tour and Tasting at Weingut Dr. Lindicke in Werder an der Havel, Brandenburg - Germany-East Tour 2018 by ombiasy WineTours: Wine, Art, Culture, History - Berlin, Saale-Unstrut, Sachsen, Württemberg, Franken

Vineyard Tour, Cellar Tour and Tasting at Weingut Born in Salzatal, Saale-Unstrut, with Elisabeth Born - Germany-East Tour 2018 by ombiasy WineTours: Wine, Art, Culture, History - Berlin, Saale-Unstrut, Sachsen, Württemberg, Franken

Vineyard Visit and Wine Tasting Lunch at Weingut Hey in Naumburg, Saale-Unstrut, with Matthias Hey – Germany-East Tour 2016 by ombiasy WineTours

Wine Pairing Dinner at Restaurant Zufriedenheit in Naumburg, with Chef Robert Klaus and his Excellent Food, and Uwe Lützkendorf, Weingut Lützkendorf, and his World-class Wines - Germany-East Tour 2018 by ombiasy WineTours: Wine, Art, Culture, History - Berlin, Saale-Unstrut, Sachsen, Württemberg, Franken

Tasting at Weingut Uwe Lützkendorf, with Uwe Lützkendorf, in Bad Kösen, Saale-Unstrut– Germany-East Tour 2017 by ombiasy WineTours

Schiller's Favorite Winemakers in the Saale Unstrut Region, Germany

Visit and Tasting at Landesweingut Kloster Pforta in Bad Kösen, Saale-Unstrut, with Managing Director Björn Probst - Germany-East Tour 2018 by ombiasy WineTours: Wine, Art, Culture, History - Berlin, Saale-Unstrut, Sachsen, Württemberg, Franken

Wine and Music:"Martin Luther Lunch" at the Historic Vincenz Richter Restaurant, Weingut Vincenz Richter, in Meissen with Senior Boss Gottfried Herrlich and the Music of Bach, Mozart and Beethoven – Germany-East Tour 2017 by ombiasy WineTours

Vineyard Tour and Tasting at Weingut Schuh in Coswig, Sachsen, with Katharina Pollmer-Schuh and Matthias Schuh - Germany-East Tour 2018 by ombiasy WineTours: Wine, Art, Culture, History - Berlin, Saale-Unstrut, Sachsen, Württemberg, Franken

Tour and Dinner at Weingut Schloss Proschwitz - Prinz zur Lippe in Zadel, Sachsen, with Georg Prinz zur Lippe - Germany-East Tour 2017 by ombiasy WineTours

Visit and Tasting at the Sächsisches Staatsweingut Schloss Wackerbarth in Radebeul, Sachsen - Germany-East Tour 2018 by ombiasy WineTours: Wine, Art, Culture, History - Berlin, Saale-Unstrut, Sachsen, Württemberg, Franken

Wine and Opera in Dresden: Mozart at Semper Opera and the Best Wines of Sachsen at Wine Bar Weinzentrale in Dresden-Neustadt, with Owner/ Sommelier Jens Pietzonka – Germany-East Tour 2017 by ombiasy WineTours

Schiller's Favorite Winemakers in Sachsen (Saxony), Germany

Cellar Tour and Tasting at Weingut Aldinger in Fellbach (Stuttgart), with Matthias Aldinger - Germany-East Tour 2018 by ombiasy WineTours: Wine, Art, Culture, History - Berlin, Saale-Unstrut, Sachsen, Württemberg, Franken

Vineyard Walk, Cellar Tour and Tasting at Weingut Karl Haidle in Kernen-Stetten, Württemberg, with Moritz Haidle - Germany-East Tour 2018 by ombiasy WineTours: Wine, Art, Culture, History - Berlin, Saale-Unstrut, Sachsen, Württemberg, Franken

Vineyard Tour and Cellar Tour at Weingut Graf Adelmann, Burg Schaubeck, in Steinheim-Kleinbottwar, Württemberg, with Felix Count Adelmann - Germany-East Tour 2018 by ombiasy WineTours: Wine, Art, Culture, History - Berlin, Saale-Unstrut, Sachsen, Württemberg, Franken

