Announcement: Upcoming ombiasy Wine Tours 2020 - (1) Alsace and Germany South, (2) Rhône Valley, (3) Bordeaux and (4) Germany: Christmas Market, Wine, Concert Tour

January 20, 2020, 10:30 pm

≫ Next: BEST OF Silvaner 2017/ 2018 - Marcus Hofschuster, Wein Plus, Germany

≪ Previous: Plateau de Fruits de Mer in Blaye - Bordeaux Tour 2019 by ombiasy WineTours, France

Picture: Annette and Christian Schiller in the Rheingau, Germany

Dear friends,

as many of you know I lived six years in France and francophone African countries and I came to learn and to appreciate the fact that the deadline for sending out New Year’s greetings is January 31. I happily adopted this tradition.

I wish all of you a wonderful and successful year 2020. I hope your life will be full of surprise and joy in the new year that just began. May You be blessed with everything you want in life.

Some very interesting tours are on the horizon in 2020:

Alsace and Germany’s Pinot Noir country; the Rhône Valley; Bordeaux, and a Christmas Market, Wine, Concert tour end of November / early December (I do not have the exact dates yet - I am waiting for the concert programs and the exact dates for the Christmas markets)

Alsace and Germany South: May 15 – May 23, 2020

Germany is so closely identified with Riesling (and yes, it is the largest producer of Riesling world-wide) that you may be surprised to learn that the country is also very strong regarding the Burgundy grapes. It the third-largest producer of Pinot Noir (Spätburgunder), the largest producer of Pinot Blanc (Weissburgunder), and the second largest producer of Pinot Gris (Grauburgunder) in the world. Join us as we discover the southern German wine regions that produce bone dry, opulent Rieslings, outstanding Pinot Noirs and whites from Burgundy grapes. We will step across the Rhine River to compare the wines of the Eastern (German) and Western (French) Rhine valley and we will get a feel for the beautiful, quaint Alsace region with its incredible picturesque wine villages dotted with half-timbered century old buildings. Enjoy the Pfalz, the second largest German wine region by growing area and only topped by Rheinhessen, which it borders to the north. From there, the Pfalz stretches to the French border 53 miles to the south and borders Alsace. In this region French and German vineyards melt into one another and some wineries on the French side own vineyards in Germany and vice versa. only 3 slots left!

For detailed information on the tour schedule, please check: https://ombiasypr.com/index.php/wine-tours/germany-south/germany-south-alsace-itinerary

For pricing and registration, please go to: https://ombiasypr.com/index.php/wine-tours/germany-south/germany-south-alsace-registration

Picture: Dinner in Beautiful Riquewhir, Alsace. See: The Sun-Kissed South: Germany’s Pinot Noir, the Other Whites, the Culinary Regions - Germany-South and Alsace 2018 Tour by ombiasy WineTours: Baden, Alsace, Pfalz and Rheinhessen

Rhône: June 08 - June 17, 2020

Join us as we explore in detail the wines of the Rhône Valley. We start in vibrant, cool, sophisticated Lyon, the capital of Haut Cuisine. We stop in the Northern Rhône where names such as Côte Rôtie, Crozes-Hermitage make us crave a glass of wine. We follow the eponymous Rhône river south to Avignon, the city that was the seat of the papacy for the better part of the 14th century. We spend two nights in Châteauneuf du Pape exploring the famous wines. We do a side-kick to the gorgeous Dentelles de Montmirail where we find the wines of Gigondas, Vacqueyras, Séguret, and the sweet wines of Rasteau and Baumes de Venice, and of course we visit famous Roman sites such as the Pont du Gard and the city of Arles where we also trace van Gogh’s steps. The southern Rhône belongs to Provence. Provence: this immediately ignites a deep yearning for the fragrance coming from purple Lavender fields, for the special light the Impressionist artists masterfully captured in their paintings, for a very special "savoir vivre", and for the dark red, fruity, spicy wines. only 4 slots left!

For detailed information on the tour schedule, please check: https://ombiasypr.com/index.php/wine-tours/rhone/rhone-itinerary

For pricing and registration, please go to: https://ombiasypr.com/index.php/wine-tours/rhone/rhone-registration

Pictures: At the Pont du Gard in the Southern Rhône Valley. See: Rhône Valley Tour 2018 by ombiasy WineTours: Wine, Culture and History, France

Bordeaux: September 01 – September 10, 2020

Join us as we explore Sauternes, Pessac-Léognan, Margaux, Saint-Julien, Pauillac, Saint-Estèphe, Médoc, Saint-Emilion, Pomerol, Entre-deux-Mers, and Blaye, where we will visit well-known classified Châteaux, classified under-the-radar Châteaux, and so-called “Petits-Châteaux” producing phenomenal wines. Wine and food, that’s so important in Bordeaux, and wine pairing lunches or dinners at famous châteaux with the owner or Managing Director are an almost daily routine. Besides doing Châteaux hopping, I will also show you other aspects of “Bordeaux” that the usual wine tours do not do: we will be introduced to the “Place de Bordeaux” buying and selling system unique in Bordeaux by visiting a négociant house, a wine merchant; we will visit a cooper to see from A to Z how a barrique is being made; we go to the basin d’Arcachon to see how an oyster is raised; we will experience the big bodies of water so important for the Bordeaux climate: the mighty Gironde estuary and the Atlantic ocean. Instead of sitting for 3 to 4 hours in traffic every day going back and forth to Bordeaux city we will travel around, spending nights in the heart of the Left Bank in Pauillac and in the heart of the Right Bank in Saint-Émilion to “feel” the vineyards; and of course we will spend some time in the vibrant, hip, cultural, cool city of Bordeaux.

For detailed information on the tour schedule, please check: https://ombiasypr.com/index.php/wine-tours/bordeaux/bordeaux-itinerary

For pricing and registration, please go to: https://ombiasypr.com/index.php/wine-tours/bordeaux/bordeaux-registration

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

Don’t hesitate to contact me anytime at aschiller@ombiasypr.com if you would like to know more details. I am more than happy to answer all your queries.

Best

Annette

Picture: At the Frankfurt Christmas Market, 2015, Germany

↧

BEST OF Silvaner 2017/ 2018 - Marcus Hofschuster, Wein Plus, Germany

January 21, 2020, 10:00 pm

≫ Next: Vineyard Walk and Tasting in the Chai at Château Bel-Air La Royère, Appellation Blaye-Côtes de Bordeaux, with Owner/ Winemaker Corinne Loriaud - Bordeaux Tour 2019 by ombiasy WineTours, France

≪ Previous: Announcement: Upcoming ombiasy Wine Tours 2020 - (1) Alsace and Germany South, (2) Rhône Valley, (3) Bordeaux and (4) Germany: Christmas Market, Wine, Concert Tour

Pictures: 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

Marcus Hofschuster is Editor-in-Chief and Lead Taster of Wein-Plus, a leading European on-line wine guide, based in Germany. Marcus Hofschuster is the man behind the reputation that Wein-Plus has gained over the past 2 decades. All wines are tasted blind. Marcus Hofschuster uses the 100 points scale.

From time to time, Marcus Hofschuster summarizes his tasting results in a "BEST OF" list. This time, he published a list summarizing his tasting results with regard to German Silvaner from the 2015 and 2016 vintages.

Picture: Nico Rechenberg, Dirk Würtz, Weingut Balthasar Ress, Marcus Hofschuster, Wein-Plus, Armin Diel, Schlossgut Diel, Paul Truszkowski, Wine in Black, and Felix Bodman at the GG Pre-release Tasting in Wiesbaden, Germany, 2016. See: Germany’s Grosses Gewächs GG Wines Released (2015 White and 2014 Red) - Notes from the Pre-release Tasting in Wiesbaden, Germany

Silvaner in Germany

Sylvaner or Silvaner is primarily grown in Alsace and Germany. In Germany it is best known as a component of Liebfraumilch and production boomed in the 1970s to the detriment of quality, but it has long enjoyed a better reputation in Franconia than in other German wine regions. While the Alsatian versions have primarily been considered simpler wines, it was recently (2006) included among the varieties that can be used to produce Alsace Grand Cru wine together with the four 'noble grapes' of Alsace, although only in one vineyard, Zotzenberg.

This dichotomy is explained by the vigour of the Sylvaner vine and the grape's neutral flavour, which can lead to blandness unless yields are controlled. On the other hand, it gives a blank canvas for the expression of terroir, and on good sites with skilled winemaking, Sylvaner can produce elegant wines. It has high acidity but naturally reaches high must weights, so is often blended with other varieties such as Riesling or Elbling, and is sometimes made into a dessert wine.

First recorded in Germany at Castell in 1659, Silvaner (with an 'i') reached a peak in the 1960s-1970s, with 30% of German vineyards. However overproduction during the Liebfraumilch years ruined its reputation, and it has since retreated to its stronghold in Franconia (Frankenland) (1,425 ha), where on the best chalky Muschelkalk terroir it can produce wines that can compete with the best German white wines which usually are made out of the Riesling grape. These powerful wines are considered food-friendly and are often described as having an "earthy" palate. Under VDP Erste Lage/Grosses Gewächs rules, Silvaner may be used for Grosses Gewächs wines (top-end dry wines), but only in Franconia and Saale-Unstrut and not in any of the other 11 German wine regions. Silvaner is also grown in Rheinhessen (2,486 ha) and Palatinate, and is sometimes also made into dessert wine.[9] Currently there are 6,000 hectares (15,000 acres) in Germany, just 5.9% of the total area under vine.

Picture: Christian Schiller Tasting with Kai Schätzel at Weingut Schätzel, see: A New Fixture in the Reemerging Red Slope of Nierstein - Visiting Kai Schaetzel and his Weingut Schaetzel in Nierstein, Rheinhessen, Germany

Pictures: Lunch cum Tasting with Nanne Schätzel, see: Tour, Tasting, and Lunch at Weingut Schätzel in Nierstein, Rheinhessen – Germany-North Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2014)

Vintage 2018

WP stands for Wein-Plus Points.

93WP Maustal GG, Zehnthof Luckert
93WP “Ab Ovo”, Rainer Sauer
92WP Himmelspfad GG, May
92WP Am Lumpen 1655 GG, Horst Sauer
92WP Küchenmeister GG “Hoheleite”, Weltner
91WP Langenberg VDP Erste Lage, May
91WP Stein GG, Knoll
91WP Am Lumpen 1655 GG, Rainer Sauer
90WP Pfülben GG, Schmitt’s Kinder
90WP Stein GG, Staatlicher Hofkeller
90WP Kallmuth GG “Asphodill”, Fürst Löwenstein
90WP Rothlauf GG, May
90WP “Vinz Alte Reben”, Knoll
90WP Stein-Harfe GG, Bürgerspital
90WP Am Lumpen 1655 GG, Zur Schwane
90WP “Der Schäfer” VDP Erste Lage, May
90WP Hohnart VDP Erste Lage, Fürstlich Castell’sches Domänenamt
90WP Probstey, Thörle
90WP Alte Reben “#nofilter”, Neumeister
89WP Sonnenberg “Gelbkalk”, Zehnthof Luckert
89WP Am Lumpen 1655 GG, Fröhlich
89WP Pfaffenberg VDP Erste Lage, Bürgerspital
89WP Rossthalber VDP Erste Lage, May
89WP Nierstein VDP.Aus Ersten Lagen, Schätzel
89WP Vögelein “Edle Rebe”, Rudloff
89WP Hohen-Sülzen VDP.Ortswein “Leopold”, Battenfeld-Spanier
89WP Lump VDP Erste Lage “S”, Horst Sauer
89WP Kronsberg VDP Erste Lage “Alte Reben - Trias”, Ruck
88WP Stein “Grenzstein”, Höfling
88WP Saulheim “Kalkstein”, Thörle
88WP Gau-Algesheim VDP.Ortswein “Terrassen”, Bischel
88WP Würzburg VDP.Ortswein, Bürgerspital
88WP Marsberg “Alte Reben”, Bardorf
88WP Vigneti delle Dolomiti IGT, Garlider
88WP Westhofen “Alte Reben - pour toujours”, Wechsler
88WP Rödelsee VDP.Ortswein, Weltner
88WP Innere Leiste VDP Erste Lage, Büergerspital
88WP “Fass 27”, Bastian Hamdorf
88WP Lump VDP Erste Lage, Rainer Sauer
88WP Heller Berg VDP Erste Lage “G”, Roth
88WP Julius-Echter-Berg VDP Erste Lage “Trias”, Ruck
88WP Fürstenberg VDP Erste Lage, Schäffer
88WP Escherndorf VDP.Ortswein “Muschelkalk”, Rainer Sauer
88WP Fürstenberg VDP Erste Lage “S”, Horst Sauer (Blauer Silvaner)
88WP “Kalb Alte Reben”, Ilmbacher Hof
88WP Küchenmeister VDP Erste Lage, Juliusspital
88WP Sonnenstuhl Spätlese trocken “Alte Reben”, Schmachtenberger
88WP Kalb VDP Erste Lage “Trias”, Ruck
88WP Teufelskeller VDP Erste Lage, Staatlicher Hofkeller
88WP Nackenheim VDP.Aus Ersten Lagen “x.t.”, Gunderloch
88WP “Tempus et Spatium”, Borst
88WP Lump, Braun
88WP Stein VDP Erste Lage, Knoll
88WP Kronsberg VDP Erste Lage, Juliusspital
88WP Stein VDP Erste Lage, Juliusspital
88WP Altenberg, Heid

Pictures: Vineyard Tour and Tasting at Weingut Horst Sauer in Eschendorf, Franken, with Horst Sauer - Germany-East Tour 2017 by ombiasy WineTours

Vintage 2017

91WP Julius-Echter-Berg GG, Juliusspital
91WP Julius-Echter-Berg GG “Trias”, Ruck
90WP “Indigenius”, Rothe
90WP Johannisberg GG “Rothlauf”, Bickel-Stumpf
89WP Am Lumpen 1655 GG, Schäffer
89WP Kronsberg GG, Wirsching
89WP Julius-Echter-Berg GG, Wirsching
89WP Lump VDP Erste Lage “Maische”, Horst Sauer
89WP VDP.Gutswein “Sehnsucht”, Horst Sauer
88WP “Alte Reben”, Roth
88WP Ratsherr GG, Zur Schwane
88WP Küchenmeister “Der Küchenmeister”, Weigand
88WP Lump VDP Erste Lage, Schäffer
88WP Landsknecht Spätlese trocken “Gässberg”, Leipold
88WP Sonnenstuhl GG “Konsequent R”, Trockene Schmitts
88WP Stein GG, Juliusspital
88WP Mönchshof GG, Bickel-Stumpf

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

Older Vintags

90WP 2016 Schlossberg GG, Fürstlich Castell’sches Domänenamt
89WP 2016 Réserve, Riffel
88WP 2016 Lützeltalerberg “Carus Granit”, Giegerich
88WP 2016 “Fass N°1”, Dahm
88WP 2012 Langenberg “Recis 1963”, May

Fruity-Sweet and Noble-Sweet

95WP 2018 Kronsberg TBA, Ruck
94WP 2017 Marsberg TBA, Bardorf
88WP 2018 Landsknecht Auslese, Leipold

Pictures: Tour and Tasting at Weingut Wirsching in Iphofen in Franken with General Manager Uwe Matheus– Germany-East Wine and Art Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2015)

schiller-wine: Related Postings

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

Announcement: Upcoming ombiasy Wine Tours 2020 - (1) Alsace and Germany South, (2) Rhône Valley, (3) Bordeaux

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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

Germany’s Grosses Gewächs GG Wines Released (2015 White and 2014 Red) - Notes from the Pre-release Tasting in Wiesbaden, Germany

A New Fixture in the Reemerging Red Slope of Nierstein - Visiting Kai Schaetzel and his Weingut Schaetzel in Nierstein, Rheinhessen, Germany

Lunch cum Tasting with Nanne Schätzel, see: Tour, Tasting, and Lunch at Weingut Schätzel in Nierstein, Rheinhessen – Germany-North Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2014)

Vineyard Tour and Tasting at Weingut Horst Sauer in Eschendorf, Franken, with Horst Sauer - Germany-East Tour 2017 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)

Tour and Tasting at Weingut Wirsching in Iphofen in Franken with General Manager Uwe Matheus– Germany-East Wine and Art Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2015)

↧

Vineyard Walk and Tasting in the Chai at Château Bel-Air La Royère, Appellation Blaye-Côtes de Bordeaux, with Owner/ Winemaker Corinne Loriaud - Bordeaux Tour 2019 by ombiasy WineTours, France

January 22, 2020, 10:30 pm

≫ Next: 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 2019, France

≪ Previous: BEST OF Silvaner 2017/ 2018 - Marcus Hofschuster, Wein Plus, Germany

Pictures: Vineyard Tour and Tasting in the Chai at Château Bel-Air La Royère, Appellation Blaye-Côtes de Bordeaux, with Owner/ Winemaker Corinne Loriaud - Bordeaux Tour 2019 by ombiasy WineTours, France

Château Bel Air La Royère is a brilliant small producer belonging to the so called “petits-châteaux” in the Bordelais. The wines are different in style, character and identity from most other Bordeaux wines. This stems from old Malbec vines of that old high quality low yield clone. In 2003 Xavier and Corinne Loriaud bought the small, rundown Château on the Right Bank of the Gironde estuary in the back yard of Blaye just opposite Pauillac. The château came with a vineyard of 70 year old Malbec vines. The Loriauds did not rip out the vines like so many others, instead they focused on this traditional old Bordeaux grape varietal. With Argentina's great Malbec qualities, and in times of a drastic climate change the grape variety has been attracting renewed attention. Corinne Chevrier-Loriaud, a winemaker in her own rights surrounded herself with women following the departure of her husband in 2009, who went into politics to become a deputy in the Department of the Gironde. To build up and secure her new existence she boldly reduced the vineyard size from 50 to 30 acres and ambitiously continued her work since 2009. Today she belongs to the original and distinctive Bordeaux of a new generation, which has been receiving a tremendous response in the French press.

Corinne Loriaud was our host. We spent a considerable amount of time in the vineyard with her before tasting her wines with her.

Pictures: Arriving

A Family Passion

Corinne Chevrier-Loriaud: Originating from Charente, and a producer of cognac. The Chevrier-Loriaud family, a fourth generation wine family fell in love with this ancient property during the year 1992 in Gironde. In restoring this vineyard to its original glory, an elegant wine was born. Dynamic in taste, going from strength to strength to become the spirit of innovation and quality of Bel-Air La Royère. Reflecting the evolving style, and definitive regional touch of Blaye. These wines pays homage to a remarkably skilled family.

The Malbec is an ancient grape variety which from its humble beginnings has become the perfect vine to create a truly remarkable wine. This Malbec highlights the Château since 1995, it enriches the blend with spicy notes and deep subtle flavours.

Corinne Chevrier-Loriaud built her vineyard with a skilled team comprised entirely of women working the vines just as she did in the wine house. Whilst at the same time, continually on the hunt for soil types that work perfectly with the Merlot-Malbec blend to provide a wine bursting in finesse and her touch of savoir-faire.

Pictures: In the Vineyard with Corinne Loriaud

In the Search of Excellence

Corinne Chevrier-Loriaud; We are a small winemaking team on 12 hectares. Always close to our vines, our wines and our customers.

We have been in the business of environmentally friendly and sustainable farming for many years in order to keep our soils durable and to support our flourishing grapevines. Additionally, we are looking above all else to provide products that reflect our land’s unique quality.

Our size allows us to innovate every year and experiment with new techniques in order to obtain wines of the highest quality.

Our ambition allows us to grow internationally.

Pictures: Tasting with Corinne Loriaud

Rediscovering Malbec

Corinne Chevrier-Loriaud: Corinne Chevrier-Loriaud, winemaker since 1992 highlights the Malbec grape in creating the Merlot-Malbec blend.

Every step in the process of working the vine is important, after the size, wedging, folding, cutting the unneeded branches, raising the branches, topping and trimming, thinning out the leaves, the grapes are now ready for harvesting. All the grapes on our aged vines are harvested by hand in order to preserve the integrity of the fruit and the vine.

In our cellars and after the destemming, we manually sort the harvest. We adapt to the vintage and our soil for the rest of the winemaking process. The aging process is done in barrels, different coopers are then selected following the harvest.

With each vintage being different, we are constantly adapting to emphasise our personality in the wine.

The Wines we Tasted

2017 Château Bel Air La Royère, Justin Malbec, Blaye Côtes de Bordeaux

100% Malbec young vines
Euro 8.50

2017 Château Bel Air La Royère, Goumandise de Bel-Air La Royère, Blaye Côtes de Bordeaux

Goumandise de Bel-Air La Royère

Parmi nos trois vins rouges, Gourmandise apparaît comme notre très belle entrée de gamme.

Un vin qui ne s'appelle pas Gourmandise par hasard‪… Tout en douceur avec son 100 % merlot, il vous surprendra par ses notes fruitées et sa rondeur.

Nous sommes fiers de vous présenter ses belles critiques :

- "Gourmandises de Bel-Air La Royère 2015 se livre avec timidité, avec une reduction encore marquée. La bouche, légère et friande, en fera un vin de plaisir immédiat". Le guide des meilleures vins de France, par la Revue du Vins de France, 2018.

Euro 9.50

2017 Château Bel Air La Royère, L'Esprit de Bel-Air La Royère, Blaye Côtes de Bordeaux

L'Esprit de Bel-Air La Royère

L'Esprit de Bel-Air la Royère est notre second vin. Son assemblage se compose de 90 % de merlot, 5 % de malbec et 5 % de cabernet sauvignon.

Nous somme fiers de vous présenter ses nombreuses médailles et belles critiques :

- Médaille d'or au concours mondiale des Féminalises 2017

- Médaille d'argent au concours Elle à Table 2016

- Médaille d'argent au concours de Bordeaux Vins d'Aquitaine 2017

- Médaille d'argent au concours de Lyon 2017

- "Le nez est fruité et légèrement concentré. On y retrouve des notes de fraise et de fruits noirs associées à quelques notes épicées". Par le magazine Vert De Vin.

Euro 15.50

2017 Château Bel Air La Royère, Château Bel-Air La Royère, Blaye Côtes de Bordeaux

Le Château Bel-Air La Royère est notre grand vin. Son assemblage est composé de 65 % de merlot et 35 % de malbec.

Nous sommes fiers de vous présenter ses belles critiques :

- "Matière très veloutée, tanins fins". Obtient la note de 17/20, par le sommelier Jean-Michel Deluc.

- "Au nez, un élégant boisé toasté et chocolaté accompagne les fruits mûrs, rafraîchis par des notes mentholées. On retrouve tout cela dans une bouche puissante, ample et riche". Par le Guide Hachette des Vins 2018.

- "Incontestablement le plus grand vin de l'appelation Blaye dégusté dans ce millésime. Coloré, amplement fruité, sans aucune trace de bois, il décline en finale des notes minérales et de graphite. Superbe!". Obtient la note de 17/20, par Philippe Maurange, la Revue du Vin de France.

Euro 15.50

2017 Château Bel Air La Royère, Fig. 10, Malbec, Blaye Côtes de Bordeaux

2017 Château Bel Air La Royère, Château Bel-Air La Royère, Blaye Côtes de Bordeaux

Le Blanc de Bel-Air La Royère

Unique blanc du Château, c'est un 100 % sauvignon blanc.

Nous sommes fiers de vous présenter ses belles critiques :

- "J'ai choisi leur vin blanc uniquement sur le cépage sauvignon, sur le millésime solaire 2015 que l'on retrouve avec un éléevage précis de 9 mois en barrique. Ce qui lui confère une note briochée ou s'entremêlent agrumes et exotisme." Par David Marras, jeune sommelier du restaurant doublement étoilé Les Cèdres.

- "Il affiche pourtant un profil à part, avec des saveurs de fruits blancs à noyau. Bouche trés séduisante, charnue et grasse. L'un des plus gourmands et un rapport qualité/prix remarquable". Obient la note de 16/20 dans le palmarés des meilleurs blancs 2015, par la Revue du Vin de France.

