The new Gault Millau WeinGuide Deutschland – for 2017 – was published earlier this month. It reviews on about 1000 pages more than 11.500 wines of 1000 wineries. Its rating symbol is a grape and Germany’s best winemakers are awarded one to five grapes.
Ever since 1994, the Gault Millau WeinGuide Deutschland has honored outstanding personalities of the German wine world and special wines. This year, unfortunately I was unable to participate in the book release event in Mainz, Germany, where Editor-in-Chief Joel B. Payne and his team of reviewers presented the awards.
In addition to this posting, I will also post about the following:
Promotions in the Gault Millau WeinGuide Deutschland 2017
Germany’s Top Winemakers (With 5/5 Grapes) - Gault Millau WeinGuide Deutschland 2017
Winemaker of the Year - Gault Millau WeinGuide Deutschland 2017: Hans-Joachim Zilliken and Dorothee Zilliken, Weingut Zilliken
Germany’s Best Winemakers and Wines – Gault Millau WeinGuide Deutschland 2017 Awards
AWARDS
Winemaker of the Year: Hans-Joachim Zilliken and Dorothee Zilliken, Weingut Zilliken
Mosel
11 hectares
5/5 Grapes Gault Millau
VDP
Hanno Zilliken is a living legend in the Saar. Taking over the estate with the baroque, botrytis-inflected 1976 vintage, the wines of Zilliken have epitomized the lightness and elegance of Saar Riesling for well over 30 years. The 1983s are masterpieces of this complex vintage, the 1990s and 1997s remain young and fresh. There are many who feel the 2005 vintage marked Hanno’s crowning achievement; this is a legendary collection. Yet, the best of Zilliken may still be to come; Hanno’s daughter, Dorothee, has been working with her father since 2007 and is in a great position to continue the estate.
Joel B. Payne: An impressive cellar with nearly 100 percent humidity, perfectly maintained wooden barrels, in which the most brilliant of all Saar wines are made. Hanno Zilliken, assisted by his daughter Dorothee, produces sleek, radiantly clear Rieslings from the wines in the liter bottle to his noble sweet gems. His wines are truly timeless, far from any fashion!
We visited Weingut Zilliken earlier this year on the Germany-North Tour 2016 by ombiasy WineTours. See: Germany-North Tour 2016 by ombiasy WineTours: Quintessential German Riesling and the Northernmost Pinot Noir
Collection of the Year: Weingut Geheimer Rat Dr. von Bassermann-Jordan
Pfalz
50 hectares
4/5 Grapes Gault Millau
VDP
Joel B. Payne: We were incredibly surprised by the recent development at this prestigious winery. Kellermeister Ulrich Mell had already pointed out a new direction with the previous year, but with the 2015 he probably produced the best vintage of his life. This applies both to the ultra-premium dry GG wines and the outstanding noble-sweet wines.
We visited Weingut Geheimer Rat Dr. von Bassermann-Jordan on the Germany-South Tour 2014 by ombiasy WineTours. 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)
Rising Star of the Year: Weingut Jakob Schneider
Nahe
20 hectares
4/5 Grapes Gault Millau
Joel B. Payne: Since Jakob Schneider jun joined the winery of his parents in the Nahe region, the winery is moving one success to another. A number of the best Nahe vineyards and 52 different rock formations form the basis for the wonderfully expressive wines of the winery. From the simplest wine to the breathtaking ultra-premium wines, every wine has a touch of flavor, spiciness and juiciness. All this at very fair prices.
Discovery of the Year : Julia Bertram, Weingut Bertram
Ahr
2 hectares
0/5 Grapes Gault Millau
Joel B. Payne: Julia Bertram, born in 1989, was the German Wine Queen a few years ago. She now shows with her own vineyard that she knows not only theory, but can also make great wine. 2013 was her first vintage with a small production. And already with the next vintage she shows her huge talent.
I know Julia Betram very well from teh days when she was German Wine Queen. See: The 31-Days-of-German-Riesling Concert Cruise Around New York Harbor with the German Wine Queen Julia Bertram and the 3 Wine Amazones Tina Huff, Eva Vollmer and Mirjam Schneider from Mainz, Germany
Sommelier of the Year: Marco Franzelin, Vendôme in Bergisch Gladbach
BEST WINES
Best Winzersekt Brut: 2005 Blanc et Noir, Sekthaus Raumland (Rheinhessen)
Best Spätburgunder: 2014 »RdP«, Weingut Knipser (Pfalz)
Best Weißer Burgunder (Pinot Blanc): 2015 Chardonnay »R«, Weingut Ökonomierat Rebholz (Pfalz)
We visited Weingut Ökonomierat Rebholz on the Germany-South Tour 2014 by ombiasy WineTours. See: Tasting at Weingut Ökonomierat Rebholz in Siebeldingen, Pfalz – Germany-South by ombiasy WineTours (2015)
Best Dry Silvaner: 2015 Rothlauf Großes Gewächs, Weingut Rudolf May (Franken)
Best Dry Riesling: 2015 Morstein »Großes Gewächs«, Weingut Keller (Rheinhessen)
Best Riesling feinherb: 2015 Domprobst Alte Reben, Weingut Selbach-Oster (Mosel)
We visited Weingut Ökonomierat Rebholz on the Germany-North Tour 2014 by ombiasy WineTours. See: Cellar Tour and Wine Tasting at Weingut Selbach-Oster in Zeltingen, Mosel, with Johannes Selbach – Germany-North Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2014)
Best Riesling Kabinett: 2015 Saarburger Rausch, Dorothee Zilliken (Saar)
Best Riesling Spätlese: 2015 Trittenheimer Apotheke Alte Reben, Franz Josef Eifel (Mosel)
Best Riesling Auslese: 2015 Saarburger Rausch Goldkapsel –4–, Dorothee Zilliken (Saar)
Best Nobelsweet Riesling: 2015 Pettenthal TBA lange Goldkapsel, Weingut Keller (Rheinhessen)
schiller-wine - Related Postings
Germany-North Tour 2016 by ombiasy WineTours: Quintessential German Riesling and the Northernmost Pinot Noir
Heads up for the 2017 Tours - to Germany and France - by ombiasy WineTours
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)
The 31-Days-of-German-Riesling Concert Cruise Around New York Harbor with the German Wine Queen Julia Bertram and the 3 Wine Amazones Tina Huff, Eva Vollmer and Mirjam Schneider from Mainz, Germany
Cellar Tour and Wine Tasting at Weingut Selbach-Oster in Zeltingen, Mosel, with Johannes Selbach – Germany-North Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2014)
Tasting at Weingut Ökonomierat Rebholz in Siebeldingen, Pfalz – Germany-South by ombiasy WineTours (2015)