Dinner with Felix Graf Adelmann, Weingut Graf Adelmann, at Burg Schaubeck in Kleinbottwar, Württemberg - Germany-East Tour 2018 by ombiasy WineTours: Wine, Art, Culture, History - Berlin, Saale-Unstrut, Sachsen, Württemberg, Franken

Cellar Tour and Tasting at Weingut Zehnthof Luckert, in Sulzfeld, Franken, with Philipp Luckert - Germany-East Tour 2018 by ombiasy WineTours: Wine, Art, Culture, History - Berlin, Saale-Unstrut, Sachsen, Württemberg, Franken

Cellar Tour and Tasting at Staatlicher Hofkeller in Würzburg, Franken, with General Manager Marcel von den Benken– Germany-East Tour 2016 by ombiasy WineTours

Wine Pairing Dinner at 1 Michelin Star Restaurant Reisers am Stein and Tasting and Tour at Weingut am Stein Ludwig Knoll, with Winemaker Franziska Schömig - Germany-East Tour 2018 by ombiasy WineTours: Wine, Art, Culture, History - Berlin, Saale-Unstrut, Sachsen, Württemberg, Franken

Vineyard Tour, Cellar Tour and Tasting at Weingut Rudolf Fürst in Bürgstadt, Franken, with Sebastian Fürst

Tasting and Tour with the Pinot Noir Legend Paul Fürst, Weingut Rudolf Fürst in Bürgstadt, Franken– Germany-East Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2015)

Visit and Tasting at Weingut Benedikt Baltes in Klingenberg, Franken: The Wines of Weingut Benedikt Baltes and of Weingut Julia Bertram - Germany-East Tour 2018 by ombiasy WineTours: Wine, Art, Culture, History - Berlin, Saale-Unstrut, Sachsen, Württemberg, Franken

Schiller’s Favorites: 2 Legendary Wine Taverns in Würzburg – Juliusspital and Bürgerspital

Schiller’s Favorite Wine Taverns in Würzburg

Picture: Annette Schiller, Clemens Busch, Christian Schiller at Panda Gourmet in Washington DC

Clemens Busch of the world class Weingut Clemens Busch (Mosel) was in town (Washington DC) and Domestique Wine, a new wine shop focussing on natural wines, organized a Chinese dinner at Michelin-recommended Panda Gourmet.

Pictures: Welcome at Panda Gourmet

Interestingly, Clemens poured 2 "mainstream" wines (Riesling trocken and a Grosses Gewächs) as well as 2 "non-mainstream" wines (Riesling trocken LS, a low sulfur wine, and Riesling alter (native), 60 days maceration, both wines unfined and unfiltered and sold as Landwein).

Panda Gourmet is a Michelin-recommended (assiette gourmand) Chinese restaurant serving Sichuan and Shaanxi cuisine.

Selfies with Clemens (2013 - 2019)

Here are few selfies with Clemens from the dinner at Panda Gourmet and the past years.

Pictures: Annette Schiller, Christian Schiller and Clemens Busch at Panda Gourmet, Washington DC

Picture: Annette and Christian Schiller at the Rieslingfeier 2017 in New York City with Clemens Busch. See: The Annual "Slaughterhouse" Riesling Feast in New York: Rieslingfeier 2017, USA

Pictures: Annette Schiller, Clemens Busch and Christian Schiller in Washington DC, USA in 2014. See: German Star Winemaker Clemens Busch, Weingut Clemens Busch in the Mosel Valley, in Washington DC, USA

Picture: Gernot Kollmann, Weingut Immich-Batterieberg, Annette Schiller, ombiasy WineTours, Dominik Sona and Franzi Schmitt, Weingut Koehler-Ruprecht and Clemens Busch, Weingut Clemens Busch, at Bart Vandaele's BToo in Washington DC. See: Post-Rieslingfeier and Pre-Big Glou Dinner with 3 Top Winemakers from Germany at BToo in Washington DC: Clemens Busch, Immich-Batterieberg and Koehler-Ruprecht, USA

Picture: In Seattle, Washington State, in 2013, during the 4th Riesling Rendezvous: Clemens Busch, Christian Schiller and Hermann Wiemer, founder of Hermann J. Wiemer Vineyards in the Finger Lakes Region in New York State. See: The World of Riesling in Seattle - Fourth Riesling Rendezvous in Washington State, USA

Invitation

Dear friends of good wine and food,

I would like to alert you to a wine dinner coming up this Thursday:

Our good friend Clemens Busch, bio-dynamic winemaker from the Mosel Valley is coming to town. Some of you might know him from a visit to his winery from previous wine tours I organized in Germany. He will pair his wines -ranging from an entry level wine to a Grand Cru wine- with great Sichuan cuisine. Clemens Busch is one of the premium German winemakers and member of the prestigious Association of Elite German Wine Estates (VDP). I particularly love Clemens’ wines: they are earthy, yet elegant, perfectly reflecting the slate terroir of the Mosel Valley.