Euro 15.50

Bye-bye

Many thanks Corinne for a great vineyard walk and tasting.

Pictures: Bye-bye

Drive Back to Bordeaux City

We took a boat ride across the Gironde. We got the ferry in the historic quaint little town of Blaye to go from the left bank to the right bank. It was impressive to actually see and feel the Gironde, this huge body of water so important for the micro-climate of the famous Médoc wine area.

Pictures: Boat Ride Across the Gironde

Back at Grand Hôtel Français in Bordeaux City

Picture: Back in Bordeaux City

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Tour and Tasting at Château La Conseillante, Appellation Pomerol, with Technical Director Marielle Cazaux - Bordeaux Tour 2019 by ombiasy WineTours, France

Vineyard Tour and Tasting at Château Troplong-Mondot, Appellation Saint-Émilion, Premier Grand Cru Classé B - Bordeaux Tour 2019 by ombiasy WineTours, France

Tour and Wine-pairing Lunch at Château Le Bon Pasteur, Appellation Pomerol, with Dany Rolland and General Manager Benoit Prévot - Bordeaux Tour 2019 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 Gazin, Appellation Pomerol, with Owner Nicolas de Bailliencourts - Bordeaux Tour 2019 by ombiasy WineTours, France

Tour and Wine-pairing Lunch at Château Climens, Appellation Barsac-Sauternes, Première Grand Cru Classé, with Owner and Winemaker Bérénice Lurton and Chef à Domicile Florence Camaly - Bordeaux Tour 2019 by ombiasy WineTours, France

Tour and Tasting at Château Reynier, Appellation Entre-Deux-Mers, with Owners/ Winemakers Marc Lurton and Agnès Lurton - Bordeaux Tour 2019 by ombiasy WineTours, France

Plateau de Fruits de Mer in Blaye - Bordeaux Tour 2019 by ombiasy WineTours, France

Vineyard Tour and Tasting in the Chai at Château Bel-Air La Royère, Appellation Blaye-Côtes de Bordeaux, with Owner/ Winemaker Corinne Loriaud - Bordeaux Tour 2019 by ombiasy WineTours, France

Tour and Tasting at Earl Ostrea Chanca Oyster Farm, with Oyster Farmer Ralph Doerfler

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

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

Lunch at Pinasse Café, Cap Ferret

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

Vineyard Tour, Cellar Tour and Blending Exercise at Château La Tour de Bessan, Margaux, Cru Bourgeois, with Owner/ Winemaker Marie-Laure Lurton - Bordeaux Tour 2018 by ombiasy WineTours, France

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

What is a Bordeaux Cru Bourgeois? France

Tour and Tasting at Château Lafite-Rothschild, Appellation Pauillac, 1ière Grand Cru Classé

Tour and Tasting at Château Lafon-Rochet, Appellation Saint-Estèphe, 4ième Grand Cru Classé, with Owners Basile Tesseron and Michel Tesseron

Tour and Tasting (from Barrel and Bottle) at Château Lafon-Rochet, 4ème Grand Cru Classé St-Estèphe, with Owner Basile Tesseron - Bordeaux Tour by ombiasy WineTours 2018, France

Tour and Lunch at Château Phélan-Ségur, with General Manager Véronique Dausse and Winemaker Fabrice Bacquey

Tour and Tasting at Château Pichon-Longueville-Baron, Appellation Pauillac, 2ième Grand Cru Classé, with Technical Director Jean-René Matignon

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

Tour at Cooperage Berger & Fils with Simon Grelier, Managing Director

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

Tour and Tasting at Château Sociando Mallet, Appellation Haut-Médoc

Tour and Tasting at Château Sociando Mallet, Appellation Haut-Médoc– Bordeaux Tour by ombiasy WineTours 2016, France

Tour and Dinner at Château Le Reysse, Vignobles Paeffgen, Appellation Médoc, with Stefan 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 Beychevelle, Appellation Saint-Julien, 4ième Grand Cru Classé, with Philippe Blanc, Managing Director

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 and Lunch at Château Desmirail, Appellation Margaux, 3ième Grand Cru Classé, with Owner Denis Lurton

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

Cellar Tour and Tasting at Château Durfort-Vivens, Appellation Margaux, 2ième Grand Cru Classé - Bordeaux Tour 2018 by ombiasy WineTours, France

Winery Tour and Dinner at Château Bouscaut, Appellation Pessac-Léognan, Cru Classé de Graves, with Owner Sophie Cogombles-Lurton and her Husband Laurent Cogombles

↧

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 2019, France

January 26, 2020, 10:30 pm

≫ Next: Germany's 31 Top Winemakers (With 5/5 Stars) - Falstaff WeinGuide Deutschland 2020

≪ Previous: Vineyard Walk and Tasting in the Chai at Château Bel-Air La Royère, Appellation Blaye-Côtes de Bordeaux, with Owner/ Winemaker Corinne Loriaud - Bordeaux Tour 2019 by ombiasy WineTours, France

Pictures: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 2019, France

About an hour away by car from Bordeaux City is the Bassin d'Arcachon. The Bassin d’Arcachon is one of the most beautiful regions in France. This region is a perfect mix of the earthy traditions of the Landes region and the seaside joys of the Atlantic coast of France. It has a special atmosphere with stunning landscapes and culinary traditions.

We started the day in Bordeaux City. After breakfast and checking-out it took us about an hour to Grand-Piquey at the Bassin d’Arcachon, where we visited the Earl Ostrea Chanca oyster farm of Ralph Doerfler. Ralph took us through the process of growing oysters at the Bassin d'Arcachon, before sitting down with us and tasting his oysters.

We left Grand-Piquey around noon to drive to Cap Ferret, where we had lunch at Pinasse Café, with a gorgeous view over the bay, the oyster farms and the village of Arcachon and the Dunes de Pilat, the largest in Europe, in the distance.

The Bassin d'Arcachon

The Bassin d'Arcachon is a bay of the Atlantic Ocean on the southwest coast of France, located just a few kilometres away from Bordeaux. The bay covers an area of 150 km² at high tide and 40 km² at low tide. Just south of the entrance is the Great Dune of Pyla. Nearly in the middle of the bay is a very particular island: L'île aux Oiseaux (Isle of the Birds).

Cap Ferret is a narrow strip of land between the Bay of Arcachon and the Atlantic Ocean where numerous no frills wooden oyster shacks line the beach (cabanes de pecheurs). The menu simply lists different kinds of oysters and their prices. It’s here that a large part of France’s 130,000-ton oyster harvest is produced. Cap Ferret is a fishing village with numerous oyster and seafood places.

Pictures: The Bassin d'Arcachon

Raphael Doerfler, Earl Ostrea Chanca

We visited Raphael Doerfler in Grand Piquey. He explained to us his oyster farming operation, followed by an oyster tasting.

Raphael Doerfler
Earl Ostrea Chanca
Cabane 22
54 allee du Grand piquey
33950 Lege Cap-Ferret
ostreachanca@orange.fr

Pictures: Earl Ostrea Chanca, Cabane 22, 54 allee du Grand piquey, 33950 Lege Cap-Ferret

Oysters in the World

I distinguish 4 types of oysters.

The Pacific

Originally from Japan, the Pacific or Japanese oyster is the most widely cultured oyster in the world. It accounts for 75% of world production. In France, it has crowded out the Belon and now accounts for 99% of oyster production there. Gone are the days of the Belon in Paris. The Pacific oysters are marketed under a variety of names, often denoting their growing area. The Kumamoto is one of the most famous Pacific oysters. I tend to think of a Pacific oyster as a creamy oyster, with a mineral note.

Pictures: Arriving

The Olympia

The Olympia is a very small oyster seldom exceeding 2 inches. For comparison, in Massachusetts, oysters must be a minimum of 3 inches to be sold. Olympia is a native American oyster, which once flourished on the West Coast, before the Pacific took over. Olympias are hard to find today as they grow very slowly and are difficult to transport. They hold very little liquid and dry out quickly. The Olympia has a very full flavor with a distinct aftertaste.

The Atlantic

Another American native, there are many varieties of Atlantic oysters, such as the Malpeque from Prince Edward Island in Canada and the Blue Point from Long Island in New York State. Bluepoints were originally named for Blue Point, Long Island but now the term is generally applied to any Atlantic oyster two four inches long. These two are now the most common restaurant oysters in the US. Also called Eastern oyster, the Atlantic has a thick, elongated shell that ranges from 2 to 5 inches across. It's found along the Atlantic seaboard and the Gulf of Mexico in the US.

The Belon

The Belon, or European Flat, is Europe’s native oyster. The Belons are round and shallow. That’s why they are called Flats. They are also not very liquid and dry out fast. They have a long history. They used to grow in Brittany, Normandy, England, Spain, Holland, Greece and the Black See. But a disease is wiping them out worldwide. The Flats from the Belon river in Brittany were at some point the connoisseur’s top choice and the name was soon adopted by all oyster growers, a bit like the Blue Points from Long Island. The Belon oyster grows in limited quantity in Maine on the rocks of the Damariscotta river bed.

See:
Schiller's World of Seafood
Oysters and Wine

Pictures: Touring Raphael Doerfler's Oyster Farm

An Oyster’s Life Story

Raphael Doerfler explained to us in detail how an oyster is produced. The World of Oysters Blog has a nice write-up of this subject (on November29, 2006), which I am copying.

“Hello, my name is Fine de Claire. I was born in the estuary of the Seudre on the Atlantic coast. I never knew my parents. My friends explained, that they don’t know their parents either. Now I know why: my mother ejected millions of eggs in the water, my father millions of sperms; one egg and one sperm found together and I’m the result of that meeting. I understand that my parents couldn’t manage raising so many children. After a few months my foster-father found me in the cold water and decided to pick me up.

Pictures: At the Bassin d'Arcachon

He put me in a net with others of my size and he laid us down on benches in the sea. Every time the tide was going out I was out of water during a few hours. Then the water came back and I filtered the fresh water in my gills so that I could catch plankton. In one hour I was able to filter up to 5 liters. At my first birthday I developed the ability to produce sperms on my own. In May, June, Jule and August, when the temperature of the water had risen I ejected my sperms in the hope they would conquer the eggs of the nice looking female next to me. In my second year on the bench I experienced a weird transformation. I became a female and my darling became a male. This change of sexes was possible because we are Hermaphrodites and we adept to the circumstances of our environment. That means, if we could capture sufficiently plankton so we have the energy to produce eggs we become women. Otherwise we are forced to be man. In my third year my foster-father came back to collect me and my friends. He said, that we had grown enough (8-14 cm long) and that we would receive a purification in another location. I asked myself why, because we felt very well in the brackish water and I still wanted to father many descendants with my partner(s) during the next 20 or 30 summers that we were still supposed to live. Against our will, we were placed into basins that had been dug out artificially and that were filled constantly with a mixture of sea and freshwater. There I became green because of a special alga that was in the water. After a few weeks we were taken out of the nets and put into different boxes according to our size. During the next days everything went very fast. We were washed and brushed, put into baskets, made a journey in a truck, and arrived at the market of La Rochelle. I became thirsty because I was out of water since 2 days. Finally 3 young boys came and chose me and 11 friends of mine.”

Pictures: Oyster Tasting

Oysters in France

99% of all oysters produced in France today are Pacific oysters, referred to in the French market as "Huître creuse" or simply as "Creuses". Another colloquial name for the Pacific oyster is "Japonaise". The Belon oyster, the classic oyster of France, which is hard to find, is called "Huître plate" or simply "Plate". The French oyster business traditionally starts booming between Christmas and New Year's Day. About 50% of the annual oyster production is consumed during this time.

From North to South there are seven distinct growing regions in France: Normandy, North-Brittany, South-Brittany, West-Central, Marennes-Oléron, Arcachon, and the Mediterranean. Although some of these areas are far more famous than others, they all produce excellent oysters.

L'Affinage en Claires

The Bassin de Marennes-Oléron in the Poitou-Charentes region has been famed for its oyster production since Roman times, thanks in large part to the claire oysters, reared in the shallow claires (oyster beds) set in to the coastline, which allows a more rounded mineral flavor to develop.

More than 80% of all the "claire refined" oysters in France come from the Bassin de Marennes-Oléron. Oysters that have not spent any time in claires are called huîtres de parc (park oysters). They originate directly from the growing areas right by the ocean. These oysters have a typical ocean flavor, which many oyster lovers simply love.

The claire refined oysters have not only spent a varying amount of time in claires, but also in varying oyster population densities. The shallow brackish water in these claires is very rich in phytoplankton, microscopic algae, the favorite food of oysters. The shallow brackish water also changes the "oceany" taste of the typical park oysters over by the sea to a more sweetish, aromatic, and rich flavor.

Oysters that were cared for in claires have special names. There are four varieties: pousses en claire, which are grown entirely in the claires from naissins (new-borns), and - in descending price order - fines de claires vertes, spéciales de claires and fines de claires, which are all matured in the claires for varying times.

Fines de claires have been refined for about a month in claires; about 30 to 40 oysters will share a space of one square meter.

Spéciales de claires have spent about two to four months in claires; only about 5 to 10 oysters share an area of one square meter.

Fines de claires vertes come into contact with navicule bleue algae, which give the oyster’s yellow gills their distinctive green tint.

Pictures: Shucking Oysters with Raphael during a Previous Visit

Bassin d' Arcachon and Oysters

The Arcachon basin produced wild oysters in ancient times. Today it has become an important breeding center, supplying spats (oyster larvae) to most of France's oyster-farming basins. Thus, the oyster industry of Arcachon is two-fold: growing oysters for the market and growing seed oysters for oyster growers elsewhere. The Arcachon basin and Marennes-Oléron region are the only regions in France where oysters reproduce naturally – in all other areas, young oysters are brought in from these two regions.

The flavors of oysters found around Arcachon range from the aroma of fresh vegetables and citrus fruit of Cap-Ferret oysters, to the rather sweet milkiness of those from the Arguin sandbank, to the vegetal/mineral tang of those from the Ile aux Oiseaux.

Those from the Ile aux Oiseaux owe their reputation to the plankton they consume during their fattening phase and to their greenish color acquired in claires, as in Marennes-Oléron.

Generally, many growers of Arcachon improve their oysters in a form of claire, which serves to cleanse the oysters of any impurities and keep them fresh.

Oyster Banks

Usually, at some point of the our visit of the Bassin d'Arcachon, we have a nice view of the oyster banks and can even go there when the water has receded sufficiently. This year, unfortunately, we did not really see the oyster banks, neither when we visited Raphael Doerfler in Grand Piquey nor a couple of hours later during lunch at the Pinasse Café.

Pictures: At the Oyster Banks during a Previous Visit

Bye-bye

Many thanks Raphael for a great tour and tasting.

Picture: Annette Schiller with Raphael Doerfler and his Parents during a Previous Visit

Total Immersion in Bordeaux: World Class Wines and Exquisite French Gourmet Cuisine - Bordeaux Tour 2019 by ombiasy WineTours, France (Published and Forthcoming Postings)

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

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

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Tour and Tasting at Château Pape-Clément, Graves, Appellation Pessac-Léognan, Cru Classé de Graves, with Daley Brennan, Business Development Manager, Eastern USA - Bordeaux Tour 2019 by ombiasy WineTours, France

An Afternoon at Château Pape-Clément (in 2013), Appellation Pessac-Léognan, Bordeaux

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Tour and Tasting at Château La Conseillante, Appellation Pomerol, with Technical Director Marielle Cazaux - Bordeaux Tour 2019 by ombiasy WineTours, France

Vineyard Tour and Tasting at Château Troplong-Mondot, Appellation Saint-Émilion, Premier Grand Cru Classé B - Bordeaux Tour 2019 by ombiasy WineTours, France

Tour and Wine-pairing Lunch at Château Le Bon Pasteur, Appellation Pomerol, with Dany Rolland and General Manager Benoit Prévot - Bordeaux Tour 2019 by ombiasy WineTours, France

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

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Tour and Wine-pairing Lunch at Château Climens, Appellation Barsac-Sauternes, Première Grand Cru Classé, with Owner and Winemaker Bérénice Lurton and Chef à Domicile Florence Camaly - Bordeaux Tour 2019 by ombiasy WineTours, France

Tour and Tasting at Château Reynier, Appellation Entre-Deux-Mers, with Owners/ Winemakers Marc Lurton and Agnès Lurton - Bordeaux Tour 2019 by ombiasy WineTours, France

Plateau de Fruits de Mer in Blaye - Bordeaux Tour 2019 by ombiasy WineTours, France

Vineyard Walk and Tasting in the Chai at Château Bel-Air La Royère, Appellation Blaye-Côtes de Bordeaux, with Owner/ Winemaker Corinne Loriaud - Bordeaux Tour 2019 by ombiasy WineTours, France

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 2019, France Tour and Tasting at Earl Ostrea Chanca Oyster Farm, with Oyster Farmer Ralph Doerfler

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

Lunch at Pinasse Café, Cap Ferret

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↧

Germany's 31 Top Winemakers (With 5/5 Stars) - Falstaff WeinGuide Deutschland 2020

January 28, 2020, 10:00 pm

≫ Next: Lunch at Pinasse Café, Cap Ferret/ Bassin d'Arcachon - Bordeaux Tour by ombiasy WineTours 2019, France

≪ Previous: 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 2019, France

Pictures: At Weingut Rainer Schnaitmann with Rainer Schnaitmann. See: Vineyard Tour, Cellar Tour and Tasting with Rainer Schnaitmann at Weingut Rainer Schnaitmann in Fellbach, Württemberg – Germany-East Wine and Art Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2015), Germany

Pictures: 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 Falstaff WeinGuide Deutschland is one of the 5 leadng wine guides in Germany.

The Falstaff WeinGuide Deutschland 2020 contains around 4000 wine recommendations from more than 500 producers, rated according to the 100-point system.

The Falstaff WeinGuide Deutschland 2020 was released in November 2019.

31 winemakers are in the 5/5 stars group. They are listed below.

In the tasting team led by Falstaff Germany editor and editor-in-chief Ulrich Sautter, you find luminaries such as Master of Wine Anne Krebiehl from London and the top sommeliers Stéphane Gass ("Schwarzwaldstube", Baiersbronn), Gerhard Retter ("Fischerklause" Lütjensee, and "Cordo ", Berlin) and Oliver Donnecker (" Heimat ", Frankfurt).

Picture: Falstaff WeinGuide Deutschland 2020 (Photo: Falstaff)

Series of Posting

This is part of a series of postings with regard to the Falstaff WeinGuide Deutschland 2020:

Falstaff WeinGuide Deutschland 2020 - The Best (96 - 100 Points) German Wines
Collection of the Year: Weingut Clemens Busch - Falstaff WeinGuide Deutschland 2020, Germany
Germany's 31 Top Winemakers (With 5/5 Stars) - Falstaff WeinGuide Deutschland 2020
Best German Winemakers: Falstaff Wine Trophies 2020 - The Nominees
Best German Winemakers: Falstaff Wine Trophies 2020

AHR

Meyer-Näkel

Weingut Meyer-Näkel
19 hectares
75% Spätburgunder

Pictures: Tasting and Weingut Dr. Heger and Christian Schiller and Joachim Heger. See: Cellar Tour and Tasting at Weingut Dr. Heger in Ihringen, Kaiserstuhl, Baden – Germany-South Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2015)

Berhard Huber

Weingut Bernhard Huber
28 hectares
65% Spätburgnder

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

Salwey

Weingut Salwey
41 hectares
40% Spätburgunder, 40% Grauburgunder

Pictures: Cellar Tour and Tasting at Weingut Salwey in Oberrotweil, Kaiserstuhl, Baden, with Benno Salwey – Germany-South Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2015)

Ziereisen

Weingut Ziereisen
16 hectares
45% Spätburgunder, 25% Gutedel

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: Vinyard Tour and Tasting at Weingut Horst Sauer in Eschendorf, Franken, with Horst Sauer - Germany-East Tour 2017 by ombiasy WineTours

MOSEL

Clemens Busch

Weingut Clemens Busch
16 hectares
99% Riesling

Pictures: Annette Schiller and Clemens Busch at Weingut Clemens Busch, Mosel. See: With Wine Maker Clemens Busch in Puenderich at his Winery in the Mosel Valley, Germany (2013)

Picture: In the Pündericher Marienburg Vineyard with Rita Busch. See: Tasting with Rita Busch at Weingut Clemens Busch in the Mosel Valley, Germany (2014)

Pictures: Annette Schiller, Christian Schiller and Clemens Busch at Panda Gourmet, Washington DC. See: Wine-pairing Dinner with Clemens Busch, Weingut Clemens Busch, Mosel, at Panda Gourmet in Washington DC, USA

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

Schloss Lieser

Weingut Schloss Lieser (Thomas Haag)
17 hectares
100% Riesling

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

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: Tasting at Weingut Dr. Loosen in Bernkastel-Kues, Middle Mosel, with Ernie Loosen- Germany-North Tour 2019 by ombiasy WineTours: Quintessential Riesling

Markus Molitor

Weingut Markus Molitor
60 hectares
92% Riesling

Pictures: Tasting with Markus Molitor at Weingut Markus Molitor in Haus Klosterberg, Mosel - Germany-North Tour 2017 by ombiasy WineTours

C. von Schubert – Maximin Grünhaus

Maximin Grünhaus Schlosskellerei C. von Schubert
31 hectares
90% Riesling

Picture: Carl von Schubert from the Maximin Gruenhaus Estate Returned a Favor: With his Wines in Washington DC (and in Seattle), USA

Pictures: Cellar Visit, Vineyard Walk and Tasting at Weingut Maximin Grünhaus in Mertersdorf, Ruwer, with Owner Dr. Carl von Schubert – Germany-North Tour 2017 by ombiasy WineTour

Van Volxem

Weingut Van Volxem
76 hectares
96% Riesling

Picture: Annette Schiller and Roman Niewodniczanski. See: 2016 VDP Trade Fair Weinbörse - Vintage 2015 - in Mainz: Schiller’s Report

Pictures: Lunch, Tasting and Vineyard Walk at Weingut Van Volxem with Owner Roman Niewodniczanski – Germany-North Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2015)

Diel

Schlossgut Diel
26 hectares
60% Riesling

Picture: Christian Schiller and Caroline Diel. See: Caroline and Armin Diel, Schlossgut Diel (Nahe Valley), Presented their New Wines (Vintage 2012), Germany

Picture: Christian Schiller with Armin and Caroline Diel at Schlossgut Diel. See: Visiting Armin and Caroline Diel and their Schlossgut Diel in Burg Layen in Germany

Pictures: Tasting with Sylvain Taurisson Diel at Schlossgut Diel, Nahe– Germany-North Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2014)

Pictures: In the Vineyards with Caroline Diel and Anouk. See: Visiting Armin and Caroline Diel and their Schlossgut Diel in Burg Layen in Germany

Dönnhoff

Weingut Dönnhoff
26 hectares
80% Riesling

Pictures: Tasting at Weingut Dönnhoff, Oberhausen, Nahe. with Anne Dönnhoff - Germany-North Tour 2019 by ombiasy WineTours: Quintessential Riesling

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

Pictures: Dönnhoff Hermann, Oberhausen (Nahe) - An Afternoon with Riesling Star Winemaker Helmut Doennhoff at Weingut Doennhoff in Oberhausen in the Nahe Valley, Germany

Pfalz

Friedrich Becker

Weingut Friderich Becker
22 hectares
60% Pinot Blanc, Pinot Gris, Pinot Noir, Chradonnay, 22% Riesling

Wine Tasting at Weingut Friedrich Becker– Germany-South Wine Tour by ombiasy (2014)

Von Buhl

Weingut Reichrat von Buhl
62 hectares
88% Riesling

Pictures:Impressive Vineyard Tour and Tasting at Weingut Reichsrat von Buhl in Deidesheim, Pfalz, with Richard Grosche - Germany-South and Alsace 2018 Tour by ombiasy WineTours: Baden, Alsace, Pfalz and Rheinhessen

