The Nahe Valley portion of the 2017 Germany-North Tour by ombiasy WineTours comprised:
Tasting at Weingut Emrich-Schoenleber in Monzingen, Nahe, with Frank Schönleber
Wine-pairing Lunch at Landgasthof Zur Traube in Meddersheim, Nahe, with Petra Hexamer and the Wines of Weingut Hexamer.
Dinner with Wine Pairing the Restaurant of Weingut Kruger-Rumpf in Münster-Sarmsheim, Nahe, with Cornelia, Stefan and Georg Rumpf.
At Weingut Emrich-Schoenleber in Monzingen, Frank Schönleber was our host.
Weingut Emrich-Schönleber
The first mentioning of winegrowing in the Schönleber family dates back to the mid-18th century. Today the estate has 20.4 hectares of vineyards and 85% is planted with Riesling. Monzingen is located in the western fringes of the Nahe winegrowing area, with vineyards situated between 160 to 250 metres above sea level, and protected from the north by the Soonwald forest. Werner Schönleber’s rigorous quality control brought the winery to the upper echelon in Germany and beyond.
Werner and son Frank’s philosophy of winemaking says it all: “It is up to us to nurture both soil and vine. We are very careful to ensure that these two elements are healthy and in mutual balance - that is, most importantly, that the yield of the vines is in harmony with the water and nutrients available in the soil. We tend assiduously to each individual vine by hand. In doing so, we can control yields and ensure that the foliage on each vine is always well aerated. This allows the grapes to remain healthy for longer and to be picked late in the harvest at optimum ripeness. Only the minimum of nutrients is drawn from the soil. Except for the juice in the grapes, we ultimately return all the natural goodness back into the vineyard where it belongs. We generally fertilize with good-quality, home-made compost where necessary.”
Vineyards
Total: 20.4 hectares
Varieties: 86% Riesling, 7% Grauburgunder, 5% Weißburgunder, 2% Müller-Thurgau
Production: ca. 130,000 bottles/year
9.0 ha FRÜHLINGSPLÄTZCHEN, Monzingen | VDP.GROSSE LAGE
5.5 ha HALENBERG, Monzingen | VDP. GROSSE LAGE
0.7 ha AUF DER LEY, Monzingen | VDP. GROSSE LAGE
2.8 ha Monzingen | VDP.Ortswein
2.4 ha VDP. Gutswein
Monzinger Frühlingsplätzchen: The Frühlingsplätzchen vineyard has a southwest-to-southeast exposure. At its steepest point, it has a 70% incline. It is little wonder therefore that the winter snows melt the fastest and that spring awakens particularly early in this vineyard. Its soils mostly consist of red slate and gravel, frequently interspersed with the red-coloured loam referred to as Rotliegend. Even at a young age, Frühlingsplätzchen will seduce you with its playful, spring-like fruit character. Its aromas are often redolent of peach and ripe apple, while fine herbal notes also tend to emerge. A few years of cellaring will lend a more pronounced minerally quality that makes Frühlingsplätzchen wines increasingly electrifying with age.
Monzinger Halenberg: Monzingen's smallest vineyard is planted exclusively with Riesling vines, most of which belong to us. Facing south with gradients of up to 70%, Halenberg has stony blue slate and quartzite soils that put our vines through their paces - making them struggle in the summer for every drop of water. As a result, the grapes in this vineyard stay smaller and develop an especially exquisite aroma. Halenberg has an inherent, finely structured, minerally saltiness. It often reveals aromas reminiscent of ripe grapefruit and other exotic fruits. After a little ageing, it takes on its characteristically spicy, herbal personality.
Monzinger Auf der Ley: This vineyard plot is situated above Halenberg. Gravel is the dominating feature of its soil, in addition to slate. The average incline is 50%. Strong thermals mean that the vineyard is very warm despite its lofty perch. Wines from this site have cool, stony characteristics. Auf der Ley is our most austere wine – but it also has the strongest personality. To a certain extent, it marries the finesse and elegance of Frühlingsplätzchen with the minerally intensity of Halenberg. Only after a number of years does it begin to show its true stature.
The Wines we Tasted
2016 Weingut Emrich-Schönleber Weissburgunder S trocken
2015 Weingut Emrich-Schönleber Grauburgunder S trocken
2016 Weingut Emrich-Schönleber Riesling trocken
2016 Weingut Emrich-Schönleber Lenz Riesling trocken
2016 Weingut Emrich-Schönleber Mineral Riesling trocken
2015 Weingut Emrich-Schönleber Frühtau Monzinger Riesling trocken
2014 Weingut Emrich-Schönleber Halgans Monzinger Riesling trocken
2016 Weingut Emrich-Schönleber Halgans Monzinger Riesling trocken
2010 Weingut Emrich-Schönleber Halgans Monzinger Riesling trocken
2016 Weingut Emrich-Schönleber Frühlingsplätzchen Riesling GG VDP.Grosse Lage
2016 Weingut Emrich-Schönleber Halenberg Riesling GG VDP.Grosse Lage
2010 Weingut Emrich-Schönleber Halenberg Riesling GG VDP.Grosse Lage
2012 Weingut Emrich-Schönleber Frühlingsplätzchen Riesling Spätlese VDP.Grosse Lage
2014 Weingut Emrich-Schönleber Halenberg Riesling Spätlese VDP.Grosse Lage
2015 Weingut Emrich-Schönleber Halenberg Riesling Auslese VDP.Grosse Lage
Bye-bye
Thanks Frank for an outstanding tasting.
Postings: Germany-North Tour 2017 by ombiasy WineTours: Quintessential German Riesling and the Northernmost Pinot Noir (Posted and Forthcoming)
Germany-North Tour 2017 by ombiasy WineTours: Quintessential German Riesling and the Northernmost Pinot Noir
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Vineyard Tour, Cellar Tour and Tasting at Weingut Heymann-Löwenstein in Winningen, Mosel, with Reinhard Löwenstein - Germany-North Tour 2017 by ombiasy WineTours
Tasting at Weingut H.J. Kreuzberg in Dernau, Ahr, with Technical Director Albert Schamaun– Germany-North Tour by ombiasy WineTours 2017
Cellar Tour and Tasting at Weingut Jean Stodden, Ahr, with Alexander Stodden - Germany-North Tour 2017 by ombiasy WineTours
Tasting with Markus Molitor at Weingut Markus Molitor in Haus Klosterberg, Mosel - Germany-North Tour 2017 by ombiasy WineTours
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Dinner at Restaurant Schanz, 2 Stars Michelin, Piesport, Mosel– Germany-North Tour 2016 by ombiasy WineTours
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Cellar Visit, Vineyard Walk and Tasting at Weingut Maximin Grünhaus in Mertersdorf, Ruwer, with Owner Dr. Carl von Schubert – Germany-North Tour 2016 by ombiasy WineTours
Cellar Tour and Tasting at Weingut von Hövel, Saar, with Owner/ Winemaker Maximilian von Kunow - Germany-North Tour 2017 by ombiasy WineTours
Tasting at Weingut Emrich-Schoenleber (VDP) in Monzingen, Nahe, with Frank Schönleber
Wine-pairing Lunch at Landgasthof Zur Traube in Meddersheim, Nahe, with Petra Hexamer and the wines of Weingut Hexamer.
Dinner with Wine Pairing the Restaurant of Weingut Kruger-Rumpf in Münster-Sarmsheim, Nahe, with Corenlia, Stefan and Georg Rumpf
Tasting at Weingut J.B. Becker, in Walluf, Rheingau, with Hajo Becker