The dinner takes place

Thursday, March 7th at 7 pm

at Panda Gourmet, 2700 New York Ave NE, Washington DC 20002 (there is ample parking!)

Tickets are 75 $ p. person and can be ordered via https://domestiquewine.com/products/clemens-busch-dinner

Panda Gourmet is a restaurant recommended in the DC Michelin Guide and I am sure that this will be an evening of fun and an exquisite wine / food pairing experience.

Best

Annette

Pictures: Reception at Panda Gourmet

Domestique

Domestique is a partnership between Jeff Segal and Selection Massale. We're focused exclusively on natural wines. For us, that means wines made from organic or biodynamic grapes, fermented with ambient yeasts, and with very minimal use of sulfur (if any). The wines we love are clean, terroir-driven, and transparent.

We also have a careful selection of beers, ciders, and spirits that are made with the same principles whenever possible.

We're here in service of our producers. Their bottles are available in our shop, on our website, and through our newsletter. They'll also join us for frequent tastings and events.

At the moment, we can ship wine to AK, CA, ID, LA, NE, NV, NH, NM, ND, OR, VA, WV, and WY. We deliver everywhere in Washington D.C. for a $10 flat fee that we waive if you spend $100 or more. If you have questions on shipping or delivery, get in touch.

Contact us at info@domestiquewine.com.

Pictures: Wine-pairing Dinner with Clemens Busch, Weingut Clemens Busch, Mosel, at Panda Gourmet in Washington DC, USA

Panda Gourmet

Michelin: The name may look familiar, but don’t confuse this gem with the ubiquitous food court spot. Sure, Panda Gourmet isn’t winning any awards for its lackluster locale set amidst gas stations and fast-food chains, but you’re here for the food, not frills. And that food, well, it’s quality Sichuan and Shaanxi cuisine brought to you at great value. The heat is turned down for more sensitive palates, but there's plenty of flavor packed into these dishes. Hangzhou beef soup could feed an army with its soothing and satisfying broth, cubes of firm tofu, beef and loads of cilantro. Then rice noodles with minced pork is kicked up a notch with fiery chili oil, and may be tailed by mapo tofu, sprinkled with ground pork, green onions and spicy red chili sauce.

Pictures: The Food - Delicious and Spicy

Weingut Clemens Busch is one of the top producers in Germany. And not only that. In a region where the humidity and extremely steep vineyards make most wine makers to rely on some level of pesticide, Clemens Busch is 100% organic/biodynamic. And: In a region where noticeable residual sugar in the finished wine and low alcohol is the standard, Clemens Busch’s focus is on dry premium Rieslings that can compete with the best dry whites in the world. But Clemens Busch also produces some off-dry wines as well as powerfully complex, nobly sweet wines.

Pictures: Annette Schiller and Clemens Busch at Weingut Clemens Busch, Mosel

Weingut Clemens Busch is in Pünderich in the Mosel Valley, rather far down stream. The Busch family lives near the banks of the Mosel in a restored half- timbered house built in 1663. Because flooding can occur here, the vaulted cellar, built in the 1970s, lies nearby, on higher ground, at Clemens’s parents’ home.

The business has been run by Rita and Clemens Busch since 1986, with son Florian joining the team in 2008. Clemens is the fifth generation winemaker at this estate.

Pictures: Christian and Annette Schiller with Clemens Busch at Weingut Clemens Busch in Pünderich

Vineyard area: 10 hectares

Annual production: 55,000 bottles

The winery is since 2007 member of the VDP (Association of German VDP), the 200 or so German elite winemakers.

Clemens Busch produces mainly dry wines but also fruity-sweet wines as well as powerfully complex, nobly-sweet wines.