Knipser

Weingut Knipser
56 hectares
28% Spätburgunder, 20% Riesling, 9% Merlot, 8% Chardonnay

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

Von Winning

Weingut von Winning
44 hectares
80% Riesling

Pictures: Tour and Tasting at Weingut von Winning in Deidesheim, Pfalz– Germany-South Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2015), Germany

Georg Breuer

Weingut Georg Breuer
35 hectares
85% Riesling

Picture: Theresa Breuer and Christian Schiller in New York City. See: Schiller’s Favorites at the 2013 Riesling and Co Tasting in New York City, USA

Chat Sauvage

Weingut Chat Sauvage
9 hectares
70% Pinot Noir

Pictures: Bourgogne in Riesling Land: Tasting at Chat Sauvage in Johannisberg, Rheingau, with Winemaker Michael Städter– Germany-North Tour 2016 by ombiasy WineTours

Peter Jakob Kühn

Weingut Peter Jakob Kühn
20 hectares
90% Risling

Picture: Christian Schiller and Peter Jakob Kühn in Kiedrich, Rheingau, see: Extraordinary Views of the Rheingau Vineyards - A Spectecular Helicopter Flight over the Rheingau with Rheingau Winemakers, Germany

Picture: Annette Schiller with Peter Jakob Kühn in Berlin

Pictures: Weingut Peter Jakob Kühn in Östrich, Winkel– Germany-North Wine Tour by ombiasy (2014)

Künstler

Weingut Künstler
36 hectares
85& Riesling

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

Weingut Robert Weil
90 hectares
100% Riesling

Picture: Christian Schiller and Wilhelm Weil, Weingut Robert Weil, Tasting at Weingut Weil. See: Tasting with Wilhelm Weil the 2010 Weingut Weil Wines in Kiedrich, Germany

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)

Pictures: Tasting at Weingut Gunderloch in Nackenheim with the Parents of Johannes Hasslebach, Agnes Hasselbach-Usinger and the late Fritz Hasselbach. See: Wine Tasting at Weingut Gunderloch in Nackenheim, with Owners and Winemaker Fritz Hasselbach and Agnes Hasselbach-Usinger– Germany-South Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2014)

Pictures: Celebrating at Weingut Gunderloch, with Paul Fürst, Weingut Fürst, Jochen Becker-Köhn, Weingut Robert Weil and Roy Metzdorf, Owner of the Legendary Winebar Weinstein in Berlin. See: Anniversary Celebration: 125 Years Weingut Gunderloch in Nackenheim, Rheinhessen, Germany

Picture: Annette Schiller, Max von Kunow, Johannes Hasselbach, Alwin Jurtschitsch and Christian G.E. Schiller at BToo in Washington DC. See: Weingut Gunderloch – The New Generation: Owner Johannes Hasselbach in Washington DC, US

Kühling-Gillot

Weingut Kühling-Gillot
15 hectares
60% Riesling, 25% Spätburgnder

Pictures: Tasting with Carolin Spanier-Gillot, Weingut Battenfeld-Spanier and Weingut Kühling-Gillot, in Hohen-Sülzen - Germany-South and Alsace 2018 Tour by ombiasy WineTours

Pictures: Christian Schiller with H. O. Spanier and Caroline Spanier-Gillot at a Tasting in Bodenheim. See: The Wine Maker Couple H.O. Spanier and Carolin Spanier-Gillot, with Roland Gillot, Lead Wine Tasting of Kuehling-Gillot and Battenfeld-Spanier Wines at Weingut Kuehling-Gillot, Germany

Pictures: At a Tasting in Bodenheim at Weingut Kuehling-Gillot. See: The Wine Maker Couple H.O. Spanier and Carolin Spanier-Gillot, with Roland Gillot, Lead Wine Tasting of Kuehling-Gillot and Battenfeld-Spanier Wines at Weingut Kuehling-Gillot, Germany

Aldinger

Weingut Aldinger
29 hectares
30% Riesling, 15% Lemberger, 15% Spätburgunder

Pictures: Hansjörg and Matthias Aldinger with Christian Schiller. See: See: Germany’s Best Winemakers and Wines – Vinum WeinGuide Deutschland 2018 Awards: The Award Ceremony in Mainz, Germany

Pictures: Cellar Tour and Tasting at Weingut Graf Neipperg in Schwaigern, Württemberg– Germany-East Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2015)

Pictures: Gert Aldinger, Weingut Aldinger, Karl Eugen Erbgraf zu Neipperg, Weingut Des Grafen Neipperg and Annette Schiller See: 2017 VDP Trade Fair Weinbörse - Vintage 2016 - in Mainz: Schiller’s Report

Schnaitmann

Weingut Rainer Schnaitmann
25 hectares
26% Spätburgunder and Frühburgunder, 15% Lemberger, 15% Riesling

Pictures: 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

Schwegler

Weingut Schwegler
3 hectares
36% Blauer Zweigelt, 14% Kerner, 14% Regent

schiller-wine: Related Postings

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

Announcement: Upcoming ombiasy Wine Tours 2020 - (1) Alsace and Germany South, (2) Rhône Valley, (3) Bordeaux

Annual Riesling Party at the Schiller Residence in Washington DC, USA (2019)

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Lunch at Pinasse Café, Cap Ferret/ Bassin d'Arcachon - Bordeaux Tour by ombiasy WineTours 2019, France

January 30, 2020, 10:30 pm

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≪ Previous: Germany's 31 Top Winemakers (With 5/5 Stars) - Falstaff WeinGuide Deutschland 2020

Picture: Lunch at Pinasse Café, Cap Ferret/ Bassin d'Arcachon - Bordeaux Tour by ombiasy WineTours 2019, France

About an hour away by car from Bordeaux City is the Bassin d'Arcachon. The Bassin d’Arcachon is one of the most beautiful regions in France. This region is a perfect mix of the earthy traditions of the Landes region and the seaside joys of the Atlantic coast of France. It has a special atmosphere with stunning landscapes and culinary traditions.

On the Bordeaux Tour by ombiasy WineTours, we always spent one day at the Bassin d'Arcachon. Our favorite place for lunch is Pinasse Café, Cap Ferret, with a gorgeous view over the bay, the oyster farms and the village of Arcachon and the Dunes de Pilat, the largest in Europe, in the distance. If we are lucky - this time we were not lucky - during lunch you can watch the water recede and the oyster banks emerge.

The Bassin d'Arcachon

The Bassin d'Arcachon is a bay of the Atlantic Ocean on the southwest coast of France, located just a few kilometres away from Bordeaux. The bay covers an area of 150 km² at high tide and 40 km² at low tide. Just south of the entrance is the Great Dune of Pyla. Nearly in the middle of the bay is a very particular island: L'île aux Oiseaux (Isle of the Birds).

Cap Ferret is a narrow strip of land between the Bay of Arcachon and the Atlantic Ocean where numerous no frills wooden oyster shacks line the beach (cabanes de pecheurs). The menu simply lists different kinds of oysters and their prices. It’s here that a large part of France’s 130,000-ton oyster harvest is produced. Cap Ferret is a fishing village with numerous oyster and seafood places.

Pictures: The Bassin d'Arcachon

Lunch at Pinasse Café

2 B avenue de l Ocean | Cap Ferret, 33970, Lege-Cap-Ferret, France

A "pinasse" describes a small sail boat design which served French oystermen for centuries as an important work boat. They were about 20 to 30 feet long, narrow, flat bottomed, with a round stern, usually equipped with one mast (occasionally also two), no jib, a center board at times and a rudder, with plenty carrying capacity for oysters. If the oystermen happened to get stuck in a prolonged wind lull, they could return to shore by paddle.

Pictures: Lunch at Pinasse Café

Oyster Banks in Front of the Pinasse Café

From the Pinasse Café you often have a good view of the oyster banks in front of Pinasse Café. You can even go there when the water recedes.

Pictures: At the Oyster Banks

Restaurant Chez Hortense

With the group, we always have lunch at Pinasse Café, for a number of reasons, including the more central location and the view of the oyster banks. Another fine seafood place is Restaurant Chez Hortense, closer to the tip of Cap Ferret.

Avenue du Semaphore, 33950, Lege-Cap-Ferret, France

Picture: Lunch at Chez Hortense in Cap Ferret, with 4th Generation Owner Bernadette Lescarret

Paris Match: Face à eux, les plus belles vues : l’île aux Oiseaux, le banc d’Arguin, la dune du Pilat. Et, pour lieu de rendez-vous, Chez Hortense, une institution. On n’y respire pas seulement l’iode mais aussi l’Histoire. Au départ, il y eut Hortense Lescarret, qui ouvrit l’établissement à la fin de la Première Guerre mondiale. Depuis, quatre générations se sont succédé, dont la dernière représentante est Bernadette, sans aucun doute une des femmes les plus connues de la commune. Impossible de la louper, dans une robe à fleurs multicolore. Auprès d’elle, François et Olivier, ses deux fils, et Frédéric, son neveu. Midi et soir, la terrasse affiche complet. Les tables sont réservées dix jours à l’avance.

Pictures: At Chez Hortense

lexpress.com: Bernadette Lescarret, la patronne de Chez Hortense. Qui ne connaît pas Chez Hortense n'est pas... du bassin d'Arcachon ! Cette institution de Cap-Ferret a vu quatre générations d'habitués se succéder. Aux fourneaux, les troisième et quatrième générations des Crampé oeuvrent de concert : Bernadette Lescarret, 60 ans, ses fils François, 35 ans, en cuisine, et Olivier, 30 ans, en salle, ainsi que son neveu Frédéric, 40 ans. C'est en 1914 qu' Hortense Crampé (grand-mère de Bernadette) rachète avec son mari l'hôtel-restaurant de la pointe de Cap-Ferret. Attaqué par l'érosion, l'hôtel s'effondre en 1936. Pour rouvrir à quelques mètres de là deux ans plus tard. On y sert moules, huîtres rôties au foie gras et poissons grillés, dans une atmosphère familiale.

Pictures: Langoustines, Oysters on the Half Shell and Moules avec des Frites

Total Immersion in Bordeaux: World Class Wines and Exquisite French Gourmet Cuisine - Bordeaux Tour 2019 by ombiasy WineTours, France (Published and Forthcoming Postings)

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

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

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Tour and Tasting at Château Pape-Clément, Graves, Appellation Pessac-Léognan, Cru Classé de Graves, with Daley Brennan, Business Development Manager, Eastern USA - Bordeaux Tour 2019 by ombiasy WineTours, France

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A Morning at Château Canon La Gaffeliere in Saint Emilion with Owner Count Stefan von Neipperg, Bordeaux

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Lunch at Restaurant La Table de Catusseau, Bib Gourmand in the Guide Michelin, in Pomerol - Bordeaux Tour 2019 by ombiasy WineTours, France

Tour and Tasting at Château La Conseillante, Appellation Pomerol, with Technical Director Marielle Cazaux - Bordeaux Tour 2019 by ombiasy WineTours, France

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Tour and Tasting at Château Reynier, Appellation Entre-Deux-Mers, with Owners/ Winemakers Marc Lurton and Agnès Lurton - Bordeaux Tour 2019 by ombiasy WineTours, France

Plateau de Fruits de Mer in Blaye - Bordeaux Tour 2019 by ombiasy WineTours, France

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Lunch at Pinasse Café, Cap Ferret/ Bassin d'Arcachon - Bordeaux Tour by ombiasy WineTours 2019, France

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Tour and Tasting at Château Beychevelle, Appellation Saint-Julien, 4ième Grand Cru Classé, with Philippe Blanc, Managing Director

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

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Tour and Tasting at Château Lafite-Rothschild, Appellation Pauillac, 1ière Grand Cru Classé - Bordeaux Tour by ombiasy WineTours 2019, France

February 2, 2020, 10:00 pm

≫ Next: Top 100 German Wines of 2019 - James Suckling

≪ Previous: Lunch at Pinasse Café, Cap Ferret/ Bassin d'Arcachon - Bordeaux Tour by ombiasy WineTours 2019, France

Pictures: Tour and Tasting at Château Lafite-Rothschild, Appellation Pauillac, 1ière Grand Cru Classé - Bordeaux Tour by ombiasy WineTours 2019, France

Château Lafite Rothschild was the most prestigious estate we visited during the

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

The wine-searcher average price of the Château Lafite Rothschild2004, which we tasted during the tour, is US$ 822 (before taxes). We spent about 2 hours there.

Château Lafite Rothschild (Berry Bros. and Rudd)

Château Lafite Rothschild is one of the most renowned wine properties in the Médoc. Owned by Baron Eric de Rothschild and Lafite Rothschild is also one of the largest Médoc estates.

The vineyards of Ch. Lafite are found at the northern tip of the Pauillac appellation, just below the boundary with St. Estephe. There is evidence of an estate on this site as far back as the 14th century, and of exports of wine to the UK in the early 17th century. The current owners, the Rothschilds of the famous banking dynasty, bought the property in 1866, but this is a different brand of the family from that which purchased Ch. Mouton-Rothschild. For many years the Rothschilds’ control of Lafite was very much exercised at a distance, compared to the hands-on influence of Baron Philippe at Mouton, but since the Second World War this has changed somewhat, with the current owner, Eric de Rothschild, presiding over an extensive programme of investment in both vineyard and cellar.

With a base largely of gravel the vineyard is unsurprisingly dominated by Cabernet Sauvignon (71%) with the balance comprising Merlot (25%) Cabernet Franc (3%) and Petit Verdot (1%). Grapes are hand-harvested, and vinified parcel by parcel. Fermentation takes place in stainless steel vats, after which the wine is run off into barrels, 100% new for Lafite itself, a mixture of new and one-year-old barrels for the second wine.

The Grand Vin volume varies greatly according to the vintage, but is frequently less than half the total crop, and is usually no more than 20,000 cases. The second wine, Carruades de Lafite, has a slightly higher percentage of Merlot than Lafite and is in consequence more approachable in youth. Up to 30,000 cases are made. Wine deemed not worthy of inclusion in Carruades is sold off as generic Pauillac.

Throughout the 20th century Lafite was dogged by periods of inconsistency, often producing sublime wines but also failing to live up to its billing in other years. Since 1994, however the estate has been under the control of Charles Chevallier, and he has brought about not just an admirable level of consistency but has also been responsible for some truly brilliant wines often vying for the title of “Wine of the Vintage”.

In style the wines of Lafite are often described as having a perfumed elegance and finesse, to contrast with the more masculine power and structure of Latour or the more exotic and intense flavours of Mouton. What is sure, however, is that at its best it represents a hedonistic experience for the consumer, and has the ability to age, in great years, for minimally 50 years and often for longer.

Pictures: Arriving

Pictures: Introduction

Pictures: Getting Ready for the Harvest

Pictures: Tour of the Chai

Pictures: In the Barrel Cellar

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Top 100 German Wines of 2019 - James Suckling

February 4, 2020, 10:00 pm

≫ Next: Tour and Tasting at Château Lafon-Rochet, Appellation Saint-Estèphe, 4ième Grand Cru Classé, with Owners Basile Tesseron and Michel Tesseron - Bordeaux Tour by ombiasy WineTours 2019, France

≪ Previous: Tour and Tasting at Château Lafite-Rothschild, Appellation Pauillac, 1ière Grand Cru Classé - Bordeaux Tour by ombiasy WineTours 2019, France

Pictures: Tasting at Weingut Dönnhoff, Oberhausen, Nahe. with Anne Dönnhoff - Germany-North Tour 2019 by ombiasy WineTours: Quintessential Riesling

On December 18, 2019, James Suckling released a list of his top 100 German wines of 2018. The list was put togather by Senior Editor Nick Stock and Contributing Editor Jack Suckling.

Until last year, Stuart Pigott, Senior Editor, a leading German wine and Riesling expert, was in charge of the list. However, Stuart Pigott left the James Suckling team in March 2019. Among others, he is now Riesling Ambassador for the renowned Gut Hermannsberg Estate in the Nahe Region.

Below find James Suckling's Top 100 Wines of Germany 2019. The list ist available on JamesSuckling.com. Available on JamesSuckling.com are also introductory remarks.

Pictures: Tasting at Weingut Jos. Jos. Prüm in Bernkastel-Wehlen, Mosel, with Amei Prüm - Germany-North Tour 2019 by ombiasy WineTours: Quintessential Riesling

Top 100 Wines of Germany 2019
Wednesday, December 18, 2019

Senior Editor Nick Stock and Contributing Editor Jack Suckling tasted more than 800 German wines on a weeklong trip to Germany this year. They also visited dozens of wineries and spoke to even more winemakers. They were impressed with the overall quality of the 2018s they tasted and were slightly in awe of numerous beerenauslesen as well as trockenbeerenaulesen despite the vintage being deficient in high amounts of botrytis. Many dry rieslings were equally inspiring, which were easier to produce because of the relatively consistent and hot growing season and clean fruit.

The top-rated wines, as always, were from wine producers’ best vineyard sites, Grosses Gewächs (GGs) or grand crus. Many tuned their viticulture to the extremely hot and dry growing conditions and made an extra effort in the vineyard. But those who did not struggled to maintain acidity and elegance. They found some dry rieslings to be a little phenolic and broad, so consumers should be aware of this.

Nonetheless, our German wine of the year is the Keller Riesling Rheinhessen Morstein GG 2018. Keller remains the benchmark for German’s dry riesling scene and the 2018 Morstein is gorgeous with astonishing minerality, depth of flavor and vibrant combination of zingy acidity and ripeness. But there were many other great GGs and they also appear in the list.

We also list all of our top scoring, super-rare sweet wines including auction lots and other reserve wines. Last year, former editor Stuart Pigott chose only wines that were readily available in the market, but this year we decided to choose from all the wines we tasted no matter the number of bottles made.

As always, it’s hard to generalize about a vintage like 2018 with so many different regions and producers as well as differences in grape types, quality levels and sweetness, but the hot growing season and low acidities of 2018 suggest early drinking for most of the wines. The wines were very approachable and transparent when we tasted them a few months ago. By comparison, the 2018s don’t have the depth or intensity of the 2017s we rated last year but they are going to be crowd-pleasers now and in the future.

The great producers of Germany appear to have really dialed in the quality even in super-sweet wines where they harvested grapes at fantastic ripeness levels. It was this combination of dried fruit and light botrytis that delivered the incredible quality of the wines at the highest levels from beerenauslese to trockenbeerenauslese. And they are all in this list.

The top 20 wines are very much dominated by the ultra-sweet bottles, and these are wines that will be famous for decades to come. They have such strong aging potential and immense power and concentration with striking purity. Eight wines achieved a perfect 100-point rating at the top of the list and 12 achieved a near-perfect rating of 99 points. And while the extremely rare BA and TBA bottlings are justifiably high in price, you’ll also discover some great value wines close to the top of this list.

Wilhelm Weil of Weingut Robert Weil summed up the vintage and what we tasted this year pretty well: “2018 was the hottest growing season ever recorded but it was still possible to make great cool climate wines in the best sites. We learned a lot in this season. The limited water actually slowed the activity of the vines so we had clean grapes, good acidity, moderate alcohols and good hang time. The sweet wines are some of the most intense and most balanced we have ever seen.”

Pictures: Cellar Tour and Tasting at Weingut Robert Weil in Kiedrich, Rheingau, with Jan Christensen - Germany-North Tour 2019 by ombiasy WineTours: Quintessential Riesling

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Keller Riesling Rheinhessen Morstein GG 2018
Keller Riesling Rheinhessen Pettenthal GG 2018
Maximin Grünhaus (von Schubert) Riesling Mosel Abtsberg Auslese 68 Lange Goldkapsel (Auction Wine) 2018
Maximin Grünhaus (von Schubert) Riesling Mosel Abtsberg Beerenauslese 2018
Robert Weil Riesling Rheingau Kiedrich Gräfenberg Trockenbeerenauslese 2018
Robert Weil Riesling Rheingau Kiedrich Gräfenberg Trockenbeerenauslese Gold Cap 2018
Schäfer-Fröhlich Riesling Nahe Felseneck Trockenbeerenauslese 2018
Schloss Johannisberg Riesling Rheingau Purpurlack Beerenauslese 2018
Carl Loewen Riesling Mosel Klostergarten Beerenauslese -8° Celsius 2018
Dönnhoff Riesling Nahe Dellchen GG 2018
Emrich-Schönleber Riesling Nahe Frühlingsplätzchen Beerenauslese 2018
Emrich-Schönleber Riesling Nahe Halenberg Auslese 2018
Emrich-Schönleber Riesling Nahe Halenberg GG 2018
Emrich-Schönleber Riesling Nahe Halenberg Trockenbeerenauslese 2018
Joh. Jos. Prum Riesling Mosel Bernkasteler Lay Auslese Long Gold Cap 2017
Joh. Jos. Prum Riesling Mosel Graacher Himmelreich Auslese Gold Cap 2017
Keller Riesling Rheinhessen Abtserde GG 2018
Robert Weil Riesling Rheingau Kiedrich Gräfenberg Auslese Gold Cap 2018
Robert Weil Riesling Rheingau Kiedrich Gräfenberg Beerenauslese 2018
Robert Weil Riesling Rheingau Kiedrich Gräfenberg Beerenauslese Gold Cap 2018
Robert Weil Riesling Rheingau Kiedrich Turmberg Beerenauslese 2018
Schäfer-Fröhlich Riesling Nahe Felseneck GG 2018
Schloss Johannisberg Riesling Rheingau Violettlack Eiswein 2018
Wittmann Riesling Rheinhessen La Borne trocken 2018
Dönnhoff Riesling Nahe Hermannshöhle GG 2018
Dönnhoff Riesling Nahe Oberhäuser Brücke Beerenauslese 2018
Dr. Bürklin-Wolf Riesling Pfalz Kirchenstück GC 2017
Dr. Loosen Riesling Mosel Erdener Prälat Auslese Gold Cap (Auction Wine) 2018
Dr. Loosen Riesling Mosel Ürziger Würzgarten Eiswein 2016
Emrich-Schönleber Riesling Nahe Halenberg Spätlese 2018
Joh. Jos. Prum Riesling Mosel Wehlener Sonnenuhr Auslese Gold Cap 2017
Keller Riesling Rheinhessen Hubacker GG 2018
Künstler Riesling Rheingau Kirchenstück Beerenauslese 2015
Maximin Grünhaus (von Schubert) Riesling Mosel Abtsberg Auslese 87 2018
Maximin Grünhaus (von Schubert) Riesling Mosel Abtsberg Auslese 89 2018
Maximin Grünhaus (von Schubert) Riesling Mosel Herrenberg Auslese 91 Goldkapsel (Auction Wine) 2018
Müller-Catoir Rieslaner Pfalz Herzog Trockenbeerenauslese EL 2018
Ökonomierat Rebholz Riesling Pfalz Im Sonnenschein GG 2018
Peter Lauer Riesling Mosel Kupp Auslese Gold Cap GL 2018
Robert Weil Riesling Rheingau Kiedrich Gräfenberg Auslese 2018
Robert Weil Riesling Rheingau Kiedrich Turmberg Trockenbeerenauslese 2018
Schäfer-Fröhlich Riesling Nahe Felseneck Beerenauslese Gold Cap (Auction Wine) 2018
Schäfer-Fröhlich Riesling Nahe Halenberg GG 2018
Wittmann Riesling Rheinhessen Morstein GG 2018
Carl Loewen Riesling Mosel 1896 (Gray Label) 2018
Carl Loewen Riesling Mosel Maximin Herrenberg Auslese Goldkapsel (Auction Wine) 2018
Dönnhoff Riesling Nahe Felsenberg Felsentürmchen GG 2018
Dönnhoff Riesling Nahe Höllenpfad im Mühlenberg Trocken 2018
Dönnhoff Riesling Nahe Niederhäuser Hermannshöhle Auslese 2018
Dönnhoff Riesling Nahe Oberhäuser Brücke Auslese Gold Cap 2018
Dönnhoff Riesling Nahe Oberhäuser Brüke GG 2018
Dr. Bürklin-Wolf Riesling Pfalz Langenmorgen GC 2017
Emrich-Schönleber Riesling Nahe Auf der Ley GG 2018
Eva Fricke Riesling Rheingau Krone Trocken 2018
Fritz Haag Riesling Mosel Brauneberger Juffer Sonnenuhr Auslese #12 2018
Gut Hermannsberg Riesling Nahe Hermannsberg GG 2017
Haart Riesling Mosel Ohligsberg GG 2018
Hexamer Riesling Nahe Meddersheimer Rheingrafenberg Trockenbeerenauslese 2018
Hexamer Riesling Nahe Sobernheimer Domberg Eiswein 2018
Heymann-Löwenstein Riesling Mosel Röttgen GG 2018
Joh. Jos. Prum Riesling Mosel Wehlener Sonnenuhr Auslese 2017
Julian Haart Riesling Mosel Ohligsberg 2018
Keller Riesling Rheinhessen Kirchspiel GG 2018
Keller Riesling Rheinhessen Nierstein trocken 2018
Knebel Riesling Mosel Uhlen GG 2018
Künstler Riesling Rheingau Berg Rottland GG 2018
Künstler Riesling Rheingau Hölle GG 2018
Künstler Riesling Rheingau Weiss Erd GG 2018
Markus Molitor Riesling Mosel Zeltinger Sonnenuhr Auslese *** (White Cap) 2017
Maximin Grünhaus (von Schubert) Riesling Mosel Herrenberg Auslese 72 2018
Müller-Catoir Riesling Pfalz Bürgergarten Im Breumel GG 2018
Prinz Riesling Rheingau Jungfer GG Trocken 2018
Robert Weil Riesling Rheingau Kiedrich Turmberg Auslese 2018
Schäfer-Fröhlich Riesling Nahe Felseneck Auslese 2018
Schäfer-Fröhlich Riesling Nahe Frühlingsplätzchen GG 2018
Schäfer-Fröhlich Riesling Nahe Stromberg GG 2018
Schlossgut Diel Riesling Nahe Burgberg GG 2017
Wittmann Riesling Rheinhessen Kirchspiel GG 2018
A.J. Adam Riesling Mosel Dhroner Hofberg Auslese 2018
Carl Loewen Riesling Mosel Maximin Herrenberg GG 2018
Carl Loewen Riesling Mosel Ritsch Auslese 2018
Carl Loewen Riesling Mosel Ritsch GG 2018
Christmann Riesling Pfalz Idig GG 2018
Christmann Riesling Pfalz Meerspinne GG 2018
Clemens Busch Riesling Mosel Marienburg Auslese 2018
Dönnhoff Riesling Nahe Krötenpfuhl GG 2018
Dr. Bürklin-Wolf Riesling Pfalz Pechstein GC 2017
Dr. Loosen Riesling Mosel Erdener Treppchen GG Alte Reben 2018
Dr. von Bassermann-Jordan Riesling Pfalz Hohenmorgen GG 2018
Emrich-Schönleber Riesling Nahe Frühlingsplätzchen GG 2018
Emrich-Schönleber Riesling Nahe Halenberg R 2016
Fritz Haag Riesling Mosel Brauneberger Juffer Sonnenuhr Auslese 2018
Gut Hermannsberg Riesling Nahe Bastei GG 2017
Gut Hermannsberg Riesling Nahe Felsenberg GG 2018
Gut Hermannsberg Riesling Nahe Steinberg GG 2018
Haart Riesling Mosel Goldtröpfchen Auslese 2018
Haart Riesling Mosel Goldtröpfchen Spätlese 2018
Heymann-Löwenstein Riesling Mosel Uhlen Laubach GG 2018
Jakob Schneider Riesling Nahe Niederhäuser Hermannshöhle Magnus Trocken 2018
Jakob Schneider Riesling Nahe Norheimer Dellchen Trocken 2018

