Caroline and Armin Diel presented their new wines, followed by a fine luncheon, at Schlossgut Diel to 50 or so wine journalists, sommeliers and trade people. A reception in the garden of the estate preceded the tasting. Following the tasting and before the luncheon, Armin Diel showed us the Schlossgut Diel estate. Monika Diel (wife of Armin) and Silvain Taurisson Diel (husband of Caroline) led the kitchen grew and prepared a first class lunch, fitting the first class Diel wines. As usual, the presentation also included the wines of a guest winery; this year, it was Domaine Robert Chevillon from Nuits-Saint-Georges in the Bourgogne.
Also present were Caroline and Armin’s team, including Christoph Friedrich, who has been oenologist at Schlossgut Diel for the past 16 years, and Nathan Pettett, from Long Shadows Vintners in Washington State, were the Riesling Poet’s Leap is produced in a joint venture between Long Shadows Vintners and Schlossgut Diel.
See also:
Caroline and Armin Diel, Schlossgut Diel (Nahe Valley), Presented their New Wines (Vintage 2012), Germany
Visiting Armin and Caroline Diel and their Schlossgut Diel in Burg Layen in Germany
President Obama Serves a “German” Riesling at State Dinner for Chinese President Hu Jintao
Visiting Long Shadows Vintners in Walla Walla, Washington State - Where Armin Diel’s Poet’s Leap Riesling is Made, USA
Terry Theise: German 2013 Vintage Wines - Highlights and Superlatives, Germany
Schlossgut Diel
Schlossgut Diel is one of Germany’s leading wine producers. In the US, it is imported by Terry Theise (Michael Skurnik Collection).
Schlossgut Diel is in the town of Rümmelsheim in the Nahe Valley. The old buildings of Schlossgut Diel comprise a tower and the walled remnants of castle Burg Layen. It was built prior to 1200 and changed hands numerous times. Over the course of time, three castle buildings were erected in the location, with different aristocratic owners, and with extensive holdings of vineyards and agricultural land. The Schlossgut in its present form was purchased by a forefather of Caroline and Armin Diel, in 1802, after the family had already leased the land for several decades. From 1792 to 1796 Napoleons troops conquered German territory on the left bank of the Rhine declaring it French.
The vineyard area is 22 hectares and annual production 13,000 cases. Grape Varieties: 65% Riesling, 20% Grauburgunder, 10% Spätburgunder, 5% Weissburgunder. Bottle-fermented (and hand-riddled) sparkling wines are also produced.
Schlossgut Diel is a member of the VDP. In terms of sales, Schlossgut Diel sells 25% to private clients, 25% to fine restaurants, 25% to the German wine trade and 25% is exported.
Caroline Diel
Caroline conducted the wine tasting. She told me at an earlier occasion that she spent the last 2 high school years in a boarding school in California, south of San Francisco. Initially, Caroline wanted to study hotel management but ended up going to the famous Geisenheim college and study winemaking. She also interned quite a bit and at well-known wineries, for almost a decade: In 1998 for 3 months at Chateau Pichon-Lalande in Bordeaux; then at the German Weingueter Jost (Mittelrhein) and von Winningen (Pfalz); then at the Champagne House Ruinart; in 2004 in South Africa at Vergelegen and at Romanee Conti in the Bourgogne; in 2004, after she got her Diploma at Long Shadow Vintners in Walla Walla in Washington State, where Diel’s Poet’s Leap Riesling is being made; for a whole year at Schloss Halbturn in the Burgenland in Austria and finally at Rippon Vineyard in New Zealand. With this huge experience, she returned home to make wine at Schlossgut Diel. For a number of years now, Caroline has been in charge of the wines of Schlossgut Diel.
Caroline is married (to Sylvain Taurisson Diel, a Frenchman) and is the proud mother of 3 little children.
Armin Diel
Armin welcomed the guests, but let Caroline talk when it came to the wines. Armin Diel took over the estate from his father in 1987. A few years ago, he handed over to his daughter Caroline. Her brother Victor is working on the marketing side, based in Hamburg in the northern part of Germany.
Armin Diel carries several hats. First, he is the senior boss of Schlossgut Diel. Second, he is VDP President of the Nahe region. Third, until very recently he was the co-editor, jointly with Joel B. Payne of the Gault Millau WeinGuide, Germany’s leading wine guide. Fourth, more generally, Armin Diel has built up a reputation as gastronomic and wine journalist since the early 1980’s, and is a member of numerous national and international tasting panels. He has moderated gastronomic TV series, written accompanying books and accompanied culinary wine tours.
Reception
Sekt, Cuvee Mo
Gerstl: Pinot Noir und Pinot Blanc. In 10–20 Jahre alten Barriques vergoren, 6 Monate im Fass auf der Hefe gereift, 61 Monate Hefelager, unfiltriert abgestochen und auf die Flasche gezogen, brut nature, null Dosage. Dieser Duft betört die Nase, erinnert mich mit seinen nussigen Aromen stark an Krug (ich hatte im Januar in Davos das Vergnügen einer ausgiebigen Krug-Probe, bei der alles dabei war bis zum Clos du Mesnil). Ich gebe zu, nicht der grosse ChampagnerKenner zu sein, aber dieser Sekt von Diel begeistert mich restlos, er übertrifft an Feinheit die meisten Champagner, die ich kenne. Was für ein köstliches Aromenbündel, die Extraktsüsse ist ein Traum, kommt noch schöner zur Geltung als bei einem Sekt mit Dosage. 19+/20
Terry Theise: This is quite an achievement, and I don’t remember a more ambitious sparkling German wine. Named for Armin’s lovely wife Monika, it’s 70-30 PN-P-Blanc, disgorged 1/11, and if you can imagine Krug minus the chalk and Meunier, you can imagine this singular and striking wine, all the way to its impeccable integration of wood, and the masculine birch-smoke finish. It trumps many zero-dosage Champagnes, in fact (having exactly 0.8g RS), and I can’t recall another thing like it.
