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.
Recently, Marcus Hofschuster summarized his tasting results during the past 12 months by releasing a list of "Kollektionen und Entdeckungen des Jahre"/ "Best Collections and Discoveries of the Year" in the 13 German wine regions.
He provided short comments on the winners, which I translated into English.
Collections and Discoveries of the Year (Tasting Season 2018/2019)
Marcus Hofschuster: The "Collection of the Year" title is no longer awarded to the winemaker who produces the best of wines in the region. This has led to many repetitions in the past and both the readers and the producers themselves slowly and understandably lost interest in their recurring titles. Today, we give this award to winemakers who produce at the highest quality level and have duringt the past 12 months attracted our attention with their wine portfolio.
The "Discovery of the Year" is awarded to those wineries that have recently caught our eye in the respective area due to the greatest leap in quality and that we can only recommend to every wine lover who wants to get to know the new, not yet well-known top winegrowers.
The Winners (2018/2019)
Ahr
Collection of the Year: Weingut Meyer-Näkel
It is always the finesse that distinguishes very good from first class wines. In the Spätburgunder wines of Dörte and Meike Näkel we discover, in addition to the usual force and substance, subtleties as they are not often found in the Ahr valley.
Baden
Collection of the Year: Weingut Berhard Huber
Everything has changed here - and yet nothing. Julian Huber did not have much time to accept a legacy that was almost larger than life: to guarantee the best Spätburgunder and Chardonnays in the country. It was not too big for him.
Discovery of the Year: Weingut Claus Schneider
A winery that every Burgundian friend should discover, even if he or she has to make a pilgrimage to the south-western corner of Germany: Whether red or white, everything is right from the base to the top. And: do not forget the Gutedel!
Franken
Collection of the Year: Bürgerspital zum Hl. Geist
So independent, full of character and finesse we have not yet experienced the wines of the Bürgerspital. It took a decade, now Robert Halle has made it: the winery is back at the top of Franconia. One can assume that it stays there.
Discovery of the Year: Weingut Stefan Bardorf
So far, the winery has been known for its noble sweet wines. In 2015, Stefan Bardorf has started to convert to organic farming and the quality of dry wines has risen dramatically. Randersacker is not short of premium producers. Now it is even less short.
Mosel
Collection of the Year: Weingut Nik Weis - Sankt-Urbans-Hof
Top quality in a bandwidth that you rarely experience. From the Saar to the Middle Mosel, from dry to noble sweet, whether base or noble sweet rarity: Nik Weis presented this year a flawless series.
Nahe
Collection of the Year: Weingut Dönnhoff
Helmut and Cornelius Dönnhoff are representatives of the softer voices in the German wine world, and this is also reflected in their wines, which need time and attention if you want to experience what they are made of. You do not find this combination of inner peace, depth and complexity often in the world. 2017 may be the most beautiful collection of Dönnhoff wines(you do not want to say it differently that we have seen here so far. It is already hard to stop with the sweet-style wines. The series (dry) Grands Crus then makes you speechless.
Discovery of the Year: Weingut Göttelmann
Götz Blessing's wines are more of a rediscovery. Weingut Göttelmann is rarely mentioned when it comes to the wines of the Nahe. Given his current collection, one wonders why. Here you can buy blind, especially since the increase in prices has not kept up with the impressive increase in quality.
Pfalz
Collection of the Year: Weingut Geheimer Rat Dr. v. Bassermann-Jordan
Under Ulrich Mell and Gunther Hauck, Bassermann-Jordan has long been known for top quality. In an area where there is no shortage of first-class producers, the estate stands out above all for its stability. This is all the more astonishing as it offers an enormous range of varieties and styles. Everything is perfect here.
Discovery of the Year: Weingut Martin Georg Fußer
For some time already you hear good things about the wines of the young, now completely organic winery. 2017 is another big leap for the Fußer brothers. Especially the dry Rieslings have become very good.
Rheingau
Collection of the Year: Wein- und Sektgut Barth
Under Mark Barth, the 20-hectare estate has become one of the absolute top producers in the Rheingau. This is not only due to the dry Rieslings, which year after year belong to the best Rieslngs of the region, but also to the high quality of Sekts produced by Barth.
Rheinhessen
Collection of the Year: Weingut Keller
Klaus Peter Keller probably does not know where to put all his awards. One can only say that it is his own fault. There is just no way to leave him out when it comes to awards. More does not seem possible. Even the simple basic wines are already extremely good; and the grand cru dry Rieslings have reached the limit that seems possible.
Discovery of the Year: Weingut Hofmann
Not only because of the consistently first-class dry Rieslings, it is worth to discover this estate. Also the Silvaners and Burgundies convince. And of course the Sauvignons, the house specialty.
Württemberg
Collection of the Year: Weingut Knauß
It is not so long ago that Knaus was our discovery of the year. In the meantime, the estate has made it to the top of Württemberg. Andreas Knaus does not only produce some of the most elegant and finest red wines in the country, the whites are also often outstanding - and that across all grape varieties. And do not make the mistake of overlooking the excellent Sekts!
Discovery of the Year: Weingut G. A. Heinrich
The red wines have always been good here, but in the last years have improved further in terms of fineness and polish. The "Dieb" (formerly: "Wollendieb") has become one of the best red wine cuvées in the country - and not just in the region. Since the whites have also gained noticeable in recent years, it is high time to rediscover the winery!
schiller-wine: Related Postings
Announcement: ombiasy WineTours in 2019 - Germany-North and Bordeaux
Ombiasy Wine Tours 2018: 3 x France and 3 x Germany - Ombiasy Newsletter December 2017
UPCOMING Tours/ Wine Dinners/ Tastings - Annette and Christian Schiller/ ombiasyPR & WineTours/ schiller-wine, Germany, France, USA (Issued: June 3, 2019)
Reminder: Ombiasy Wine Tour to Bordeaux: September 03 - September 12, 2019
Vineyard Walk and Tasting at Weingut Meyer-Näkel in Dernau, Ahr, with Dörte Näkel– Germany-North Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2015)
Wine Tasting at Weingut Bernhard Huber– Germany-South Wine Tour by ombiasy (2014)
Tasting at Weingut Bernhard Huber in Baden, with Yquem Viehauser and Julian Huber – Germany-South Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2015)
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)
Schiller’s Favorites: 2 Legendary Wine Taverns in Würzburg– Juliusspital and Bürgerspital
Tasting at Weingut St. Urbans-Hof in Leiwen, Mosel, with Nik Weis – Germany-North Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2015)
Rieslingfeier 2018 in New York City: Gränd Tasting and Gala Dinner
Attending the 2019 VDP.Weinbörse - Vintage 2018 - in Mainz - Germany-North Tour 2019 by ombiasy WineTours: Quintessential Riesling
An Afternoon with Riesling Star Winemaker Helmut Doennhoff at Weingut Doennhoff in Oberhausen in the Nahe Valley, Germany
Germany-North Tour 2019 by ombiasy WineTours: Quintessential Riesling
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)
Tour and Wine Tasting with Lunch, with Mark Barth at Wein- und Sektgut Barth in Hattenheim, Rheingau– Germany-North Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2015)
A German Riesling Feast in New York City: Rieslingfeier 2015, USA
Slate meets Limestone (Schiefer trifft Muschelkalk): Weingut Hofmann in Rheinhessen and Weingut WillemsWillems in the Saar, Germany