Pictures: Tasting at Weingut Dr. Loosen in Bernkastel-Kues, Middle Mosel, with Ernie Loosen - Germany-North Tour 2019 by ombiasy WineTours: Quintessential Riesling

schiller-wine: Related Postings

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

Announcement: Upcoming ombiasy Wine Tours 2020 - (1) Alsace and Germany South, (2) Rhône Valley, (3) Bordeaux

Annual Riesling Party at the Schiller Residence in Washington DC, USA (2019)

Tasting at Weingut Dönnhoff, Oberhausen, Nahe. with Anne Dönnhoff - Germany-North Tour 2019 by ombiasy WineTours: Quintessential Riesling

Tasting at Weingut Jos. Jos. Prüm in Bernkastel-Wehlen, Mosel, with Amei Prüm - Germany-North Tour 2019 by ombiasy WineTours: Quintessential Riesling

Cellar Tour and Tasting at Weingut Robert Weil in Kiedrich, Rheingau, with Jan Christensen - Germany-North Tour 2019 by ombiasy WineTours: Quintessential Riesling

Tasting at Weingut Dr. Loosen in Bernkastel-Kues, Middle Mosel, with Ernie Loosen - Germany-North Tour 2019 by ombiasy WineTours: Quintessential Riesling

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Tour and Tasting at Château Lafon-Rochet, Appellation Saint-Estèphe, 4ième Grand Cru Classé, with Owners Basile Tesseron and Michel Tesseron - Bordeaux Tour by ombiasy WineTours 2019, France

February 6, 2020, 10:30 pm

≫ Next: Tour, Tasting and Lunch at Château Phélan-Ségur, with General Manager Véronique Dausse and Winemaker Fabrice Bacquey - Bordeaux Tour by ombiasy WineTours 2019, France

≪ Previous: Top 100 German Wines of 2019 - James Suckling

Pictures: Tour and Tasting at Château Lafon-Rochet, Appellation Saint-Estèphe, 4ième Grand Cru Classé, with Owners Basile Tesseron and Michel Tesseron - Bordeaux Tour by ombiasy WineTours 2019, France

Château Lafon-Rochet features some of the finest vineyards in the world. It is situated in the small appellation Saint-Estèphe and is sandwiched between two prominent neighbors: Cos-d’Estournel on the other side of the street and Lafite-Rothschild, separated only by a small dirt track, and visible across the vineyard that belongs to Lafon-Rochet. Since the 16th century this Château makes excellent wines and had been in the hands of the Lafon family for almost 300 years.

Owner Basile Tesseron was our host. His father Michel Tesseron greeted us.

Pictures: Arriving at Château Lafon-Rochet

In 1895 the phylloxera disaster forced the family to sell Château Lafon-Rochet. A period of a rapid succession of several disinterested owners followed until Guy Tesseron (who also bought Château Pontet-Canet) acquired the Château in the 1960s. He and then his son Michel brought Lafon-Rochet back to its former glory. The new generation is now at the helm and Basile Tesseron is energetically pursuing quality control.

Château Lafon-Rochet and OmbiasyPR & WineTours

Château Lafon-Rochet belongs to the 2 or 3 dozens of châteaux to which we have a closer relationship than to others.

Picture: Annette and Christian Schiller with Basile Tesseron, Owner, in New York. See: Bordeaux Vintage 2014 in Bottle: Union des Grands Crus de Bordeaux (UGC) on 2017 North America Tour in New York - Schiller’s Favorites

One of the first winemaker dinners that Annette organized in Washington DC was with Anaïs Maillet and the wines of Château Lafon-Rochet at BToo on 14th Street NW.

Picture: Annette Schiller and Château LAFON-ROCHET’s winemaker Anaïs Maillet at B Too in Washington DC (Picture: Charlie Adler). See: Winemaker Dinner with Château LAFON-ROCHET Wines and Winemaker Anaïs Maillet at Chef Bart Vandaele’s Hipp B Too Restaurant in Washington DC, US/France (2014)

I still have good memories of a winemaker dinner at the French Embassy in Washington DC a number of years ago, hosted by Château Lafon-Rochet owner Basile Tesseron.

Picture: Christian G.E. Schiller and Basile Tesseron. See: Tasting the Wines of Chateau Lafon-Rochet, Saint-Estèphe, 4ème Cru Classé en 1855, with Owner Basile Tesseron at the French Embassy in Washington DC, USA/France (2012)

A couple of years ago, Michel Tesseron treated the ombiasy tour group to a very special dinner in the private quarters of Château Lafon-Rochet.

Pictures: Dinner with Michel Tesseron. See: At the Invitation of Owner Michel Tesseron: Private Dinner at Château Lafon-Rochet, Saint-Estèphe, 4ième Grand Cru Classé– Bordeaux Tour by ombiasy WineTours 2016, France

In 2017, Annette organized a winemaker for Château Lafon-Rochet at Restaurant 2941 in Northern Virginia.

Pictures: Winemaker Dinner with Château Lafon Rochet at Restaurant 2941 in Northern Virginia, with Sofia Poniatowski and Chef Bertrand Chemel, USA/ Bordeaux

Also in 2017, charming Vineyard Manager Anaïs Maillet, who has since left the estate, received us.

Pictures: 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

During the 2018 ombiasy Tour, we enjoyed a tasting from barrel with Basile.

Pictures: Tasting from Barrel. See: Tour and Tasting (from Barrel and Bottle) at Château Lafon-Rochet, 4ème Grand Cru Classé St-Estèphe, with Owner Basile Tesseron - Bordeaux Tour by ombiasy WineTours 2018, France

Château Lafon-Rochet

Château Lafon-Rochet is a 4th Grand Cru en 1855 in the Saint-Estèphe appellation of the Medoc. It is one of the 5 classified properties in the appellation of Saint Estèphe. Its grounds are separated from those of Château Lafite to the north by the width of the road and from Cos d'Estournel by a dirt path.

Basile Tesseron is currently at the helm of Château Lafon-Rochet

Pictures: In the Vineyard with Basile Tesseron

History

Lafon-Rochet’s history dates back to the 17th century. The property was then known as the Domaine Rochet and belonged to Antoinette Guillemotes who renamed the estate Château Lafon-Rochet after her marriage with Etienne de Lafon..

Over the 150 years that followed, Etienne de Lafon’s heirs not only maintained the estate and coped with the various diseases and economic difficulties from which the vineyard suffered but also enabled Lafon-Rochet to enter the 1855 classification of the Grands crus du Médoc (the Great Growths of the Medoc).

Pictures: In the Tank Cellar (Concrete and Stainless Steel Tanks)

At the dawn of the 20th century financial difficulties resurfaced and so new owners took over the Château. Thus began a long period of instability until the Tesseron family took over the estate in 1960.

When in 1960 Guy Tesseron, a master of old Cognac, took over the property, he had to start from scratch and rebuild the whole property. Thus began Chateau Lafon Rochet’s rebirth.

First he concentrated on the renovation of the fermenting room and the wine storehouse before tackling the mansion itself. He decided to demolish the whole building and create a new family home for Lafon-Rochet. The plans were for an elegant Chartreuse, which was quite unusual at the time.

It took almost ten years to restore the Château, the vineyard and infrastructures. This fresh start finally paid off in 1966. As the young Michel Tesseron recalls it was the first time that Lafon-Rochet was able to present a wine worthy of Quatrième Grand cru – fourth growth. The following year, 1967, was a great vintage paving the way for 1970, one of Lafon-Rochet’s most memorable vintages. In 1975 Guy Tesseron also took over the Château Pontet-Canet, then a few years later the Château Malescasse.

Until 1999 the family jointly managed Château Pontet-Canet and Lafon-Rochet but lost the Château Malescasse, so dear to Michel Tesseron. As part of the re organization, Alfred and his brother Gerard Tesseron took over Pontet-Canet, while Michel and his sister Caroline Poniatowski took over Lafon-Rochet. Michel spontaneously turned towards the Château “jaune”, so-called since he repainted it sunshine yellow in 2000.

Michel and Basile Tesseron

Before joining the family business in 1987, Michel Tesseron worked in in Cognac, then in Bordeaux for Barton & Guestier, and for the négociants Chantecaille.

Michel Tesseron first decided to renovate and modernize all the technical equipment necessary for production, like the magnificent circular, wooden wine cellar. In so doing he preserved the family’s core values of sharing, respecting the vines and vineyard and thus fulfilled his father’s dream.

Pictures: In the Barrel Cellar

In 2007, Basile Tesseron joined his father in order to continue the work started by his grandfather, who had already initiated the young Basile into the subtleties of the aromas and flavours of cognac.

With passion, humour and ambition, Basile pursued the work of his predecessors enabling Lafon-Rochet to live on through the centuries.

He began by redesigning the vat room of the property, reviving the quest for excellence and quality in keeping with the exceptional terroir and the human and family values that have punctuated 5 centuries of adventure.

Basile Tesseron took over with the 2007 vintage and he now has full control.

Vineyards and Winemaking

Lafon-Rochet's vineyards covers 45 hectares and are planted with Cabernet Sauvignon 54%, Merlot 40%, Cabernet Franc 4%, Petit Verdot 2%.

As far as winemaking is concerned, the wine cellar has been completely renovated. Importantly, Basile and Michel Tesseron decided to go the route of stainless steel tanks and concrete vats. To match the 40 different vineyard parcels, the estate now has 18 stainless steel tanks and 18 concrete vats in different sizes and shapes for fermentation. The wine is aged for 9 months in new oak and for another 9 month in used oak.

The grand vin is Château Lafon-Rochet (11000 cases). The second wine is Pélerins de Lafon-Rochet (also 11000 cases).

Tasting

We tasted 3 wines.

Pictures: Tasting

Michel Tesseron Greeting us

While we were tasting, "His Highness", as Basile introduced his father, came by and greeted us.

Pictures: Michel and Basile Tesseron

The Wines

Les Pèlerins de Lafon-Rochet 2016

wine-searcher average price in US$:23

Second wine.

Lafon-Rochet 2014

wine-searcher average price in US$:47

The 2014 Lafon-Rochet does not quite possess the complexity of the 2014 Phélan-Ségur on the nose, broody and introspective but with aeration reveals very pure blackberry and bilberry scents, hints of brine/seawater, cedar and spice. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannin, plenty of tobacco tinged black fruit, saline and sappy in the mouth so that those taste-buds are flowing by the finish. The more I acquaint myself with this wine, the more I fall for its charms. Tasted blind at the annual Southwold tasting. 2020 - 2040. Score: 92 Neal Martin, vinous.com, March 2018

Lafon-Rochet 2011

wine-searcher average price in US$:45

A well-made sleeper of the vintage, Lafon Rochet's 2011 exhibits a dense ruby/plum color in addition to sweet cassis, earth and spice notes, medium body, excellent depth and light to moderate tannin. It should drink nicely for a decade or more.
Score: 87 Robert Parker, Wine Advocate (212), April 2014

Bye-bye

Many thanks Basile for a great tour and tasting.

↧

Tour, Tasting and Lunch at Château Phélan-Ségur, with General Manager Véronique Dausse and Winemaker Fabrice Bacquey - Bordeaux Tour by ombiasy WineTours 2019, France

February 9, 2020, 10:30 pm

≫ Next: Germany’s Best Dry Rieslings – Der Feinschmecker Riesling Cup 2020

≪ Previous: Tour and Tasting at Château Lafon-Rochet, Appellation Saint-Estèphe, 4ième Grand Cru Classé, with Owners Basile Tesseron and Michel Tesseron - Bordeaux Tour by ombiasy WineTours 2019, France

Pictures: Tour, Tasting and Lunch at Château Phélan-Ségur, with General Manager Véronique Dausse and Winemaker Fabrice Bacquey - Bordeaux Tour by ombiasy WineTours 2019, France

Château Phélan-Ségur is beautifully situated in the village of Saint-Estèphe with a spectacular view over the Gironde estuary. Its origins date way back but the official history of Phélan Ségur began at the end of the 18th century when a young Irish wine broker, Bernard Phelan, settled in Bordeaux, and eventually bought two wine producing estates Clos de Garramey and Château Ségur (previously owned by Nicolas Alexandre de Ségur, nicknamed “Prince of Vines” because of his many properties in the Médoc) which he merged to become Château Phélan-Ségur. In 1810 Bernard Phelan built the magnificent, imposing Château that remains practically unchanged today. In 1985 the estate was acquired by Xavier Gardinier and is now run by his three sons. Château Phélan-Ségur is a fairly large estate with 175 acres of vineyards. The Phélan-Ségur wines are known for their immense complexity which is due to the great diversity of the terroir.

The visit consisted of 2 parts.

We started out with a tour and a tasting, led by Fabrice Bacquey, Maître de Chai (Winemaker).

Following the tour we enjoyed a private lunch at Château Phélan-Ségur., along with other guests. We were greeted with a Champagne followed by an excellent gourmet meal matched by the fabulous Phélan-Ségur wines. General Manager Véronique Dausse and Winemaker Fabrice Bacquey were our hosts.

Château Phélan-Ségur (Berry Bros. & Rudd)

Château Phélan-Ségur is a Cru Bourgeois St. Estèphe property that produces textbook meaty, solid and long-lived St. Estèphes. It was bought by Xavier Gardinier in 1985 and is now run by his sons, Thierry and Laurent.

Phélan-Ségur's 66 hectares of vineyards are well-sited near the Grionde estuary and lies on well drained gravel soils. The vineyards are bordered by those of Château Montrose and Château Calon-Ségur.

Phélan-Ségur's wine is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (60%), Merlot (30%) and Cabernet Franc (10%). The grapes are fermented in temperature-controlled stainless steel vats and the wine is then matured in oak barriques (30% new) for 15 months.

Phélan-Ségur usually requires at least 5-7 years of bottle ageing to show at its best and the best vintages can continue improving for up to 15 years.

Pictures: Arriving at Château Phélan-Ségur

In the Vineyard

Château Phélan-Ségur: Made up of four large sections, the parcels adjoin the vineyards of Châteaux Montrose and Calon Ségur, among others. The planting density is high. The mix of grape varieties is original: the talented duo of the Médoc (58% Cabernet Sauvignon and 39% Merlot) are complemented by a touch of Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot (1.5% of each). Cabernet Sauvignon, the king of Médoc grape varieties, brings incomparable power and structure: it is the backbone of the Grand Vin.

Merlot expresses an attractive roundness and unrivalled suppleness. To preserve diversity and bring a hint of spice, Petit Verdot made its entry to the property in 2015. It excels on heavier soils where clay dominates. It is a vigneron’s variety, impetuous and requiring perfect control. Cabernet Franc, which has always had its place at the Château, is a precious asset in the blend, with its finesse and floral notes.

Overlooking the Gironde: The Médoc, characterised by the mild temperate maritime climate, offers ideal conditions of a seasonal cycle that is sufficiently marked to accompany the annual growth of the vine and mild enough to attenuate climatic excesses. The vines at Château Phélan Ségur are close to the estuary: this situation protects them from hard winters and summers that are sometimes very hot.

The complexity of the terroir of Saint-Estèphe, of which Château Phélan Ségur is a perfect illustration. It is made up of a thick layer of gravel deposited by the river, a few hundred thousand years ago. The pebbles and above all the gravels coated with clay sands (clay gravels) shape the rolling landscape of a large part of Saint-Estèphe.

Pictures: Vineyard Tour with Winemaker Fabrice Bacquey

Vinification

Château Phélan-Ségur: Cellar master Fabrice Bacquey preserves this noble raw material that is the grape. He must respect the style of the property by expressing the best the vintage has to offer.

The grapes are harvested manually with the utmost care and optimum ripeness when nature allows. Transport to the manual and vibrating sorting tables is done in small crates. The final selection is made by optical sorting used since 2011.

Fermentation takes place over a dozen days, punctuated by regular pumping over, rack-and-return and punching down, specific to each batch, thus favouring the extraction of phenolic compounds in the wine. Then comes the critical phase of maceration over about twenty days, where the objective is to continue the extraction. The wine is tasted daily to decide the optimum date for running off. The 39 tanks allow for this precision vinification and are the basis for the future selections for blending. Steady development started in 2010 has allowed the addition of 8 tanks of 45 hl to the vat room, further improving the interpretation of the work within parcels that takes place in the vineyard.

After pressing and the separation of the free-run and press wines, they are “casked”; now stored in barrels, they can begin their malolactic fermentation in the warm atmosphere of the cellars. The wines take on more suppleness and roundness and rest through the winter.

The long task of blending begins at the end of winter and consists in rigorous tasting of each batch; it is at this stage that the selection is made with the invaluable assistance of Michel Rolland, consultant oenologist. Some batches are chosen to go into the blend for the Grand Vin of Château Phélan Ségur, while others are destined for the second wine Frank Phélan or for La Croix Bonis.

The final blend for the Grand Vin is then presented “to the world” in April during the en primeur tastings.

A philosophy of Wine: Beyond the purely technical knowledge required for vinification, it is a philosophy of wine, a palate forged by years of tasting and a perfect complicity with the evolution over time of the wines of the terroir of Phélan Ségur that makes the difference.

Pictures: Cellar Tour of Château Phélan-Ségur with Winemaker Fabrice Bacquey

Aging

Château Phélan-Ségur: Ageing is a fundamental step at Château Phélan Ségur: understanding of the vintage, judicious selection of coopers, racking from barrel to barrel, regular topping up, requirements and experience of the team in the cellar. Very special and loving care is given to the wines during this complex phase in their development.

Once calm is restored after the harvest, the ageing of the Grand Vin, now blended, continues for around 12 more months; at Château Phélan Ségur, the ageing is a fundamental step. The proportion of new barrels never exceeds 50%. Five coopers loyal to the property have contributed their know-how over many years. While complying with very precise technical specifications, the diversity of their respective products (origin of the wood, drying time, toasting, know-how) express themselves differently each vintage. Oxygen, oak tannins, and the aromas they bring are essential to the stabilisation of the wine and its development. Meticulous topping up of the barrels protects the wine from oxidation.

Pictures: Cellar Tour of Château Phélan-Ségur with Winemaker Fabrice Bacquey

Tasting

We tasted 3 wines with winemaker Fabrice Bacquey.

Pictures: Tasting at Château Phélan-Ségur with Winemaker Fabrice Bacquey

The Wines

2012 Château Phélan-Ségur, Cru Bourgeois, St. Estèphe, Grand Vin (US$ 42)
2014 Château Phélan-Ségur, Cru Bourgeois, St. Estèphe, Grand Vin (US$ 42)
2015 Château Phélan-Ségur, Cru Bourgeois, St. Estèphe, Grand Vin (US$ 48)

Lunch at Château Phélan-Ségur

Following the tour we enjoyed a private lunch at Château Phélan-Ségur, along with other guests. We were greeted with a Champagne followed by an excellent gourmet meal matched by the fabulous Phélan-Ségur wines. General Manager Véronique Dausse and Winemaker Fabrice Bacquey were our hosts.

Aperitif

We took the apperitif - Billecart Salmon Brut Réserve - in the courtyard of Château Phélan-Ségur. General Manager Véronique Dausse and Winemaker Fabrice Bacquey were our hosts.

Pictures: Lunch at Château Phélan-Ségur, with General Manager Véronique Dausse and Winemaker Fabrice Bacquey

Lunch

We then sat down for lunch, prepared by xxxx and more Château Phélan-Ségur wines.

Pictures: Lunch at Château Phélan-Ségur, with General Manager Véronique Dausse and Winemaker Fabrice Bacquey

Lunch Wines

2014 Château Phélan-Ségur, Cru Bourgeois, St. Estèphe, Frank Phélan (US$ 42)
2011 Château Phélan-Ségur, Cru Bourgeois, St. Estèphe, Grand Vin (US$ 42)

Bye-bye

Many thanks Véronique and Fabrice for a great tour, tasting and lunch at Château Phélan-Ségur.

