Deutsche Vita
This set was selected by wine educator Vasily Raskov, DipWSET, for his online course "Deutsche Vita".
The Rieslings from these three outstanding wineries in Mosel, Rheingau and Pfalz provide not only hedonistic pleasure, but also a better understanding of key subjects of German winemaking.
How slate and loess, quartzite and muschelkalk work differently. What the Rhine Massif and the Rhine Graben are. How the German classification from village wine to «grand cru» is organized. How different winemaking and viticultural practices influence wine style.
Karthäuserhof, Schieferkristall Riesling Kabinett Trocken 2020
Matthew Kaufmann, the legendary chef-de-cave of Bollinger, who has had a fundamental influence on the German Sekt as keller-master of Von Buhl, is now taking Karthäuserhof wines to the next level. The winery's only vineyard is Karthäuserhofberg Grosse Lage from which they make all three of their Rieslings. Schieferkristall for me is an example of a crystal clear, joyful, cool Riesling from Devon blue slate.
Balthasar Ress, Hallgartener Hendelberg Riesling Erste Lage 2022
The Ress family has been involved in the entire transformation of the Rheingau since 1870 and has grown from a "vineyard by the inn" to 55 hectares of oragnic vineyards in Rüdesheim, Oestrich, Hattenheim and Hallgarten. The latter is the coolest. Hendelberg Erste Lage is located beneath the Taunus mauntains, which helps preserve acidity in the era of global warming. The soils are quartzite, shale, and loess. Resses are known for slow spontaneous fermentation, long aging on the lees, textural, full-bodied style.
Karl Schaefer, Ungsteiner Weilberg Riesling Grosses Gewächs 2019
Karl Schaefer was one of the founders of the Verein der Naturweinversteigererer der Rheinpfalz (forerunner of the VDP) in the fabled year 1908. Today the winery is run by his great-granddaughter Nana von Nell. Most of the family's vineyards are located between Kalstadt and Bad Dürkheim in the Grosse Lagen sites. Weilberg GG is red, iron-rich loam on limestone. It gives an iridescent palette of fruit and spice with a mineral backbone.