Portfolio Presentation: 4 Rieslings and 3 Pinots
2013 Eierfels Riesling
50% Goldloch, 50% Burgberg, made from the best grapes of these vineyards that did not go into the Grosses Gewaechs wines, kind of a second wine, fermented and aged in a (large) “Stueckfass”, mineral notes and excellent fruit.
2013 Pittermännchen Riesling GG
A lot of cassis notes that hang on for a long time. This year, the Pittermännchen is the most powerful of the GGs.
Terry Theise: Schlossgut Diel owns 2,5 acres (1 ha) of this prestigious site, making it the smallest member in the exclusive circle of top vineyards of the estate. The name dates back to the 16th century when a Pittermännchen was a small silver coin and implies that the wines made here were significant in value. The soil of the southward aligned site consists of slate with a lots of quartzite and gravel.
Caroline: 2013 was a vintage with relatively high acidity. Thus, there was an argument to counter the acidity with higher remaining sweetness. We at Schlossgut Diel did not go this route. We prefer less remaini sweetness in the 2013 Rieslings to keep the mineral, earthy notes. All our wines are in the 2 to 4 grams remaining sweetness range.
2013 Goldloch Riesling GG
Still closed. Needs air and time to open up. Lots of mineral, earthy, smoky notes.
Terry Theise: Goldloch - With nearly ten acres (4 ha) Schlossgut Diel is by far the largest owner of this legendary steep site. One explanation of the name is that miners searched for gold here in the 17th century. Another is that the wines made from this site are worth their weight in gold. The key to success is in the soil. A thin layer of clay over bedrock provides power, elegance and depth to the wines.
2013 Burgberg Riesling GG
Terry Theise: Burgberg - Since 1997 Schlossgut Diel has owned 4.3 acres (1.8 ha) exactly half of the surface of this unique steep vineyard site with its excellent microclimate. The name Burgberg refers to the castle Burg Layen. It emphasis on the particularity of the area. The clay soil with its slate and gravel deposits sets the stage for the production of elegant Riesling wines with both finesse and aging potential.
2013 Pinot Blanc Reserve
Bourgogne wines have established themselves as an important component of the Diel wine portfolio. Over the years, the barrique share has increased and the “Stueckfass” share decreased. Recently, there is a trend towards used barrique. Caroline: I try not to overpower the raciness and the minerality of the Pinot with too much wood. 3000 to 4000 bottles. Rarity.
2013 Cuvee Victor
This is a blend of Pinot Gris (30%) and Pinot Blanc (70%). The breakthrough of this wine was in 1990, when it was served in First Class of Lufthansa. Aged in old “Stueckfass”. Again, Caroline was talking about moving away from barrique. 3000 to 4000 bottles. Rarity.
2012 Pinot Noir Caroline
Caroline explained that this is a “back to the roots”, “minimal intervention” wine. Even the pressing was done by feet. No new wood. “Pure fruit approach” as Caroline said. The grapes were very small in 2012. Spontaneous fermentation in large Bourgogne barrels. Unfiltered.
Poet’s Leap Riesling from Washington State
The Diels not only make wine in the Nahe Valley, but also in Washington State: The Poet’s Leap Riesling is one of the best American Rieslings currently on the market produced in a joint venture at Long Shadows Vintners in Walla Walla in Washington State. Long Shadows in Walla Walla has become, in a short time, one of the premier wineries in Washington State.
Picture: The Poet's Leap Wines
Picture: Christian G.E.Schiller with Gilles Nicault at Long Shadows Vintners in Walla Walla It is an unusual set up: Former Simson-Lane CEO Allen Shoup works with renowned winemakers from around the world for this venture. Each winemaker produces a single wine using Washington State fruit and resident winemaker Gilles Nicault assists them to shepherd all of the wines along at Long Shadows in Walla Walla.
See also:
Visiting Long Shadows Vintners in Walla Walla, Washington State - Where Armin Diel’s Poet’s Leap Riesling is Made, USA
President Obama Serves a “German” Riesling at State Dinner for Chinese President Hu Jintao
4 Premiers Crus of Domaine Robert Chevillon
Wine Cellar Tour
Luncheon
2013 Schlossgut Diel, Riesling Kabinett, with an Asian Salad
2011 Goldloch Riesling GG, with Tafelspitz
1996 Chateau Batailley, Pauillac, with Cheese
2007 Schlossgut Diel Dorsheimer Pittermännchen Riesling Auslese, with the Dessert
Thanks Monika, Caroline, Armin and Silvain
Schiller Wine - Related Postings
Visiting Armin and Caroline Diel and their Schlossgut Diel in Burg Layen in Germany
Caroline and Armin Diel, Schlossgut Diel (Nahe Valley), Presented their New Wines (Vintage 2012), Germany
Visiting Armin and Caroline Diel and their Schlossgut Diel in Burg Layen in Germany
President Obama Serves a “German” Riesling at State Dinner for Chinese President Hu Jintao
Visiting Long Shadows Vintners in Walla Walla, Washington State - Where Armin Diel’s Poet’s Leap Riesling is Made, USA
Terry Theise: German 2013 Vintage Wines - Highlights and Superlatives, Germany
3 Wine Tours by ombiasy Coming up in 2014: Germany-North, Germany-South and Bordeaux
German Wine and Culture Tour by ombiasy, 2013