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Germany’s Best Dry Rieslings – Der Feinschmecker Riesling Cup 2020

February 11, 2020, 10:00 pm

≫ Next: Tour and Tasting at Château Pichon-Longueville-Baron, Appellation Pauillac, 2ième Grand Cru Classé, with Technical Director Jean-René Matignon - Bordeaux Tour by ombiasy WineTours 2019, France

≪ Previous: Tour, Tasting and Lunch at Château Phélan-Ségur, with General Manager Véronique Dausse and Winemaker Fabrice Bacquey - Bordeaux Tour by ombiasy WineTours 2019, France

Picture: Germany’s Best Dry Rieslings – Der Feinschmecker Riesling Cup 2020

The results of the Feinschmecker Riesling Cup 2020 - Germany’s Best Dry Rieslings - were published in the February 2020 issue of Der Feinschmecker, Germany's leading gourmet journal.

Picture: Feinschmecker Riesling Cup

Dry Riesling in Germany

There are approximately 47,000 hectares planted with Riesling worldwide. Germany—with 22,500 hectares—accounts for about half of the total. From a global perspective, Riesling is a niche grape variety, accounting for less than 1% of world wine production. From a global perspective, it is the fruity-sweet style (with the fermentation stopped so that the wine remains sweet and the level of alcohol low) and the rare noble-sweet style (lusciously sweet wines due to noble rot or frost in the vineyard) that are receiving the attention of the connoisseurs of premium wines.

Dry Riesling has played a minor role in the world of wine, but this is changing. The Rieslings from Alsace and Austria, both considerably smaller producers of Riesling than Germany (Alsace produces approximately 15% and Austria approximately 7% of what Germany produces), have always been in the dry category (although the Rieslings from Alsace have shown a trend toward an increasing level of remaining sweetness in the wine over the past decades), and, importantly, Germany, the dominating Riesling force in the world, has undergone a major trans-formation in the past 40 years: The fruity-sweet Rieslings have been crowded out from the wine lists in Germany, while the “dry wave”—“Trockenwelle”—has swept the country. When you go to a wine bar, wine store, or restaurant in say Frankfurt, Berlin, or Munich, it is very difficult to find a fruity-sweet Riesling. The wine lists are dominated by dry Riesling.

Der Feinschmecker Riesling Cup 2020 - Top 15 Dry Rieslings

1. 2018 Weingut Piedmont, Pulchen, Grosses Gewächs, Riesling Trocken, Mosel (Euro 20)
2. 2018 Weingut Schmitt Erben, Claes, Sonntheilen, Riesling Trocken, Mosel (Euro 12.50)
3. 2018 Weingut Heinz Nikolei, Siegelsberg, RGG, Riesling Trocken, Rheingau (Euro 16)
3. 2018 Weingut Trenz, Johannisberg, Mittelhölle, RGG, Riesling Trocken, Rheingau (Euro 24.90)
5. 2018 Weingut Kühling-Gillot, Oppenheim, Riesling Trocken, Rheinhessen (Euro 18.50)

Picture: Tasting with Carolin Spanier-Gillot, Weingut Battenfeld-Spanier and Weingut Kühling-Gillot, in Hohen-Sülzen - Germany-South and Alsace 2018 Tour by ombiasy WineTours

5. 2018 Weingut Karthäuserhof, Tyrell's Edition Riesling Trocken, Mosel (Euro 24)
5. 2018 Weingut Spiess, Bechtheim, Riesling Trocken, Rheinhessen (Euro 11.90)
5. 2018 Weingut F.J. Eifel, Trittenheimer Apotheke, Alte Reben, Riesling Trocken, Mosel (Euro 19)
9. 2018 Weingut Maximin Grünhaus, Abtsberg, Grosses Gewächs, Riesling Trocken, Mosel (Euro 30)

Picture: Cellar Visit, Vineyard Walk and Tasting at Weingut Maximin Grünhaus in Mertersdorf, Ruwer, with Owner Dr. Carl von Schubert– Germany-North Tour 2017 by ombiasy WineTours

9. 2018 Weingut Manz, Pettenthal, Riesling Trocken, Rheinhessen (Euro 24.90)
11. 2018 Weingut Korell-Johanneshof, Von den Grossen Lagen, Riesling Trocken, Nahe (Euro 17)
12. 2018 Weingut Alexander Gysler, Klangwerk, Weinheimer Hölle, Riesling Trocken, Rheinhessen (Euro 20)
13. 2018 Weingut Toni Jost, Bacherach, Riesling Trocken, Mittelrhein (Euro 9.90)

Picture: Peter and Cecilia Jost, Weingut Toni Jost, Bacharach, Mittelrhein. See: Wine Tasting at Weingut Toni Jost in Bacharach, Mittelrhein, with Cecilia Jost– Germany-North Tour by ombiasy WineTours, Germany

14. 2018 Gut Hermannsberg, Felsenberg, Grosses Gewächs, Riesling Trocken, Nahe (Euro 36)

Picture: Tour and Tasting at Weingut Gut Hermannsberg in Niederhausen, Nahe– Germany-North Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2015)

15. 2018 Weingut Dr. Loosen, Graacher Himmelreich, Grosses Gewächs, Alte Reben, Riesling Trocken, Mosel (Euro 21)
16. 2018 Weingut Grans-Fassian, Laurentius-Lay, Grosses Gewächs, Riesling Trocken, Mosel (Euro 29)

Pictures: Tasting at Weingut Dr. Loosen in Bernkastel-Kues, Middle Mosel, with Ernie Loosen - Germany-North Tour 2019 by ombiasy WineTours: Quintessential Riesling

Previous Feinschmecker Riesling Cup Winners

For previous years, see on schiller-wine:

Germany’s Best Dry Rieslings – Feinschmecker Riesling Cup 2018
Germany’s Best Dry Rieslings – Feinschmecker Riesling Cup 2017
Germany’s Best Dry Rieslings – Feinschmecker Riesling Cup 2016
Germany’s Best Dry Rieslings - Feinschmecker Riesling Cup 2015: Dönnhoff Rules! The Nahe Rules!
Germany’s Best Dry Rieslings – Feinschmecker Riesling Cup 2014
Germany’s Best Dry Rieslings – Feinschmecker Riesling Cup 2013
Germany’s Best Dry Rieslings – Feinschmecker Riesling Cup 2012
Germany’s Best Dry Rieslings - Feinschmecker Riesling Cup 2011
The 11 Top German Dry Rieslings – Feinschmecker German Riesling Cup 2010 (Vintage 2009)
The 13 Top German Dry Rieslings – Feinschmecker German Riesling Cup 2009 (Vintage 2008)
Riesling Cup 2009 - Germany's Top Dry 2007 Rieslings

schiller-wine: Related Postings

Announcement: Upcoming ombiasy Wine Tours 2020 - (1) Alsace and Germany South, (2) Rhône Valley, (3) Bordeaux and (4) Germany: Christmas Market, Wine, Concert Tour

Annual Riesling Party at the Schiller Residence in Washington DC, USA (2019)

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Tour and Tasting at Château Pichon-Longueville-Baron, Appellation Pauillac, 2ième Grand Cru Classé, with Technical Director Jean-René Matignon - Bordeaux Tour by ombiasy WineTours 2019, France

February 13, 2020, 10:30 pm

≫ Next: How a Barrel is Made: Visit of the Cooperage Berger & Fils in Vertheuil - Bordeaux Tour by ombiasy WineTours 2019, France

≪ Previous: Germany’s Best Dry Rieslings – Der Feinschmecker Riesling Cup 2020

Pictures: Tour and Tasting at Château Pichon-Longueville-Baron, Appellation Pauillac, 2ième Grand Cru Classé, with Technical Director Jean-René Matignon - Bordeaux Tour by ombiasy WineTours 2019, France

Château Pichon Longueville Baron in Pauillac is one of the most stunning estates in Bordeaux. It is currently owned by the insurance company AXA Millésimes.

We toured the winery followed by a tasting. This year, we did not have lunch at Château Pichon Longueville Baron.

During the tour, we were welcomed by Jean-René Matignon, Technical Director.

Pictures: With Jean-René Matignon, Technical Director

Château Pichon Longueville Baron

Château Pichon Longueville Baron (often referred to as Pichon Baron) in Pauillac is one of 15 Deuxièmes Crus in the Classification of 1855. It was once part of a larger estate, owned by Pierre de Rauzan, along with Château Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande. In 1850 the estate was divided into the two current Pichon estates facing each other as one enters Pauillac along the D2 highway.

Château Pichon Baron stayed in the de Pichon Longueville family until 1933 when the last surviving family member sold it to Jean Bouteiller, member of a family well-known in the Bordeaux wine scene. His heirs did not manage to keep the quality of the wines and in 1987 the estate was bought by AXA Millésimes. With the new owner, reconstruction of the fermenting room and cellars, and renovation of the château itself, began in 1988.

Pictures: In the Chai of Château Pichon Longueville Baron

Excellent terroir across from the 1st growth Latour property, stretching south bordering the Léoville estates in Saint-Julien gives the wines elegance, balance, and finesse. Château Pichon Baron's 73 hectares are planted with Cabernet Sauvignon (60%), Merlot (35%), Cabernet Franc (4%) and Petit Verdot (1%). The average age of the vines is 30 years.

Pictures: Sorting at at Château Pichon Longueville Baron (Previous Visit)

Grapes are harvested and sorted by hand, and then macerated for 20-30 days, and fermented at 28-32 °C in temperature controlled stainless steel vats of varying sizes. The wine is transferred into oak barrels for aging after finishing its malolactic fermentation.

The estate also produces a second wine, Les Tourelles de Longueville. Les Griffons de Pichon Baron is the estate's latest addition.

The property is currently managed by Christian Seely.

Pictures: In the Barrel Cellar of Château Pichon Longueville Baron

The AXA Wine Portfolio

Château Pichon Baron, 2nd Cru Classé Pauillac, France
Château Suduiraut, 1er Cru Classé Sauternes, France
Château Petit-Village, Pomerol, France
Château Pibran, Pauillac, France
Domaine de l’Arlot, Nuits-Saint-Georges, France
Domaine Disznókö, Tokaj, Hongrie
Quinta do Noval, Douro, Portugal
AXA also owns one of the larger Bordeaux wine negociant companies, Compagnie Medocaine.

Tasting

We tasted 4 wines.

Pictures: Tour and Tasting at Château Pichon-Longueville-Baron, Appellation Pauillac, 2ième Grand Cru Classé, with Technical Director Jean-René Matignon - Bordeaux Tour by ombiasy WineTours 2019, France

2016 Les Tourelles de Longueville US$42

Named after the turrets that embellish the château, Les Tourelles de Longueville embodies the charm of the estate. The grapes used in this wine’s blend are primarily from the Sainte Anne plot, mostly planted with Merlot, giving it a distinctive personality. Les Tourelles de Longueville is alluring, voluptuous, and a delight for the senses. It is an introduction to the Pichon Baron spirit. It can be enjoyed young, or cellared for 15 years or more.

2016 Les Griffons De Pichon Baron US$49

Les Griffons de Pichon Baron has a pure, direct character. The blend’s grapes come primarily from gravelly plots of land near the Gironde estuary, a beneficial environment for Cabernet Sauvignon. Les Griffons offers a vigorous, fresh tasting experience. It is full-bodied and bursting with energy. It can be cellared for over 20 years, or enjoyed right away.

2016 Château Pichon Longueville Baron US$161

96-98 points Robert Parker's Wine Advocate - The 2016 Pichon-Longueville Baron is a blend of 85% Cabernet Sauvignon and 15% Merlot picked between 3 and 18 October at 39 hectoliters per hectare for estate (therefore the Grand Vin will be less). It is matured in 80% new oak and 20% one year old for 18 months. It has a very intense, extremely pure bouquet with blackberry, bilberry, cedar and graphite notes; it is a straight-down-the-fairway Pauillac. The palate is medium-bodied with a very tensile opening, that seam of graphite penetrating the black fruit. There is a wonderful structure here, unapologetically classic in style with just the right amount of austerity on the aristocratic finish. The aftertaste is incredibly long, lingering after two or three minutes in the mouth. This is a majestic Pichon-Baron and it may well to surpass both the 2009 or 2010. (NM) (4/2017)

2010 Château Pichon Longueville Baron US$234

97 points Robert Parker's Wine Advocate - Administrator Christian Seeley thinks the 2010 is the greatest Pichon Longueville Baron he has ever made, equaling some of the estate’s colossal wines from vintages such as 1989 and 1990. It was certainly showing well when I stopped by the chateau in January. Opaque purple, with loads of charcoal, licorice, incense and some exotic Asian spices along with abundant cassis liqueur, blackberry and hints of roasted coffee and spring flowers, it is full-bodied and opulent, with relatively high tannins, but they have sweetened up considerably and seem less aggressive than they did from barrel. The oak is clearly pushed to the background by the wine's wealth of fruit, glycerin and full-bodied texture. This sensational Pichon Longueville Baron needs 5-6 years of cellaring, and should keep 30+ years. (RP) 97+ (2/2013)

Lunch at Château Pichon Longueville Baron

On previous tours, we had lunch in the private dining quarters of the château. Not this time.

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

Bye-bye

Many thanks Jean-René Matignon for the tour and the tasting. It was wonderful.

Picture: Annette and Christian Schiller with Jean-René Matignon, Technical Director of Château Pichon Longueville Baron, at Ripple in Washington DC. See: Winemaker Dinner with Jean-René Matignon (Château Pichon Longueville Baron) and Pierre Montégut (Château Suduiraut) at Ripple in Washington DC, USA/France

Pictures: See: Vertical Tasting of Château Pichon-Longueville Baron with Jean-Rene Matignon and Panos Kakaviatos in Washington DC, USA

At Hotel/Restaurant Le Vignoble-France et Angleterre in Pauillac

Following the tour and tasting at Château Pichon Longueville Baron, we went to Pauillac, where we had dinner and stayed for the night at Hotel Le Vignoble-France et Angleterre.

Hotel/Restaurant Le Vignoble-France et Angleterre in Pauillac is a very well equipped, privately owned 3 star hotel in the heart of the Médoc region, right on the waterfront of the Gironde estuary.

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How a Barrel is Made: Visit of the Cooperage Berger & Fils in Vertheuil - Bordeaux Tour by ombiasy WineTours 2019, France

February 16, 2020, 10:30 pm

≫ Next: 12 Categories: Germany's Best Wines - Vinum WeinGuide Deutschland 2020

≪ Previous: Tour and Tasting at Château Pichon-Longueville-Baron, Appellation Pauillac, 2ième Grand Cru Classé, with Technical Director Jean-René Matignon - Bordeaux Tour by ombiasy WineTours 2019, France

Pictures: How a Barrel is Made: Visit of the Cooperage Berger & Fils in Vertheuil - Bordeaux Tour by ombiasy WineTours 2019, France

A very special stop during the 2019 Bordeaux Tour by ombiasy WineTours was the one at Cooperage Berger et Fils. Until very recently, and for a long time, the company was a family-company, run and owned by René Berger and his wife Valérie Berger. Cooperage Berger & Fils in Vertheuil was acquired by the TFF Group a few years ago.

When we first visited Cooperage Berger & Fils in Vertheuil the company was still owned and run by the Berger family. Valérie Berger was our guide and we met René Berger durng the tour. At that time the web site of Cooperage Berger & Fils contained a very detailed description of the whole barrel making process, which I used for my block posting.

In this posting, I kept the text of René and Valérie Berger. The pictures are from the 2019 Tour.

The Managing Director of Cooperage Berger & Fils was our guide.

TFF Group

TFF Group, formerly Tonnellerie Frany detacois Freres SA, is a France-based company that manufactures and distributes oak barrels. The Company has four core businesses: stave milling, cooperage, cask manufacturing and oak wine-aging products. The Company has operating units in France, the United States, Spain, Hungary, South Africa, China, New Zealand, Australia and Ireland.

Cooperage Berger and Fils

René Berger: My passion was born from that of my father and grandfather. I am the proud descendant of a family of coopers, based in the Médoc, a truly exceptional land, since the beginning of the last century. From a very young age, these two men breathed into me the love of manual work and craftsmanship. They raised me in the pure artisanal tradition of master coopers, passing down their ancestral savoir-faire. It was therefore a natural conclusion that I should become a cooper in my turn.

Pictures: Cooperage Berger & Fils in Vertheuil

When my father passed away in 1991, my first aim was to preserve and perpetuate his work, transmitting the craftsman’s skills to my own children. My mother’s full support was very important to me then, as it is now. It was also important to me to fight against an increasing standardization of production within the profession.

Making a Barrel

The Managing Director of Cooperage Berger & Fils took us through the whole process of producing a wine barrel.

Valérie Berger: A wine barrel is made up of staves which have been shaped into a bulging cylinder, and flat heads or ends. The staves are held in place by metal hoops. Six to eight hoops encircle the barrel spaced along the length. It takes approximately eight man hours to produce a single wine barrel.

Selection of the Oak

Valérie Berger: We choose the wood for our barrels with the help of well-known professionals, selecting slow-growing French Haute Futaie oak trees which become fine grain timber.

French oak is considered to be the most desirable wood for making wine barrels. Most French Oak comes from one or more of the forests planted in the days of Napoleon for ship building. Five of those forests are primarily used for wine barrel making: Allier, Limousin, Nevers, Trancais and Vosges forests. American Oak is considered to have too much influence on the content of the barrels. But usage is on the rise as the larger influence is sometimes desired and as American barrels are substantially less expensive than the French barrels. Hungarian Oak is also being used for barrel making.

Pictures: Natural Seasoning for 36 Months

The Stavemaker’s Work

Valérie Berger: To achieve the best blends, we acquire stave wood coming from different forests in the centre of France. For the same reason, we work in collaboration with different stave makers in the various areas ensuring a diversification in our supplies. Since 2003 we have developed a partnership with one of them who now prepares staves exclusively for the Tonnellerie Berger.

The selection of the stave wood is extremely important because it essentially determines the quality of the finished product. Wood is selected based on many criteria, including tree shape and growing conditions. These factors determine the textural variety of wood fibers, the fineness of grain and tannin content. Tight grain and fine tannin content are found only in the best wood.

Coding the Wood

Valérie Berger: Each pallet is coded by computer on arrival at our cooperage in Vertheuil, thus allowing the traceability of the barrel. The staves are then carefully stacked in the timber yard.

Natural Seasoning for 36 Months

Valérie Berger: Following the coding the staves are washed and then dried in the open air for at least 3 years in our 16,000 M2 timber yard. The wood will free itself of its harsh tannins and will gain the maturity and complexity necessary for the making of a great barrel.

Preparation of the Wood

Valérie Berger: Pallets of staves will be selected according to their origin, and assembled to create a personalized blend corresponding to the needs and wishes of each customer.

Assembling

Valérie Berger: Once selected, the staves are prepared and then assembled on a pattern table where the cooper “raises the barrel”, forming a daisy shape. The wood fibres are softened by pre-heating. Then comes the hooping that, thanks to the effects of fire and water, transforms the daisy into a barrel.

Pictures: Assembling

Toasting

Valérie Berger: The crucial stage of our art. Only the complete mastery of wood and fire makes the difference between a simple container and an exceptional barrel ready to age the wine. The “bousinage”, adapted to respect the particularities requested by each client, exults and nuances the aromas expressed by the wood. The hand-crafted nature of our cooperage enables us to create a tailor-made barrel for each and every one of our customers.

Pictures: Toasting

Hand-fitting, Marking and Scalding

Valérie Berger: The barrel heads are then individually fitted and each barrel is stamped to ensure traceability. A code records the origin and blend of the wood. An impermeability test is carried out by scalding. 10 litres of water heated to 70° C is pumped at high pressure into the barrel which is moved around so that the water is in contact with the whole surface of the inside of the barrel. This process allows us to check for possible leaks but also to collect test water to be analysed for each finished barrel in the aim of receiving the “Excell Inspection” certificate.

Pictures: Finishing

Finishing

Valérie Berger: At this stage we take great care of the aesthetic appearance of our barrel. They are thus sandpapered or hand-scraped for customers who prefer the “guistrage” finish. And the final galvanized steel hoops replace the assembly hoops. And last of all, according to the type of barrel, pine bars held in place by chestnut pegs are set on the heads for the Château Ferré, and four chestnut hoops, bound with a type of wicker are installed for the Bordelaise Traditionnelle. This last step is carried out only by very experienced craftsmen. It is a true heritage of ancestral expertise that can only be mastered after years of practice.

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12 Categories: Germany's Best Wines - Vinum WeinGuide Deutschland 2020

February 18, 2020, 10:00 pm

≫ Next: Tour and Tasting at Château Sociando Mallet, Appellation Haut-Médoc - Bordeaux Tour by ombiasy WineTours 2019, France

≪ Previous: How a Barrel is Made: Visit of the Cooperage Berger & Fils in Vertheuil - Bordeaux Tour by ombiasy WineTours 2019, France

Picture: Wine Tasting at Weingut Selbach-Oster in Zeltingen, Mosel, with Johannes Selbach. See: Cellar Tour and Wine Tasting at Weingut Selbach-Oster in Zeltingen, Mosel, with Johannes Selbach– Germany-North Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2014)

The Vinum WeinGuide Deutschland 2020 was released on Thursday, October 31, 2019. The Vinum WeinGuide Deutschland 2020 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.

12 winemakers received the top rating of 5/ 5 stars in the Vinum WeinGuide Deutschland 2020.

See:
Germany's 12 Top Winemakers (With 5/5 Stars) - Vinum WeinGuide Deutschland 2020

The Vinum WeinGuide Deutschland 2020 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 2020): Matthias and Hansjörg Aldinger, Weingut Aldinger (Württemberg)

Rising Star of the Year (Vinum WeinGuide Deutschland 2020): Carl Ehrhard, Weingut Ehrhard (Rheingau)

Discovery of the Year (Vinum WeinGuide Deutschland 2020): Carsten Saalwächter, Weingut Saalwächter (Rheinhessen)

This posting lists the #1 wines in 12 different categories in the Vinum WeinGuide Deutschland 2020.

Picture: WeinGuides Deutschland 2020 (Photo: Weingut Corvers-Kauter - Facebook)

Postings/ Vinum WeinGuide Deutschland 2020

I am releasing 4 postings with regard to the Vinum WeingGuide Deutschland 2019:

Germany's Best Winemakers - Vinum WeinGuide Deutschland 2020 Awards
Germany's Best Wines: 12 Categories - Vinum WeinGuide Deutschland 2020
Germany's 12 Top Winemakers (With 5/5 Stars) - Vinum WeinGuide Deutschland 2020
Winemaker of the Year (Vinum WeinGuide Deutschland 2020): Matthias and Hansjörg Aldinger, Weingut Aldinger (Württemberg), Germany

12 Categories: Germany's Best Wines - Vinum WeinGuide Deutschland 2020

SEKT

Vinum: Volker Raumland from Rheinhessen is (almost) unbeatable in this category. In the Vinum WeinGuide Deutschland 2020, four of the ten best Sekts are from him, including this year's winner, the 2010 Raumland X. Triumvirate Grande Cuvée Sekt Brut (95 points). "A truly profound sparkling wine, carried by a prancing lightness," enthuses the jury. "More is not possible - at most different."

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

SPÄTBURGUNDER

Vinum: In the Pinot Noir category, the winner came from a tiny producer in the South Palatinate Region, which alread wone gold as a surprise last year. With 96 points the 2017 Pinot Noir l’Artiste by Hans-Erich Dausch (Pfalz) "dances between fruit and structure. The Pinot Noir of the year has immense length and depth." His biggest competitor this year was he himself, because his "simple" Pinot Noir came in second, ahead of Knipser, Koch, Huber, Fürst and Rebholz.

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

WHITE BURGUNDY GRAPE VARIETIES

Vinum: Not beatable however was Rebholz when it came to white Burgundy varieties: With 95 points, the 2018 Birkweiler Mandelberg Grosses Gewächs set itself apart from the competition for the second year in a row. "Hansjörg Rebholz brings elegance and harmony into the bottle in all respects," Matthias Mangold praises the white Burgundy of the year. "Fruit, play and spice - all elements are in perfect balance."

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

OTHER RED WINES

Vinum: For the first time, the jury honored red wines that are not Pinot Noirs with their own category. This list is made up of domestic and international red grape varieties, which made the tasting exciting - and also challenging. In the end, Hanspeter Ziereisen (Baden) came out on top with his 2016 Syrah "Jaspis". "A fragrance emanates from the glass like the great models from the Rhone Valley," said the judges. "Cool, graphite and with a hint of black pepper, the winning wine relies entirely on structure, character and individuality."