Organic/Biodynamic

Weingut Clemens Busch is considered by many to be the master interpreter of the natural winemaking approach in Germany. Clemens Busch began using organic practices in 1984 and more recently moved towards biodynamic. He is a member of respekt-BIODYN

Pündericher Marienburg

Most of the area under vines is situated in the Pündericher Marienburg vineyard which covers almost the entire hillside on the opposite side of the river from the village of Pünderich.

Until the wine law of 1971, the Pündericher Marienburg consisted of several small plots and not without good reason, because the wines grown in the different parts of today’s Marienburg vineyard are still very different. It is not only the different slate soils but also the special microclimates that play an important role here. To emphasize the specific differences that exist within the Pündericher Marienburg, the corresponding wines of Clemens Busch still bear the names of the old plots: Fahrlay and Fahrlay-Terrassen, Falkenlay and Raffes, as well as Rothenpfad and Felsterrasse.

Pictures: Crossing the Mosel at the Pündericher Marienburg. See: With Wine Maker Clemens Busch in Puenderich at his Winery in the Mosel Valley, Germany (2013)

Fahrlay and Fahrlay-Terrassen, directly across the river from the Busch’s house, consist mainly of blue slate, producing a Riesling with a particularly intensive mineral flavor and slightly salty notes in the finish.

Falkenlay, including the old-vine section called Raffes, is made up of grey slate, producing particularly creamy, fruit-driven Rieslings.

Picture: In the Pündericher Marienburg Vineyard with Rita Busch. See: Tasting with Rita Busch at Weingut Clemens Busch in the Mosel Valley, Germany (2014)

Wine Cellar

In the cellar, it is obvious that Clemens Busch does without high technology. After crushing, the grapes undergo skin contact and ferment spontaneously in both stainless steel and in oak Fuder (wooden casks of 1000 liters). The fermentation continues for a very long period of time (8-9 months, sometimes even 12). In addition to lees contact, Clemens Busch likes to do lees stirring to increase the wines’ fruitiness and richness. There are no additions to the wine (sugar for chaptalisation, acidity, etc) except for a very small amount of sulfur before bottling. As an exception, special yeast is used for noble-sweet wines where the sugar levels are sometimes so high that wild yeasts would not even begin to work.

Pictures: Wine-pairing Dinner with Clemens Busch, Weingut Clemens Busch, Mosel, at Panda Gourmet in Washington DC, USA

The Wines Clemens Poured

Clemens Busch poured 4 wines.

2016 Weingut Clemens Busch Riesling trocken, Qualitätswein

Fine entry-level wine. Gutswein. Grown in grey slate from multiple parcels in the Marienburg (including the portions that lie across the river, which don’t make it into the GG wines), a mix of young and old vines up to 50-60 yrs old, vinified 60% in barrels and 40% INOX, and 20% of the juice sees malolactic fermentation.

2016 Weingut Clemens Busch Riesling trocken LS, Landwein

LS: Low-sulfur wine.

2016 Weingut Clemens Busch Riesling (alter) native, Landwein

A new cuvée! Grown in grey slate on the Marienburg. Spontaneously fermented, macerated extra time on the skins, then matured 15 months on the lees in Clemens’ big old (50+yr) German oak barrels. Unfiltered and unfined. A tiny amount of sulfur was added at bottling, even less than usual. Residual sugar: under 4 g/l. 11.5% alc. Hazy color; “orange wine” in spirit, but fantastically fresh, energetic and delicious.

2016 Weingut Clemens Busch, Riesling, Marienburg, GG, Qualitätswein

"Refined and mouthfilling, with an electric tension between the mouthwatering acidity and flavors of bergamot, hops and nectarine. Best from 2020 through 2028." Aleks Zecevic, Wine Spectator INSIDER, Jan 2018

Weingut Clemens Busch Wines in the USA

The Weingut Clemens Busch wines are widely available in the US. Louis/Dressner is the main American importer. In California, Dee Vine Wines (Fine German Wines) is the exclusive importer of Weingut Clemens Busch wines. I also found the Weingut Clemens Busch wines on the website of David Bowler Wine in New York.

Bye-bye

Thanks Clemens, Jeff and Panda Gourmet for a wonderful winemaker dinner.

Picture: Bye-bye

Going Home

Going home, we passed by the Capitol.

Picture: The Capitol, Washington DC

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