Pictures: Massive Tasting at Weingut Ziereisen, with Hanspeter and Edeltraud Ziereisen. See: 2 Cellar Tours and 1 Tasting at Weingut Ziereisen in Efringen, Markgräfler Land, Baden, with Hanspeter and Edel Ziereisen - Germany-South and Alsace 2018 Tour by ombiasy WineTours: Baden, Alsace, Pfalz and Rheinhessen

SILVANER

Vinum: At VINUM, the Silvaner has had its "traditional place among the major German white wines" for a longer period of time. The most outstanding wine in this category - and thus Silvaner of the year - is, according to the experts led by Harald Scholl with 93 points, the 2018 Sulzfelder Creutz from Weingut Zehnthof Luckert in Franken, which was already among the winners last year. The roughly 400 ungrafted vines planted at the end of the 19th century always produce a wine of great finesse and elegance. "The 2018 will really start to open after days only," said the jury. "It is worth trying!"

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

RIESLING DRY

Vinum: In the Riesling dry category, Theresa Breuer (Rheingau) created with her 2018 Rüdesheimer Berg Rottland (97 points) “an exceptional Riesling from an otherwise difficult year,” says Joel B. Payne. "Race and strength at the same time, fine wood, inner density, great draw, salty reverberation - Chapeau, Madame!", he continues his hymn of praise. It was a long time ago that a Rheingau was at the top. Theresa Breuer is following in the footsteps of her father Bernhard, one of the pioneers of the new dry wave in Germany.

Picture: Theresa Breuer and Christian Schiller in New York City

GUTSRIESLING

Vinum: Another new category is Gutsriesling/ Estate Riesling, entry-level Riesling. These wines are the calling card of every winemaker, that is, the "simple" drops that you really don't have to kneel down to drink - and in many cases they are still reasonably priced. This year one was surprisingly good too! The 2018 Schieferterrassen from Weingut Heymann Löwenstein (Mosel) is in the book with 90 points. Although the entry-level Riesling of this estate, this honor says a lot about the other, even higher-quality Rieslings of the house. "Here the consumer can buy blindly," recommends the editor-in-chief.

Picture: Vineyard Tour, Cellar Tour and Tasting at Weingut Heymann-Löwenstein in Winningen, Mosel, with Reinhard Löwenstein - Germany-North Tour 2017 by ombiasy WineTours

RIESLING FEINHERB

Vinum: "A special knack for the Riesling feinherb category" attests Harald Scholl to the Weber family from Hofgut Falkenstein (Saar). Their 2018 Niedermenninger Herrenberg Spätlese - 21 - took first place with 94 points. The wine of the same name with barrel number four reached fourth place with 93 points - behind Molitor and Loewen.

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

RIESLING KABINETT

Vinum: In the Riesling Kabinett category, the producers in the Mosel wine-growing region are again among themselves this year: all ten top wines come from estates on the Moselle, Saar and Ruwer. The tasters describe the winner, the 2018 Kanzemer Altenberg, auction wine of the Saarweingut von Othegraven (94 points) as "dream", which is now owned by the well-known TV star Günther Jauch. "A thoroughly hedonistic wine, smoky and yellow-fruity at the same time," praised the jury. "It is juicy, has endless pressure and tension. What more do you want?" ask the experts.

Pictures: Annette Schiller, Christian Ress and Gunther Jauch. See: A Riesling Feast in an Historic Setting: Riesling Gala 2016 at Kloster Eberbach in the Rheingau, Germany

RIESLING SPÄTLESE

Vinum: One is hardly less impressed by the number one in the Riesling Spätlese category, the 2018 Enkircher Ellergrub (95 points) from Weingut Weiser-Künstler (Mosel): "The Ellergrub Spätlese from this estate has always been good," says the description of the editors. «This time it is almost perfect. Dense and powerful, fresh as a clear mountain stream!

Picture: Weiser-Künstler, Traben-Trarbach (Mosel-Saar-Ruwer) - Konstantin Weiser and Alexandra Künstler of Weingut Weiser-Künstler at the Rieslingfeier2016 in New York. See: A German Riesling Feast in New York City: Rieslingfeier 2016, USA

RIESLING AUSLESE

Vinum: In the past, German producrs could only make Rieslings of the "Auslese" grade two or three times a decade, but thanks to global warming, these exquisite drops of golden, fully ripe grapes are now made almost every year. The Mosel Region also dominates in this discipline: Egon Müller (Saar) showed the best Riesling Auslese of the year 2018 with his Scharzhofberger Goldkapsel Versteigerungswein (98 points), just a tick ahead of a Selbach-Oster with the same points.

Picture: Annette Schiller and Egon Müller in New York City. See: The Annual "Slaughterhouse" Riesling Feast in New York: Rieslingfeier 2017, USA

RIESLING NOBLE-SWEET

Vinum: Selbach-Oster (Mosel) has also won first place in the noble-sweet Rieslings category with its Trockenbeerenauslese. Joel B. Payne describes the “breathtaking Trockenbeerenauslese” from the Zeltinger Sonnenuhr vineyard as an “elixir of infinite life”. In the opinion of the jury, it is one of the very rare perfect wines with 100 points! With a second Trockenbeerenauslese from the same vineyard, Johannes Selbach also won bronze with 99 points.

Picture: Wine Tasting at Weingut Selbach-Oster in Zeltingen, Mosel, with Johannes Selbach. See: Cellar Tour and Wine Tasting at Weingut Selbach-Oster in Zeltingen, Mosel, with Johannes Selbach– Germany-North Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2014)

Earlier Years

Germany's Best Wines: 10 Categories - Vinum WeinGuide Deutschland 2019
Germany’s Best Winemakers– Vinum WeinGuide Deutschland 2019 Awards
Germany’s Best Winemakers and Wines – Vinum WeinGuide Deutschland 2018 Awards: The Award Ceremony in Mainz, Germany
Germany’s Best Winemakers and Wines – Gault Millau WeinGuide Deutschland 2017 Awards
Germany’s Best Winemakers and Wines – Gault Millau WeinGuide Deutschland 2016 Awards: The Awards Ceremony in Mainz, Germany
Germany’s Best Winemakers and Wines – Gault Millau WeinGuide Deutschland 2015 Awards Ceremony in Mainz, Germany
Best German Wines and Winemakers: Gault Millau Awards – Gault Millau WeinGuide Deutschland 2014
Best German Wines and Wine Makers – the Gault Millau WeinGuide Deutschland 2013 Awards
2012: Best German Wines (Awards) – Gault Millau WeinGuide Deutschland 2012
2011: Gault Millau WeinGuide Germany 2011– Ratings
Gault Millau Wine Germany 2010

schiller-wine: Related Postings

Announcement: Upcoming ombiasy Wine Tours 2020 - (1) Alsace and Germany South, (2) Rhône Valley, (3) Bordeaux and (4) Germany: Christmas Market, Wine, Concert Tour

Annual Riesling Party at the Schiller Residence in Washington DC, USA (2019)

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Tour and Tasting at Château Sociando Mallet, Appellation Haut-Médoc - Bordeaux Tour by ombiasy WineTours 2019, France

February 25, 2020, 10:30 pm

≫ Next: Germany’s 21 Top (5/5) Winemakers - Der Feinschmecker 2019/20

≪ Previous: 12 Categories: Germany's Best Wines - Vinum WeinGuide Deutschland 2020

Pictures: Tour and Tasting at Château Sociando Mallet, Appellation Haut-Médoc - Bordeaux Tour by ombiasy WineTours 2019, France

Château Sociando-Mallet is a non-classified estate. However during the past decade the wines regularly outperformed other well-known estates and are regarded as wines of highest quality. The origins of the château go back to the year 1633 when the Basque nobleman Sièvre Sociando established his residence at this location. In the mid 19th century the widow Mallet bought the estate and linked the names to create Château Sociando Mallet. Château Sociando Mallet was a forgotten and dilapidated property with only 20 acres of vineyards when Jean Gautreau, a “négociant” from Lesparre bought it. He saw the potential in the fantastic vineyard sites right off the Gironde estuary and quickly expanded and replanted vineyards and brought the winemaking facilities to state of the art standards. Today Sociando Mallet has 200 acres under vine in the filet pieces of Haut Médoc.

Sybil Marquet was our host. We toured with her the winery and tasted some wines.

Pictures: Arriving at Château Sociando Mallet, Appellation Haut-Médoc

Lea and Sandeman: Sociando Mallet

Lea and Sandeman: The first village as you travel north out of Saint Estèphe is Saint-Suerin-de-Cadourne, home to a small cluster of cru bourgeois, not the least of which is Château Sociando-Mallet commanding fine views over the River Gironde to the east of the village. In the early 17th Century it was the estate of a Basque family called Sossiondo, the other half of the name coming from naval captain Achille Mallet who married the owner in 1831.

Pictures: Vineyard Tour at Château Sociando Mallet, Appellation Haut-Médoc

As with many Bordeaux estates, the late 19th and early 20th Centuries were not kind to Sociando-Mallet, so when local merchant Jean Gautreau happened upon it in 1969 it was in a sorry estate. Realising the potential, Jean bought the estate and owns it to this day. With only 5ha under vine, no cellar and the buildings in decay he had a lot to do. Vineyards were replanted, and plots were purchased from neighbours – today Sociando-Mallet, on various plots around the village spreads to 85ha – and the château and winery were refurbished and restored.

Pictures: Chai Tour at Château Sociando Mallet, Appellation Haut-Médoc

The amount of Merlot in the blend has slowly risen over the years and now accounts for 47% of the vineyard alongside 48% Cabernet Sauvignon with a little Cabernet Franc; average vine age about 30 years. The wines of Sociando-Mallet were once relatively under-priced but demand for the wine has risen as more people have come to know it, although being from outside the famous Haut-Médoc villages and the 1855 classification keeps the price under some control. Quite robust wines.

Pictures: Barrel Cellar Tour at Château Sociando Mallet, Appellation Haut-Médoc

The Future: Sylvie and Arthur

On the eve of his 90th birthday, Jean Gautreau (born in 1927) is passing on management to his daughter, Sylvie, born in 1967. She is the only child of Jean and Colette Gautreau.

Pictures: Tour of the Bottleing Area at Château Sociando Mallet, Appellation Haut-Médoc

Sociando-Mallet was Sylvie's playground as a child. She accompanied her father from a very early age and learnt to observe the vines closely and to watch the grapes ripen. Nowadays she takes part in the regular technical tastings and enjoys choosing the final blend with the team.

She lives and breathes Sociando-Mallet, her land, and exemplifies the spirit of the château. She is Sociando. Furthermore, Sylvie is gradually instilling this spirit in her son, Arthur.

Picture: The late Jean Gautreau with his Daughter and Grandson

Tasting

Château Sociando-Mallet produces 3 wines: Sociando-Mallet, La Demoiselle de Sociando-Mallet and Jean Gautreau.

Sociando-Mallet: Château Sociando-Mallet produces full-bodied wines with a deep, dark colour. Their complex bouquet is usually dominated by black fruit aromas with a touch of minerality and well-integrated, elegant oak. Often somewhat "virile" when young, the wines gain in balance and complexity with age. They are fresh, straightforward, and have a wonderful length. Château Sociando-Mallet has always been a wine with great ageing potential. A wine to be enjoyed even after 30 years in great vintages.

La Demoiselle de Sociando-Mallet: The Demoiselle de Sociando-Mallet is produced from the younger vines of the property and the plots whose soil is more favourable to the production of very good Merlot. This grape variety represents half of the final blend of this wine. The vines for our Demoiselle cover around twenty hectares and receive the same care and are tended in the same way as the rest of the vineyard throughout the year. The "demoiselle" is a sort of dragonfly found in the Médoc. Like the dragonfly, this wine of the same name is light and elegant. The ageing of our Demoiselle de Sociando-Mallet is carried out mainly in vats, to preserve the freshness and fruitiness of the Merlot. This easy-drinking wine can be enjoyed young. It is an ideal match for grilled meat and fish or shellfish dishes.

Jean Gautreau: During the vinification at Sociando-Mallet, each vat is filled with grapes from well-defined plots. Depending on the year, a full crop represents about 20 vats' worth of wine. For many years, we have set aside three barrels of wine from each separate vat when the wine is run off to have a specific idea of the quality potential of each plot.

Pictures: Tasting

In 1995, our cellarmaster had the idea of selecting fifteen barrels from among these sixty to make a blend called "Jean Gautreau". The choice of barrels is made during a blind tasting after one year of barrel ageing. A committee consisting of the cellarmaster, the oenologist, Sylvie Gautreau, and Jean Gautreau evaluates wine from each barrel. The fifteen highest scoring barrels are blended and put into special bottles. These are brown and taller than the bottles used for Sociando-Mallet to avoid any risk of confusion between the two wines.

This was never designed to be what is called a "garage wine" with extra-low yields and unusual winemaking techniques. "Jean Gautreau" is simply another version, indeed another vision, of the Sociando-Mallet spirit, offering a different blend from the estate's main wine, the taste of a captured moment. It is not more concentrated, or better, or a luxury product, or a marketing gimmick. It is just another way of apprehending Sociando-Mallet.

The "Jean Gautreau" has a higher proportion of Cabernet Sauvignon than Sociando Mallet and is a somewhat austere wine in its youth, requiring longer ageing in the bottle to reach its full potential.

We tasted:

2017 La Demoiselle de Sociando-Mallet (wine-searcher average price in US$:19)
2012 Château Sociando-Mallet (wine-searcher average price in US$:49)
2002 Château Sociando-Mallet (wine-searcher average price in US$:74)

Pictures: The Wines

Lunch at Restaurant Le Peyrat in Saint-Estèphe

Following the visit of Château Sociando-Mallet, we had lunch at Le Peyrat. This unassuming, very traditional French restaurant, right on the banks of the Gironde, is always packed for lunch, because it is the favorite hangout for the winemakers of the neighboring châteaux. During harvest the pickers of Château Sociando-Mallet and other close by châteaux have lunch here.

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Germany’s 21 Top (5/5) Winemakers - Der Feinschmecker 2019/20

February 27, 2020, 10:00 pm

≫ Next: Dinner at Restaurant Villa Merton, with 1 Star Michelin Chef André Großfeld, Frankfurt, Germany

≪ Previous: Tour and Tasting at Château Sociando Mallet, Appellation Haut-Médoc - Bordeaux Tour by ombiasy WineTours 2019, France

Pictures: Tasting at Weingut Jos. Jos. Prüm in Bernkastel-Wehlen, Mosel, with Amei Prüm - Germany-North Tour 2019 by ombiasy WineTours: Quintessential Riesling

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

For previous years see:

Germany’s Top 21 Winemakers - Der Feinschmecker 2018/2019
Germany’s Top 19 Winemakers - Der Feinschmecker WeinGuide 2017/2018
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.

Overall. the number did not change. But Weingut Kartäuserhof (Mosel) and Weingut Reichsgraf von Kesselstatt (Mosel) lost their position in the top group and Weingut Eva Fricke (Rheingau) and Gut Hermannsberg (Nahe) were promoted to the 5 star/ F category.

AHR

Meyer-Näkel

Weingut Meyer-Näkel
Friedensstr. 15
53507 Dernau
Deutschland
+49 (0) 2643 1628
www.meyer-naekel.de
23 hectares
185.000 bottles

Feinschmecker: Werner Näkel has earned a great reputation with his wines: opulent yet concentrated wines made him a pioneer of the Ahr Region and raised him to the international stage. But the family does not rest on these laurels. The siblings Dörte and Meike Näkel now run the business. The current vintage is fantastic, it shines with subtle beauty and restraint. Velvety and silky go hand in hand with juicy and beautiful, you want to smell, drink and start again. Pure drinking flow. The refreshing citrus fruit on the palate of the Blanc de Noir is not even noticeable in the 2018 hot vintage. The Blauschiefer is a great wine for the price, with nice juiciness. The Grauwacke is herbal and has a complex structure, subtle fruit. The density of the Kräuterberg indicates that this wine still needs time. The Sonnenberg GG already shines with an almost perfect slim elegance and vibrating acidity.

Illusion Spätburgunder Blanc de Noir: 12,50 €
Blauschiefer Spätburgunder: 21,00 €
Sonnenberg Spätburgunder GG: 45,00 €

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

Jean Stodden

Weingut Jean Stodden
Rotweinstr 7-9
53506 Rech
Deutschland
+49 (0) 2643 3001
stodden.de
9 hectares
55.000 bottles

Feinschmecker: The wines of winemaker Alexander Stodden have long been known for their remarkable restraint, they are quiet but very elegant. This effect was intensified in the 2017 vintage. Stodden, who has always had a penchant for French flair, builds exceptionally balanced wines that seduce with structure rather than fruit. For this, his bottles need rest and time to develop their full finesse. The reward for waiting: a fluid, unmistakable embodiment of Stodden's incredible precision in the vineyard and cellar. His Sonnenberg GG is straightforward and fine, with a depth and aromas that merge into an almost endless finale; the Herrenberg GG is rather playful, with a lively acidity and bright red fruits, which are surrounded by a deep, delicate network of tannins. Make room in the cellar for these GGs and enjoy the expressive charm of the Frühburgunder while you wait.

Herrenberg Spätburgunder GG: 75,00 €
Sonnenberg Spätburgunder GG: 55,00 €
Herrenberg Frühburgunder GG: 39,00 €

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

Weingut Bernhard Huber
Heimbacher Weg 19
79364 Malterdingen
Deutschland
+49 (0) 7644 9297220
weingut-huber.com
28 hectares
155.000 bottles

Feinschmecker: That Julian Huber's GG belongs to the best Pinot Noirs in Germany is well known by now. Julian Huber has changed the style of Weingut Bernhard Huber quit a bit. The collection has become smaller, more focused and a bit more delicate. The leap in quality is particularly large with the Chardonnay. Our favorite among Pinot Noirs this year is the Große Gewächs from the Malterdinger Bienenberg, because it is already very accessible: a little sweet fruit on the nose, dark fruits on the palate, fresh acidity, round. We don't reveal any secret. But we are also convinced by Julian Huber's basic wines. The Malterdinger Pinot Noir offers a lot of wine in a glass for 18 Euros and bears the elegant handwriting of the big brothers. And as already mentioned, you should now stock up a bit with Chardonnay. For example with the representative of the Alte Reben - he takes us to Burgundy. The nose smoky-flinty, cactus, fascinating. Still young, extremely fresh acid. Keep going!

Malterdinger Spätburgunder: 18,00 €
Malterdinger Bienenberg Spätburgunder: 45,00 €
Malterdinger Alte Reben Chardonnay: 30,00 €

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

Weingut Rudolf Fürst
Hohenlindenweg 46
63927 Bürgstadt
Deutschland
+49 (0) 9371 8642
21 hectares
120.000 bottles

Feinschmecker: Only 21 wineries have been awarded 5 stars: everything has to be right. The entry-level is represented by the Pinot Blanc pur mineral: straightforward, slim and yet rich in discovery - a slight hint of flint in the bouquet, mineral on the palate, subtle in the fruit, slim, with a tickling, dynamic acidity. At the top, the winery must have a unique selling point; at Fürst, the Spätburgunder and Frühburgunder wines are deeply elegant - like the 2017 Pinot Noir from the Hundsrück vineyard: it is still young, you need patience, but then it is incredibly complex, cool, spicy, with almost ethereal density on the palate, plus good tannins. The Burgstädter Berg from the Erste Lage vineyard is somewhat more accessible. If there is still a Chardonnay with impressive elegance and clarity in the glass, you know: Here you are at Germany's top level.

Astheimer Chardonnay: 25,00 €
Weisser Burgunder pur mineral VDP. Gutswein: 14,50 €
Bürgstadter Berg Spätburgunder VDP. Erste Lage: 32,00 €

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

Horst Sauer

Weingut Horst Sauer
Bocksbeutelstr. 14
97332 Volkach
Deutschland
+49 (0) 9381 4364
www.weingut-horst-sauer.de
20 hectares
170.000 bottles

Feinschmecker: Horst Sauer cultivates around 20 hectares, jointly with his daughter Sandra. When young, Silvaner and Riesling are characterized by a demanding, sometimes bitter acidity that makes these wines so lively. The sweet wines from the estate in Escherndorf are great this year. The Riesling Trockenbeerenauslese from the top location Escherndorfer Lump is full of energy, clean and clear in the fruit: With the very good grapes, this wine should keep its freshness for decades. The Silvaner from the Lump is dense, complex and long. We are always pleased with the quality of the estate, the independent character of the wines and the versatility of Riesling and Silvaner from dry to noble sweet.

Escherndorf am Lumpen Silvaner GG: 27,00 €
Escherndorfer Lump Riesling S trocken: 13,50 €
Escherndorfer Lump Riesling Trockenbeerenauslese: 70,00 €

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

Weingut Fritz Haag
Dusemonderstr. 44
54472 Brauneberg
Deutschland
+49 (0) 6534 410
www.weingut-fritz-haag.de
24 hectares
170.000 bottles

Feinschmecker: This producer on the Middle Mosel has become known above all for its fruity-sweet wines, which have always been world-class. Nothing has changed to this day, but here too the dry Rieslings are on the rise. Trendy and in-demand wines of simple elegance, a bit trimmed to mainstream, but not the extraordinary class of the traditional Moselle style, which can only arise in this wine region. In 2018 Oliver Haag presented a respectable collection that undoubtedly also includes outstanding dry Rieslings. But we are still proven fans of his fruit-sweet specimens, which are perfectly balanced and show an amazing tension between fruit and acid. Wine to bite into, full of finesse and multi-faceted play within the crystal-clear aroma, plus a Riesling acidy of the finest, balanced and mature, invigorating and enormously refreshing. World class!

Brauneberger -J- Riesling trocken VDP.Ortswein: 15,50 €
Brauneberger Juffer Riesling Kabinett VDP.Große Lage: 12,80 €
Brauneberger Juffer Riesling Auslese VDP.Große Lage: 23,50 €

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

Dr. Loosen

Weingut Dr. Loosen
Johannishof 1
54470 Bernkastel-Kues
Deutschland
+49 (0) 6531 3426
www.drloosen.de
55 hectares
400.000 bottles

Feinschmecker: Ernst Loosen belongs to the absolute top producers in Germany and also convinces us year after year. These are characterful wines of an exceptional format. Above all, this constancy can be admired. The entry-level wines are accessible and harmonious, moving up the quality pyramid the complexity, depth and maturity of the wines increase. Ernst Loosen also has a strong presence worldwide, he exports to 80 countries and is an ambassador for German Riesling culture. The British wine critic Jancis Robinson expressly praised his commitment as being groundbreaking for the future of German wine abroad. The estates's success story is impressive. Ernst Loosen can look at a variety of world-famous locations: Erdener Prälat, Ürziger Würzgarten or Wehlener Sonnenuhr. This year's collection is also classic. The remaining fruity-sweet wines, from Kabinett to Auslese, are fantastic, full of play and harmony. The dry wines are getting better and better. We particularly like the Großer Gewächs Réserve line, wines that Ernst Loosen gives even more time in the bottle before they are sold.

Blauschiefer Riesling trocken: 12,00 €
Graacher Himmelreich Riesling Grosses Gewächs Alte Reben: 21,00 €
Ürziger Würzgarten Riesling Grosses Gewächs Réserve Alte Reben: 50,00 €

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: Tasting at Weingut Dr. Loosen in Bernkastel-Kues, Middle Mosel, with Ernie Loosen- Germany-North Tour 2019 by ombiasy WineTours: Quintessential Riesling

Joh. Jos. Prüm

Weingut Joh. Jos. Prüm
Uferallee 19
54470 Bernkastel-Wehlen
Deutschland
+49 6531 3091
www.jjpruem.com
21 hectares
160.000 bottles

Feinschmecker: How do you deal with this when a winery has received the highest ratings and has been delivering outstanding quality for years and has become even better with the current vintage? This is the case at Weingut Joh. Jos. Prüm. Manfred and Katharina Prüm are legends. Only Rieslings are produced at ths winery, all are not fully fermented so that the wines have residual sugar. The wines of Weingut Joh. Jos. Prüm are famous worldwide for residual sugar. this. The wines, which already taste fantastic when young, only fully display their exceptional quality after a few years. They are extremely fine, of almost endless play and combine lightness and depth in impressive dimensions. Tasting the collection is always a highlight. In 2017, we were particularly impressed by the wines from the Graacher Himmelreich vineyard: the Spätlese full of excitement and delicately chiselled acid. The Auslese is tighter, with a little more fruit, very animating. The Goldkapsel Auslese goes one step further even.

Graacher Himmelreich Riesling Spätlese: 27,00 €
Graacher Himmelreich Riesling Auslese: 33,50 €
Graacher Himmelreich Riesling Auslese Goldkapsel: 75,00 €

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

Pictures: Tasting at Weingut Jos. Jos. Prüm in Bernkastel-Wehlen, Mosel, with Amei Prüm - Germany-North Tour 2019 by ombiasy WineTours: Quintessential Riesling

Nik Weis - Sankt Urbans-Hof

Weingut Nik Weis - St. Urbans-Hof
Urbanusstr. 16
54340 Leiwen
Deutschland
+49 (0)6507 93770
www.nikweis.com
42 hectares
250.000 bottles

Feinschmecker: Nik Weis is living proof that charismatic winemakers also produce charismatic wines. For many vintages, the stately winery has not only been offering quality continuity at the highest level, but also wines full of character that tell exciting stories: of perfectly ripe grapes, mineral-rich soils and almost perfect aging. The highlight of the 2018 collection are the fruity-sweet Kabinett wines, Spätlese and Auslese wines, which are wonderfully juicy and characterized by crystal-clear fruit, coupled with a racy acidity that guarantees enormous freshness. We were also impressed by the two Grosses Gewächs wines, powerful, dry Rieslings, which, despite their fullness and power, always are elegant and which show their true greatness in the maturing potential they have.

Goldtröpfchen Riesling VDP.Großes Gewächs: 34,00 €
Bockstein Kabinett Riesling VDP.Große Lage fruchtsüß: 16,80 €
Bockstein Spätlese Riesling VDP.Große Lage fruchtsüß: 27,50 €

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

Weingut Schloss Lieser - Thomas Haag
Am Markt 1-5
54470 Lieser
Deutschland
+49 (0) 6531 6431
www.weingut-schloss-lieser.de
24 hectares.
140.000 bottles

Feinschmecker: There is no doubt that Thomas Haag's Grosses Gewächs wines are among the best in the region. Also in the current collection, the striking GG Riesling from the Niederberg Helden vineyard stands out: a strong, full-bodied wine with a dense, elegant fruit body, powerful on the palate and impressively long in the finish. But Thomas Haag can do it differently. His fruit-sweet Kabinett Riesling is of dance-like elegance, light-footed in its drinking flow, full of aromatics and accompanied by a fresh, polished acidity that is almost perfectly set. At the same high level, we tried outstanding Spätlese and Auslese wines, which are prime examples of the fruity-sweet style.

Niederberg Helden Großes Gewächs VDP. Große Lage: 29,50 €
Wehlener Sonnenuhr Riesling Kabinett VDP. Große Lage: 13,90 €
Juffer Sonnenuhr Riesling Auslese VDP. Große Lage: 28,00 €

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

Weingut H. Dönnhoff
Bahnhofstr. 11
55585 Oberhausen
Deutschland
+49 (0) 6755 263
www.doennhoff.com
28 hectares
180.000 bottles

Feinschmecker: When it comes to perfect Rieslings, the name Dönnhoff must be mentioned. For years, this exceptional producers has stood for first-class wines that not only belong to the top at the top, but are also a figurehead for German Riesling worldwide. With the 2018 vintage, Cornelius Dönnhoff has once again set accents: his slim, extremely elegant wines shine with sparkling clean fruit, are perfectly balanced and get the right momentum from an imposing refreshing acidity to swing themselves into the highest spheres. Rieslings with wings - even the compact Grosses Gewächs wines have something of the playful elegance that characterizes all Dönnhoff wines. If residual sweetness comes into play, the Rieslings present themselves in a unique, partly exotic fruitiness, which leaves no doubt that they are also great Rieslings.

Tonschiefer Riesling trocken: 13,50 €
Kreuznacher Kahlenberg Riesling trocken VDP. Erste Lage: 18,50 €
Oberhäuser Brücke Riesling Spätlese: 25,00 €

Pictures: Tasting at Weingut Dönnhoff, Oberhausen, Nahe. with Anne Dönnhoff - Germany-North Tour 2019 by ombiasy WineTours: Quintessential Riesling

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

Pictures: Dönnhoff Hermann, Oberhausen (Nahe) - An Afternoon with Riesling Star Winemaker Helmut Doennhoff at Weingut Doennhoff in Oberhausen in the Nahe Valley, Germany

Emrich-Schönleber

Weingut Emrich-Schönleber
Soonwaldstr. 10a
55569 Monzingen
Deutschland
+49 (0) 6751 2733
www.emrich-schoenleber.de
20 hectares
140.000 bottles

Feinschmecker: Frank Schönleber presented us with a great collection, his Rieslings and Burgundies from 2018 impressively show that great wines of international format can be made in the Nahe Region. Respect for this achievement of a young winemaker, which seamlessly ties in with the first-class wines of his father Werner. Frank Schönleber immerses the clean and fresh, aromatic fruit into the depths of his Rieslings and at the same time brings a dynamic touch to his wines from a gripping, extremely fine acidity. The current Pinot Blanc captivates with clear, subtly balanced fruit aromas that run through the entire, elegantly shaped drinking flow. This is how Weissburgunder works!

"Mineral" Riesling trocken: 14,90 €
"Halgans" Monzinger Riesling trocken: 21,00 €
Weißburgunder trocken: 9,90 €

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

Gut Hermannsberg

Gut Hermannsberg
Ehemalige Weinbaudomäne 1
55585 Niederhausen
Deutschland
+49 (0) 6758 92500
www.gut-hermannsberg.de
30 hectares
250.000 bottles

Feinschmecker: Pomoted! This year, the entire collection presented was of such an exceptional class that we give the highest mark and congratulate the whole team. We were able to try Rieslings, starting with an uncomplicated Gutswein, that were bursting with elegance, were very fine and graceful, and brought a beguiling sheen into the glass with a very subtle and varied fruit. The retasted Grosses Gewächs wines from the previous year also showed themselves cheerfully present and complex, no trace of fatigue, but an amazing freshness packed in a compact fruit body. This is great! The “7 Terroirs” is one of the best estate wines in the price range that we tasted from the 2018 vintage.

7Terroirs, Riesling trocken, VDP.Gutswein: 11,90 €
Steinterrassen Riesling, Riesling trocken, Selektion aus Großen Lagen: 19,90 €
Hermannsberg Riesling GG, Niederhausen, Riesling trocken, VDP.Großes Gewächs: 42,00 €

Pictures: Tour and Tasting at Weingut Gut Hermannsberg in Niederhausen, Nahe– Germany-North Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2015)

Schäfer-Fröhlich

Weingut Schäfer-Fröhlich
Schulstr. 6
55595 Bockenau
Deutschland
+49 (0) 6758 6521
www.weingut-schaefer-froehlich.de
22 hectares
130.000 bottles

Feinschmecker: Tim Fröhlich has long been one of the exceptional winemakers in the Nahe Region. In addition to his first class Pinot Blanc and Pinot Gris, it is above all the Rieslings that year after year undisputedly justify his place in the top group of winemakers in the region. Always equipped with fine, but distinct mineral notes, the Rieslings present themselves in top form in 2018 and show how a multi-layered fruit is balanced with sweetness and acidity in such a way that a perfectly harmonious taste is created in the end. The 2018 Pinot Blanc wines are also top class: fine-fruity wines with long-lasting floral notes that are characterized by a captivating elegance.

Bockenauer Felseneck Riesling GG trocken: 50,00 €
Weisser Burgunder 'S' trocken: 15,50 €
Bockenauer Schiefergestein Riesling trocken: 18,90 €

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

Weingut Geheimer Rat Dr. von Bassermann-Jordan
Kirchgasse 10
67146 Deidesheim
Deutschland
+49 (0) 6326 6006
www.bassermann-jordan.de
49 hectares
275.000 bottles

Feinschmecker: While other wineries are stirring the marketing drum and trying to underpin their wines with a lot of talk, you hear nothing from Gunther Hauck and Ulrich Mell. The two Palatinates simply do their job and let the wines speak for themselves. And they are outstanding in 2018, all of them remarkable works of art. Despite all the depth in which the sparkling clean fruit is immersed, the Rieslings never lose their captivating elegance, which applies to all wines of the winery. The Riesling Auslese from the Forster Ungeheuer is an exciting wine with a perfect fruit-acid play, which only wnemaker Ulrich Mell can probably get in the Mittelhardt.

Forst Riesling Trocken VDP.Ortswein: 14,00 €
Jesuitengarten Riesling GG VDP.Grosse Lage: 45,00 €
Forster Ungeheuer Riesling Auslese VDP.Grosse Lage: 25,00 €

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

Weingut Knipser
Hauptstr. 47-49
67229 Laumersheim
Deutschland
+49 (0) 6238 742
www.weingut-knipser.de
80 hectares
500.000 bottles

Feinschmecker: The renowned family-run estate is very far ahead with its wines in the Pfalz. It almost is a routine, for many years Laumersheimer wines have been of a special class, the name Knipser has long been a trademark and a seal of quality at the highest level in the German wine scene. From the 2018 vintage, we were unfortunately only able to try the Sauvignon Blanc, a wine that scratches the “world class” level. The powerful Rieslings from 2017 show only a few aging notes, but are in top form as are the fine Pinot Noirs, which, with their captivating elegance and Bourgogne depth, show what German red wine can do if it gets into the right hands. Simply great!

Sauvignon Blanc: 9,80 €
Riesling "Kalkmergel": 12,40 €
Spätburgunder RdP: 98,00 €

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

Weingut Künstler
Geheimrat-Hummel-Platz 1a
65239 Hochheim am Main
Deutschland
+49 (0) 6146 8386-0
www.weingut-kuenstler.de
50 hectares
350.000 bottles

Feinschmecker: The estate run by Gunter Künstler is one of the most diverse in the Rheingau: the grape variety portfolio offers more than Riesling and Pinot Noir, and the vineyards are spread over the entire Rheingau region. The estate itself is a little out of the way in Hochheim am Main, just before the confluence with the Rhine. The winery's style has become a bit fuller and juicier, sometimes at the expense of finesse. Nevertheless, there are exciting and good wines here. The Chardonnay Barrique matures in the French Faa, has fine toasted notes and a vanilla nose, it is juicy and fresh on the palate, round and lush. The Riesling Weiss Erd shows the muscles mentioned and has a lot of potential. The Spätburgunder from the Höllenberg is classically elegant and a good ambassador for the vineyard.

Weiss Erd Riesling GG | VDP. Grose Lage: 26,00 €
Chardonnay trocken Barrique: 29,50 €
Höllenberg Spätburgunder GG | VDP. Grosse Lage: 55,00 €

Picture: Christian G.E. Schiller with Gunter Kuenstler at Schloss Johnnisberg. Weingut Kuenstler was founded by 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)

Pictures: Annette Schiller and Gunter Künstler at Weingut Franz Künstler. See: 40th Anniversary of the Weinfreundeskreis Hochheim, Rheingau, Germany

Weingut Fricke

Weingut Eva Fricke
Elisabethenstr. 6
65343 Eltville
Deutschland
+49 (0) 6123 703658
www.evafricke.com
13 hectares
80.000 bottles

Feinschmecker: Getting into the ranks of the 5 star producers is not easy: an individual style, continuous quality and a collection without outliers are the minimum requirements. Eva Fricke fulfilled them in our eyes. The winery is one of the most exciting in the region and one of the best in Germany. Eva Fricke is a classic newcomer. She had always wanted to make wine, but she had no family business or marked path. After graduating from gymnasium (Abitur) in Bremen, she found what she was looking for after a few stops in the Rheingau and bottled her first year of 0.24 hectares in 2006. Since then she has built a respectable winery out of nowhere: five employees, 13 hectares, export to 20 countries, ecological management. We are not only impressed by our career, but above all by her wines, which are very expressive, elegant and yet low in alcohol. It starts wth the entry-level, Rheingau Riesling, round from bouquet to finish, carried by the acid, ideally balanced. The wines all have a lot of strength with little alcohol. The Riesling Seligmacher is sensually almost dry, the subtle residual sweetness gives the wine just the right amount of play. Whether dry or sweet: big!

Rheingau Riesling QbA trocken: 12,50 €
Lorchhäuser Seligmacher Riesling QbA: 30,00 €
Kiedricher Klosterberg Riesling Spätlese: 25,00 €

Picture: Christian Schiller with Eva Fricke. See: Visiting Weingut Josef Leitz in Ruedesheim– Johannes Leitz is Germany’s Winemaker of the Year, Gault Millau WeinGuide 2011

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

Robert Weil

Weingut Robert Weil
Mühlberg 5
65399 Kiedrich
Deutschland
+49 (0) 6123 2308
www.weingut-robert-weil.com
90 hectares
650.000 bottles

Feinschmecker: Wilhelm Weil meticulously produces Riesling from his Kiedicher mountain vineyards at various predicate levels every year. The fact that he produces outstanding Kabinett wines as well as Trockenbeerenauslese wines makes him a top winemaker who is highly regarded worldwide for his Riesling. The wines are characterized by great aging potential. Just like the hochfine Auslese, which has already opened up quit a bit, but is made to last. The Riesling Gräfenberg is a bench, very fine, with a light aromas and radiant with a very subtle creaminess. There is a nice spice on the palate. This is great Riesling with an unbelievable number of facets. A tip: visit the winery. It is probably the only one with a chateau character: if you walk up the path to the vinotheque, you will see the old manor house on the left and the new building on the right.

Kiedricher Riesling Trocken VDP.Ortswein: 18,50 €
Kiedrich Gräfenberg Riesling Trocken GG VDP.Grosse Lage: 42,90 €
Kiedrich Turmberg Riesling Auslese VDP.Erste lage: 41,75 €

Picture: Christian Schiller and Wilhelm Weil, Weingut Robert Weil, Tasting at Weingut Weil. See: Tasting with Wilhelm Weil the 2010 Weingut Weil Wines in Kiedrich, Germany

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)

Pictures: Cellar Tour and Tasting at Weingut Robert Weil in Kiedrich, Rheingau, with Jan Christensen - Germany-North Tour 2019 by ombiasy WineTours: Quintessential Riesling

RHEINHESSEN

Klaus Keller

Weingut Keller
Bahnhofstr. 1
67592 Flörsheim-Dalsheim
Deutschland
+49 (0) 6243 456
www.keller-wein.de
18 hectares.
100.000 bottles

Feinschmecker: That exceptional winemakers produce produce exceptional wines is obvious. If this happens regularly and for years without any dropouts, it is a special class in which only a few estates in the world operate. From this point of view, the Rieslings from Klaus-Peter Keller are once again at the highest level, you can't get more out of the grape variety with the best effort anywhere in the world. Pure elegance, fine fruit and a lively acidity - everything is ideally put together and well balanced, real Keller-Rieslings. But the current Scheurebe is also of exceptionally fruity brilliance and enormous juiciness that always makes you hungry for the next sip. The again tested Pinot Noir of 2016 is well developed and elegantly mature.

Scheurebe trocken: 9,80 €
Nierstein Riesling trocken: 39,00 €
Westhofen ABTS E Riesling trocken VDP. GG: 95,00 €

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

Weingut Wittmann
Mainzer Str. 19
67593 Westhofen
Deutschland
+49 (0) 6244 905036
www.wittmannweingut.com
30 hectares

Feinschmecker: Philipp Wittmann has long been an established producer, who has catapulted the Rheinhessen Region into new spheres with his wines. He is also a co-initiator of a spirit of optimism in Rheinhessen, which has produced a whole range of talented and ambitious young winemakers. Undoubtedly, his 2018 wines are not only among the top of the Rheinhessen Region, but also among Germany's best wines. Above all, of course, Wittmann's exceptional Rieslings from the Morstein vineyard, aromatic works of art of bewitching elegance and with a remarkable freshness that also comes from the long, animating acidity. Even with the perfectly interpreted Scheurebe, the producer from Westhofen sets trends in the current vintage. When you find Grosses Gewächs on the label, there is also a great wine with first-class potential in the bottle.

Scheurebe trocken VDP. Gutswein: 12,40 €
NIERSTEINER Riesling VDP. Aus Ersten Lagen: 20,50 €
Westhofener Morstein Riesling trocken VDP. Grosses Gewächs: 56,50 €

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

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

Announcement: Upcoming ombiasy Wine Tours 2020 - (1) Alsace and Germany South, (2) Rhône Valley, (3) Bordeaux

Annual Riesling Party at the Schiller Residence in Washington DC, USA (2019)

↧

Dinner at Restaurant Villa Merton, with 1 Star Michelin Chef André Großfeld, Frankfurt, Germany

March 1, 2020, 10:30 pm

≫ Next: Reminder: Rhône Valley Tour by ombiasy WineTours in June 2020

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Pictures: Dinner at Restaurant Villa Merton, with 1 Star Michelin Chef André Großfeld, Frankfurt, Germany

The "Deutsche Tafelkultur e.V." in Frankfurt/ Germany invited to the annual "Wintergemüse-Diner" at Restaurant Villa Merton.

Owner and Michelin-starred Chef André Großfeld prepared an exquisite 5 course Sekt menu.

All 5 wines were Fürst von Metternich sparkling wines. Many thanks to the Fürst von Metternich Sekt House for sponsoring this event.

Invitation

Liebe Mitglieder und liebe Freunde,

unser traditionelles, jährliches Wintergemüse-Diner fand auch 1996, damals angeregt von unserem verstorbenen Gründungsmitglied SKH Moritz Landgraf von Hessen, wegen des großen IInteresses am viel zu wenig beachteten Wintergemüse 2 mal statt.

Dank unseres großzügigen Sponsors Henkell & Freixenet zelebriert André Großfeld, Chef des Sternerestaurants Villa Merton uns sein Wintermenü um die 5 verschiedenen Fürst von Metternich Sekte, nachdem wir uns während des Empfanges mit Fürst von Metternich Riesling Sekt aus der großen Flasche einstimmen durften.

Der Riesling Sekt Extra Trocken, ein “fürstliches Vergnügen”, bekam bei der Eurovision der Schaumweine von allen Jurymitgliedern “Douze Points”. Der Star des Abends stellte sogar die Favoriten aus Frankreich völlig in den Schatten.

Auf unser erstes Wiedersehen für die Meisten von Ihnen im neuen Jahr freuen wir uns ganz besonders.

Herzliche Grüße

Ihr Knut Günther

Pictures: Villa Merton

Elizabeth on Food: Villa Merton

Elizabeth on Food:Restaurant Villa Merton is housed in a neo-Baroque villa, located in the diplomatic district of Frankfurt. The villa is also the home of the 'Union International Club', a international service club. The villa was originally built as a family home in 1927 for the Jewish industrialist and politician Richard Merton. After having been persecuted by the Nazis for a number of years, Richard Merton managed to escape to England in 1939. Merton returned to Germany after WWII in 1948 and Villa Merton was returned to its previous owner. He sold it to the city of Frankfurt in 1953, who entered into a long-term lease with the Union International Club.

The restaurant of the club was renamed to Villa Merton in 2002. Executive chef at the time was Hans Horberth, who also got the restaurant its first Michelin star in 2003. Horberth left Villa Merton in 2008 and was succeeded by young chef Matthias Schmidt, who had started his career at Villa Merton in 2003. Matthias Schmidt (b. 1981) had left Villa Merton in 2005 to continue his training in the kitchens of two-star chefs Johannes King at Söl'ring Hof in Sylt and Martin Öxle at Speisemeisterei in Stuttgart (now closed). Schmidt managed to hold on to the restaurant's Michelin star after his return and and Villa Merton was awarded a second star in 2012.

Villa Merton relaunched in 2015 with a new menu and a new chef, André Grossfeld. In the 2016 guide for Germany Villa Merton was awarded 1 Michelin star

Pictures: Reception

Global Blue: The Top 5 Restaurants in Frankfurt

Villa Merton

Global Blue: Set in a neo-Baroque mansion in the Union International Club, Villa Merton is known for championing high-quality, local and seasonal ingredients. Chef Matthias Schmidt makes great use of regional produce in his French-influenced cuisine and takes inspiration from established culinary traditions while also pushing out the boundaries. Typical choices include beef stew and pigeon with venison sausage.

Pictures: Setting

Elitetravelor: The 8 Best Restaurants in Frankfurt

Villa Merton

Elitetravelor: Located in Diplomatenviertel, one of Frankfurt’s most elegant quarters, the beautiful Villa Merton offers world class food in elegant surroundings. Since 2003 Villa Merton has continuously been awarded a Michelin star, thanks to Chef de Cuisine Matthias Schmidt’s daring menu that renounces traditional ingredients such as olive oil and citrus fruits in favor of unique products like Japanese roses, beechnut and oil of wheatgrass. The main dining room opens on to a tree-lined terrace, which offers natural shade and a beautiful back drop while dining alfresco, and a private room is available on the first floor for those seeking further exclusivity.

Pictures: Owner/ Chef André Großfeld, Knut Günther and Christian Schiller

Owner/ Chef André Großfeld

Date of birth: 11.09.1977 in Telgte, Germany
1995 - 1998: Schuhbeck, Waging am See (Training)
1999 - 2000: Marinas und Wollenberg, Hamburg
2000 - 2001: Schuhbeck, Waging am See
2001 - 2003: Tantris, Hans Haas, Munich
2004: Brick Main Plaza, Frankfurt/Main
2005 - 2014: Grossfeld, Friedberg-Dorheim
2015 - today: Villa Merton, Frankfurt

Villa Merton: Bistro, Restaurant and Chef's Table

The culinary center of Villa Merton is the Restaurant Villa Merton, where our event took place. A step below in terms of sophistication and price is the Bistro Villa Merton. A step up is the Chef's Table Villa Merton, in the kitchen for 2 to 6 people, where Chef André Großfeld offers a 7 course menu for Euro 225 per person, including wine.

Only Sparkling Wines: Fürst von Metternich

This was an unusual dinner insofar as we had only sparkling wines. Germany is one of the largest sparkling wine markets in the world. One out of four bottles of sparkling wine produced in the world is consumed in Germany. Sparkling wine produced in Germany is called Sekt. Sekt can range from more affordable Sekt to premium and ultra-premium Sekt made in the méthode traditionnelle.

The Fürst von Metternich Sekts are made in the charmat method and belong to the group of Sekts in the lower price range, although there, they are top level. Fürst von Metternich Sekts are in the Euro 10 to 20 range at the retail level in Germany. For comparison, Sekt starts at Euro 3 to 5 and can go up to more than Euro 100 for ultra-premium Sekt at the retail level in Germany.

Henkell-Freixenet

Fürst von Metternichis part of the Henkell-Freixenet Group, the world's largest producer of sparkling wines.

Henkell was founded in 1832 in Mainz by Adam Henkel.

In 1986, Otto Henkell sold the company to the entrepreneur Rudolf-August Oetker.

In 2018, the Henkell Group bought the controlling stake of Cava producer Freixenet and became the world's largest sparkling wine group. This giant now has an 8% share of the global sparkling wine market.

The Henkell-Freixenet portfolio comprises a wide range of sparkling wines (as well as some still wines and distilled beverages).

Sekt: Adam Henkell, Menger-Krug, Fürst von Metternich, Deinhard, Kupferberg, Lutter & Wegner, Söhnlein Brillant, Schloss Rheinberg, Schloss Biebrich, Bohemia, Hubert, Törley, Angelli and others
Champagne: Alfred Gratien, Champagne Veuve Emille
Prosecco: Mionetto, Freixenet Prosecco
Crémant: Gratien & Meyer
Cava: Cavas Hill, Freixenet
Still wine: Schloss Johannisberg, i heart Wines, Freixenet Mederano, Freixenet Mia, Habánske Sklepy, Vino Mikulov, BB, Chapel Hill
Distilled beverage: Mangaroca Batida de Coco, Cardenal Mendoza, Fürst Bismarck, Kuemmerling, Wodka Gorbatschow, Gin Lubuski

Fürst von Metternich Sekt

The Fürst von Metternich Sekt is made at Schloss Johannisberg in the Rheingau.

Wine making in the Schloss Johannisberg vineyards started long before the castle was build, during the reign of Charlemagne. The hill became known as Johannisberg (John's mountain) in the 1100s, when a Romanesque basilica in honor of John the Baptist was built on the hill. The chateau that we see today was built in the 1700s by the Prince-Abbot of Fulda. In 1720 he planted Riesling vines, making it the oldest Riesling vineyard in the world.

Pictures: Tour and Tasting at Schloss Johannisberg, Rheingau, with Christian Witte, Domaine Director– Germany-North Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2015), Germany

For many centuries the estate was owned by the Prince-Abbot of Fulda, but changed hands several times during the Napoleonic wars and subsequent secularization.

In 1816, Austrian Emperor Francis II, gave the estate to his Foreign Minister, Fürst von Metternich, as a thank you for his successful negotiations in the reorganization of Europe during the “Congress of Vienna”.

In 1930, the prince granted the right to make Sekt from Schloss Johannisberg wines to producer Söhnlein Rheingold, which was later bought by the Oetker family.

The last resident of the Metternich family at Schloss Johannisberg, Tatjana Fürstin von Metternich, was a patron of the arts in the Rheingau and beyond and revived the castle to its former glory after the destructions during World War II. After her death in 2006, the Oetker family bought the estate

Pictures: Dinner at Restaurant Villa Merton, with 1 Star Michelin Chef André Großfeld, Frankfurt, Germany

Wintergemüse Dinner

Menu

Reception

Bread

Thunfisch Scheibe und Tatar, Schwarzwurzelsalat, Cranberries und Nüsse
Fürst von Metternich Riesling Sekt, Trocken

Gebratener Winterkabeljau, Rosenkohlblätter, Speck und Zimtschaum
Fürst von Metternich Riesling Sekt, Extra Trocken

Zitronensorbet
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Weißer Schokoladensavarin, Cassis-Feigen und Nougateis
Fürst von Metternich Spätburgunder Rosé Sekt, Trocken

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Reminder: Rhône Valley Tour by ombiasy WineTours in June 2020

March 2, 2020, 10:30 pm

≫ Next: Winemaker Dinner at Cafe Milano in Washington DC with Barone Francesco Ricasoli of Castello di Brolio and Executive Chef Franco Sangiacomo, Washington DC, USA/ Italy

≪ Previous: Dinner at Restaurant Villa Merton, with 1 Star Michelin Chef André Großfeld, Frankfurt, Germany

Pictures: At the Pont du Gard in the Southern Rhône Valley. See: Rhône Valley Tour 2018 by ombiasy WineTours: Wine, Culture and History, France

Dear wine lovers,

the world becomes more crazy as the days go on. Unfortunately the world’s largest wine fair “Prowein” taking place every year in early March in Düsseldorf, Germany, and which I was looking forward to visiting this year, has been cancelled due to the threat of spreading the Corona virus. Some people are disappointed, others think it is a very wise decision to reign in the possibility of infecting more people in order to see the light at the end of the tunnel faster.

It is so important to enjoy life and I am very much looking forward to June when I travel to the Rhône Valley with a small group. The tour is 90% full. I have one room (dbl or sgl occupancy) left, so hurry up if you want a great wine experience.

Join us as we explore in detail the wines of the Rhône Valley. We start in vibrant, cool, sophisticated Lyon, the capital of Haut Cuisine. We stop in the Northern Rhône where names such as Côte Rôtie, Crozes-Hermitage make us crave a glass of wine. We follow the eponymous Rhône river south to Avignon, the city that was the seat of the papacy for the better part of the 14th century. We spend two nights in Châteauneuf du Pape exploring the famous wines. We do a side-kick to the foot of the gorgeous Dentelles de Montmirail where we find the wines of Gigondas, Vacqueyras, Séguret, and the sweet wines of Rasteau and Baumes de Venice, and of course we visit famous Roman sites such as the Pont du Gard and the city of Arles where we also trace van Gogh’s steps. The southern Rhône belongs to Provence. Provence: this immediately ignites a deep yearning for the fragrance coming from purple Lavender fields - which are blooming at the time our tour -, for the special light the Impressionist artists masterfully captured in their paintings, for a very special "savoir vivre", and for the dark red, fruity, spicy wines.

Come with us if you want a highly professional but at the same time very personal tour where you meet winemakers, owners, vineyard managers who voluntarily answer all the questions you always had about Rhône wines.

Before I forget: The tour runs from June 08 to June 17, 2020. I meet the group in Lyon and drop you off in Avignon where you can board the non-stopTGV to catch your flight at the Paris airport.

For detailed information on the tour schedule, please check:https://ombiasypr.com/index.php/wine-tours/rhone/rhone-itinerary

For pricing and registration, please go to:https://ombiasypr.com/index.php/wine-tours/rhone/rhone-registration

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

Don’t hesitate to get in touch with me for any question you may have. I can also help securing train tickets from Paris to Lyon and from Avignon back to Paris or to other destinations you wish to travel to.

Cheers and enjoy a wonderful week-end.

Annette

Annette Schiller, Diplom-Volkswirt
ombiasy | PR
WINE tours | education | events
Washington DC - Frankfurt am Main
T: +1 (703) 459.7513
T: +49 (0) 177.337.0281
aschiller@ombiasypr.com
web: ombiasypr.com
blog: schiller-wine.blogspot.com - Finalist Millésima Blog Awards 2015
Professional Member of the American Wine Society - AWS
Founding Member of the WFK Hochheim, Wine Brotherhood of Hochheim, Rheingau, Germany

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

See also:
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

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Annual Riesling Party at the Schiller Residence in Washington DC, USA (2019)

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

↧

Winemaker Dinner at Cafe Milano in Washington DC with Barone Francesco Ricasoli of Castello di Brolio and Executive Chef Franco Sangiacomo, Washington DC, USA/ Italy

March 3, 2020, 10:30 pm

≫ Next: BEST of Lemberger - Marcus Hofschuster, Wein Plus, Germany

≪ Previous: Reminder: Rhône Valley Tour by ombiasy WineTours in June 2020

Pictures: Christian Schiller with Barone Francesco Ricasoli at Cafe Milano in Washington DC in 2020 and at Castello di Brolio in Tuscany in 2012

The charismatic Chianti Classico Producer Barone Francesco Ricasoli of Castello di Brolio was in Washington DC and I attended a winemaker dinner with him at Cafe Milano. Before taking over the kitchen of Cafe Milano, Franco Sangiacomo was the resident chef at Castello di Brolio. I visited and wrote about Castello di Brolio in 2012.

See: Visiting Barone Francesco Ricasoli and his Castello di Brolio in Chianti Classico, Italy

Invitation

Our honored guest and whom we welcome to A Night in Chianti, Baron Francesco Ricasoli is a most superb wine producer in the Chianti Classico area. Dating back to 1141, his family still owns Castello di Brolio, a storied rural castle in the beautiful hills of Gaiole in Chianti (Siena, Tuscany).

Set in the 1890s and generations prior, the legendary statesman Baron Bettino Ricasoli, Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Italy, created the Chianti formula, which we share with you on this special evening.

Pictures: Christian Schiller with Barone Francesco Ricasoli at Cafe Milano in Washington DC

Visiting Barone Francesco Ricasoli and his Castello di Brolio in Chianti Classico, Italy

Following the 2011 European Wine Bloggers Conference in Brescia, I spent 3 days in a beautiful and exciting location: In the Chianti Classico region in Tuscany, at the invitation of the Chianti Classico Consortium. We visited several wineries and tasted perhaps as many as 70 different wines from Chianti Classico producers, both big and small.

The couple of hours we spent at Barone Ricasoli Wine Estate and Castello di Brolio consisted of 2 parts: A tour of Castello di Brolio, where in 1872 the so-called Iron Baron, Bettino Ricasoli, created the original Sangiovese-based Chianti formula (blend), and a tasting of Barone Ricasoli wines with Barone Ricasoli.

Pictures: Christian G.E. Schiller with Owner Barone Francesco Ricasoli and Winemaker Massimiliano Biagi

Sienna, Florence and Chianti Classico

The Chianti Classico region covers an area of approximate 100 square miles between the city of Florence in the north and the city of Siena in the south.

Historically, the Chianti Classico zone is where the production of Chianti started. In 1716, Cosimo III de’ Medici, Grand Duke of Tuscany, issued an edict legislating that the 3 villages of the Lega del Chianti, the village of Greve and a 2 mile hillside north of Greve as the only officially recognized producers of Chianti. This delineation existed until the 1930s when the Italian Government expanded the zone. Subsequent expansions throughout the twentieth century would bring the Chianti zone to cover almost all of Tuscany. The original zone of the edict of Cosimo III de' Medici would eventually be considered the heart of the Chianti Classico region.

Pictures: Owner Barone Francesco Ricasoli and Winemaker Massimiliano Biagi

The Chianti Classico zone is a truly unending source of culture, scenery, architecture, gastronomy and wines. Here lie the lines of defense of the two Republics, Siena and Florence, which have scowled at each other through its woods and vineyards for centuries. Interspersed with the countryside are castles: some are still occupied by the noble families whose ancestors built them in the feudal middle ages; others - ruined, perhaps in battle centuries ago, and abandoned - still dominate their hilltops with proud arrogance. There are numerous hill towns and hamlets, villas and farmhouses, guarded by sentinel cypresses, by people who may make their living tending the vineyards, or have already made more than a living and have retired to beautiful old houses. Be aware that the British, German, Dutch, Swiss, French and Hong Kong have bought up much of the Tuscan landscape. They too have become wine makers with a vengeance.

Sangiovese - the Soul of Chianti

Sangiovese is the signature grape of Chianti. It is the soul of Chianti wine. The Sangiovese grape, like the Pinot Noir, is not an easy grape variety, but has the potential of producing world class wines.

Since 2006, the use of white grape varieties such as Malvasia and Trebbiano has been prohibited in Chianti Classico. The share of Sangiovese can range from 80% to up to 100%, with the remainder either other native red grapes, like Canaiolo and Colorino, or international varieties, such as Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. Wines that do not comply with these rules – of which we tasted a number during the trip - cannot be sold as Chianti Classico, though produced in the same area.

Picture: Castello di Brolio Chianti Classico Docg - The Barone Ricasoli Flagship Brand.

Barone Ricasoli Winery and Castello di Brolio

Owned by Barone Francesco Ricasoli, the 32nd-generation baron of his family, the Barone Ricasoli Winery is based in Gaiole, northeast of Siena. The Barone Ricasoli Wine Estate has 240 hectares of vineyards planted around the magnificent Castello Brolio, the castle at the heart of both the winery and property.

Castello di Brolio

Castello di Brolio was built in the eleventh century, destroyed and rebuilt several times because it is mid- way between Florence and Sienna – two powerful cities that were fighting all the time to define their border.

After the tour of the Castello di Brolio, we got to walk through the grounds of the castle. The estate is a magnificent sprawling 1,200 hectare land. The beautiful sunny day let us have a clear view of the two Towers of Sienna and the hills of Montalcino.

Pictures: Castello di Brolio

Bettino Ricasoli and the Chianti Formula

One name that comes up again and again at Castello di Brolio and the Barone Ricasoli Wine Estate is Bettina Ricasoli. Born in 1809, the “Iron Baron” was the Prime Minister of the United Italy twice, founded the newspaper “La Patria”, held the title of Gonfaloniere of Florence, was the Tuscan Minister of the Interior, started research on silk worms (thinking of an alternate industry to wine in the age of phylloxera), and is credited with establishing the original formula of Chianti wine (in 1872).

The Barone Ricasoli Wine Estate

The Barone Ricasoli Wine Estate is the oldest winery in Italy; it has a winemaking history dating back to 1141 when the Ricasoli family assumed ownership. The Ricasoli family was one the first to produce and sell wine in the region, starting in the 1500s. For many centuries, the Barone Ricasoli wine was a favorite of northern Italian royalty. More recently, it was by many called the Italian Chateau Lafite-Rothschild.

Pictures: Barone Ricasoli Wine Estate

Period of Foreign Ownership

The Barone Ricasoli Wine Estate’s history includes a recent period of 20 years, when the company was under foreign ownership. In the 1970s, the family separated the Estate into vineyards and winery/brand, and sold the latter to Seagram's. Subsequently, the Ricasoli brand went through several owners while the wines deteriorated, with some of the 1 million annual cases eventually being made in giant plastic vats. By the 1990s, Hardy's owned it, but was loosing a fortune.

Francesco Ricasoli and the Barone Ricasoli Wine Estate Today

In stepped the current Baron, Francesco Ricasoli, then a professional photographer with no wine experience. Along with some investors, the family bought the winery back in 1993. Since then, the share of the family has increased to 95%.

Francesco Ricasoli reorganized the winery under an Italian version of chapter 11 bankruptcy. He invested in replanting with a view of improving quality and drastically cut back on production and the number of labels. The current production of 2 million bottles is still a whole lot of wine but it's a far cry from the 12 million under foreign ownership.

Pictures: Barone Francesco Ricasoli

The flagship brand, Barone Ricasoli Castello di Brolio Chianti Classico DOCG, was first produced in 1997. Its 2006 vintage received Gambero Rosso’s tre bicchieri (three glasses), the highest award of the well-regarded Italian wine magazine, and was ranked #5 on the Wine Spectator’s Top 100 Wines for 2009

Pictures: Cafe Milano

Cafe Milano

Since owner Franco Nuschese blazed onto the DC dining scene over twenty-five years ago, Cafe Milano has been a power center for diplomats, politicians, journalists, broadcasters, lobbyists, entertainers, and all who enjoy fine Italian food and gracious attentive service.

Nuschese, who was born in the town of Minori on the Amalfi Coast in Italy, has been a resident of Washington, DC for more than 20 years. Nuschese first began his career in London, then in Las Vegas. During his initial tenure in Las Vegas, Nuschese managed restaurants for Caesars Place and was the assistant vice president/Europe and Middle East operations for Caesars World, Inc.

Pictures: Winemaker Dinner at Cafe Milano in Washington DC with Barone Francesco Ricasoli of Castello di Brolio and Executive Chef Franco Sangiacomo, Washington DC, USA/ Italy

In 1992, he opened Cafe Milano in Washington, DC. At Cafe Milano, guests savor genuine Italian cuisine in a setting reminiscent of a stylish Milan boutique. Framed designer scarves adorn the walls in a creative and colorful homage to Italian fashion. The ceiling gives way to coves of hand-painted murals celebrating Italian culture, including the stunning portrait of famed opera singer, Placido Domingo, in the room named in his honor.

Picture: Executive Chef Franco Sangiacomo and Lionel Richie at Cafe Milano in 2016

In 2016, Cafe Milano opened its second location at the world famous Four Seasons Hotel in Abu Dhabi, in the vibrant atmosphere of the Al Maryah Island waterfront.

During warm-weather months, the front wall of floor-to-ceiling windows open onto an outdoor sidewalk patio, adding a touch of the spirit of Italy to the Georgetown streetscape and creating one of the most sought after dining spots in Washington.

Dinner

ANTIPASTI

OLIVE, SALAME, BOMBOLONE CON SCAROLA E RICOTTA
Olives, Cured Meat Salame, Fried Donut with Escarole and Ricotta

BACCALÀ FRITTO, SALSA DI CACCIUCCO
Fried Salted Cod, Fish Soup Sauce

Chianti Classico Brolio 2015

PRIMI

STROZZAPRETI CACIO E PEPE
House-Made Saffron Strozzapreti “Cacio e Pepe Style” with Pecorino and Fresh Black Pepper Sauce

TORTELLI DI PEPOSO, SALSA DI PATATE E TARTUFO NERO
House-Made Tortelli Filled with Braised Beef, Potato Sauce, Black Truffle

Chianti Classico Gran Selezione “Castello di Brolio” 2015

SECONDO

ANATRA ARROSTO, AGLIO NERO, SALSA AL SANGIOVESE, POLENTA, PORCINI
Roasted Duck, Black Garlic, Sangiovese Wine Sauce, Polenta, Porcini Mushrooms

Colle di La’ 2015

FORMAGGIO

SELEZIONE DI FORMAGGI ITALIANIA
Selection of Italian Cheese

Casalferro 201

CAFE

Bye-bye

Many thanks Barone Francesco Ricasoli and Chef Franco Sangiacomo for a great event.

Pictures: Bye-bye

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Visiting Barone Francesco Ricasoli and his Castello di Brolio in Chianti Classico, Italy

↧

BEST of Lemberger - Marcus Hofschuster, Wein Plus, Germany

March 4, 2020, 10:00 pm

≫ Next: Tour and Family Dinner with Stefan and Heike Paeffgen, Château Le Reysse and Château Lassus, Vignobles Paeffgen, Appellation Médoc - Bordeaux Tour by ombiasy WineTours 2019, France

≪ Previous: Winemaker Dinner at Cafe Milano in Washington DC with Barone Francesco Ricasoli of Castello di Brolio and Executive Chef Franco Sangiacomo, Washington DC, USA/ Italy

Picture: Annette Schiller and Moritz Haidle, Weingut Karl Haidle. See: 2017 VDP Trade Fair Weinbörse - Vintage 2016 - in Mainz: Schiller’s Report

Marcus Hofschuster is Editor-in-Chief and Lead Taster of Wein-Plus, a leading European on-line wine guide, based in Germany. Marcus Hofschuster is the man behind the reputation that Wein-Plus has gained over the past 2 decades. All wines are tasted blind. Marcus Hofschuster uses the 100 points scale.

From time to time, Marcus Hofschuster summarizes his tasting results in a "BEST OF" list. This time, he published a list summarizing his tasting results with regard to German Lemberger, mostly from the 2018, 2017 and 2016 vintages.

Picture: Nico Rechenberg, Dirk Würtz, Weingut Balthasar Ress, Marcus Hofschuster, Wein-Plus, Armin Diel, Schlossgut Diel, Paul Truszkowski, Wine in Black, and Felix Bodman at the GG Pre-release Tasting in Wiesbaden, Germany, 2016. See: Germany’s Grosses Gewächs GG Wines Released (2015 White and 2014 Red) - Notes from the Pre-release Tasting in Wiesbaden, Germany

Lemberger is the German name of the grape called Blaufränkisch in Austria and Kékfrankos in Hungary.

It is a dark-skinned variety of grape used for red wine. It s a late-ripening variety, produces red wines which are typically rich in tannin and may exhibit a pronounced spicy character.

The grape is grown across Central Europe, including Austria, Czech Republic (in particular southern Moravia where it is known as Frankovka), Germany, Slovakia (where it is known as Frankovka modrá), Croatia, Serbia (frankovka), Slovenia (known as modra frankinja), and Italy (Franconia). In Hungary the grape is called Kékfrankos (also lit. blue Frankish) and is grown in a number of wine regions including Sopron, Villány, Szekszárd, and Eger (where it is a major ingredient in the famous red wine blend known as Egri Bikavér (lit. Bull's Blood) having largely replaced the Kadarka grape). It has been called "the Pinot noir of the East" because of its spread and reputation in Eastern Europe. In America this grape is grown in Idaho, Pennsylvania, Washington State and the Finger Lakes region of New York, where like in Germany it is also known as Lemberger, Blauer Limberger or Blue Limberger.

DNA profiling has shown that Blaufränkisch is a cross between Gouais blanc (Weißer Heunisch; male parent) and Blaue Zimmettraube (female parent; the offspring of Blauer Gänsfüsser). Historical ampelographic sources have provided very solid evidence that the geographic area of origin of the variety is Lower Styria (today Slovenian Styria).

In Germany, there are 1,729 hectares of Lemberger, primarily in the Württemberg wine region around the town of Stuttgart. The German name Lemberger derives from the fact that it was imported to Germany in the 19th century from Lemberg in Lower Styria in present-day Slovenia and then in the Austro-Hungarian Empire.

Pictures: 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

BEST of Lemberger: Vintage 2018

88WP Lassak
88WP Häder, Haidle
87WP Fellbach “Alte Reben”, Aldinger

BEST of Lemberger: Vintage 2017

92WP Mönchberg Gehrnhalde GG, Karl Haidle
92WP Herrenberg GG “Spermen R”, Seeger
91WP Mönchberg Berge GG, Karl Haidle
90WP Lämmler GG, Aldinger
90WP Lämmler GG, Heid
90WP Michaelsberg GG, Ernst Dautel
90WP Ruthe GG, Graf Neipperg
90WP Lämmler GG, Rainer Schnaitmann
90WP Altenberg, Knauß
89WP Berg GG, Jürgen Ellwanger
88WP Herzogenberg GG, Wöhrwag
88WP Goldberg, Heid
88WP Bönnigheim “Gipskeuper”, Ernst Dautel
88WP Mönchberg GG, Herzog von Württemberg
88WP Heller Berg “G”, Roth
87+WP Lassak
87WP Berg, Aldinger
87WP Nierstein, St. Antony
87WP Herzogenberg, Wöhrwag
87WP Verrenberg GG, Fürst Hohenlohe-Öhringen
87WP Stein “R”, Bürgerspital
87WP Pfaffenhofen “Felix”, Wachtstetter

Pictures: Hansjörg and Matthias Aldinger with Christian Schiller. See: See: Germany’s Best Winemakers and Wines – Vinum WeinGuide Deutschland 2018 Awards: The Award Ceremony in Mainz, Germany

Pictures: 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

BEST of Lemberger: Vintage 2016

90WP Roter Berg, Graf von Bentzel-Sturmfeder
89WP Löwenherz, G.A. Heinrich
89WP Spitzenberg GG, Wachtstetter
89WP Altenberg, Knauß
88WP Wartberg GG “Sonnenstrahl”, Kistenmacher-Hengerer
88WP Lämmler GG, Fellbacher Weingärtner
88WP Lämmler “Edition P”, Fellbacher Weingärtner
88WP Stein “R”, Bürgerspital
88WP Kiliansberg, Patrizierhof - Grebner
88WP Hohenberg “Ernst Combé”, Wachtstetter
88WP Oberer Berg GG “Der schwarze Löwe”, Graf Adelmann
87WP Schlosswengert GG, Schloßgut Hohenbeilstein
87WP Goldberg “Edition P”, Fellbacher Weingärtner
87WP Wachtkopf **, Steinbachhof
87WP Verrenberg, Fürst Hohenlohe-Öhringen
87WP Eilfingerber GG, Herzog von Württemberg
87WP Stiftsberg, Kistenmacher-Hengerer
87WP Stiftsberg “G.A.”, G.A. Heinrich
87WP Held, Gabel
87WP Wachtkopf ***, Steinbachhof
87WP Neipperg, Graf Neipperg

Picture: Ernst Dautel and Christian Schiller at Weingut Dautel

Pictures: Tasting at Weingut Dautel in Württemberg with Christian Dautel - Germany-East Wine and Art Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2015)

BEST of Lemberger: Older Vintages

89WP 2013 “Hades”, Sonnenhof
89WP 2013 “XR”, G.A. Heinrich
88WP 2015 2015 “Vinitiative”, Lauffener Weingärtner
88WP 2015 “Felsen”, Kusterer
87WP 2015 Wachtkopf “S”, Sonnenhof
87WP 2015 “Steillage”, Kusterer
87WP 2015 Wanne “SL”, Bernhard Ellwanger

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