German Wine Presentation Chambers & Chambers Sales Meeting July 8, 2011
RHEINGAU THE BIRTH PLACE OF THE NOBLE RIESLING GRAPE VARIETY
HOCHHEIM: THE FIRST REFERENCE TO RIESLING IS FOUND HERE IN 1435!
Robert Weil Established in 1875 and now run by the 4 th generation. Riesling (99%) and Spatburgunder (1%) are grown on the 73 hectare estate. Kiedrich Klosterberg All vineyards have southwest facing slopes for the best exposure. Stony soils allow the roots to grow deep and water retaining top soil allows for even water supply during the summer. Kiedrich Gräfenberg Klosterberg and Turmberg are Erste Lagen(1er Cru) Grafenberg is Gross Lagen (Grand Cru) Kiedrich Trumberg
Robert Weil Turmberg = Tower on the Hill, named after the 10 th century tower, still visable today. Turmberg is a monopole,only 3.8 hectares, owned solely by the Weil Estate. Turmberg is composed of steep, slaty crag. It is stony and a mixture of phyllite, loam and loess, giving a fine, mineral rich character to the wines.
Robert Weil Grafenberg is the Gross Lagen vineyard of the estate. The very best! Grafenberg is the only sight in the world to make each pradikat level every year since 1989! Grafenberg is made of deep to medium deep, stony, phyllite rich soil, mixed with loam and loess. Kiedrich Grafenberg
Robert Weil Vines up to 50 years old on average. 5000-6000 vines per hectare. Organic fertilizers only are used. Cover crops are used to build up humus and hold in water during the warm months. Stringent pruning, thinning after blossom, canopy management and green harvest are all practiced as needed.
Robert Weil Juice is fermented in either stainless steel or traditional oak stucks, depending on the juice. Temperature controlled fermentations last 6-12 weeks and are stopped by temperature control at the desired sweetness level. Batonnage is practiced to broaden the flavor profile as well as add depth to the texture of the wines.
Robert Weil Press Gault Millau 2010: Once again, Weingut Robert Weil received the top ranking of five grape clusters making them 1 of the world s best producers. Der Feinschmecker/Wein 2010: Weingut Robert Weil once again receives the highest rating possible (5 F s) as one of the best wine producers world wide. Eichelmann Deutschlands Weine 2010: During the past decade, no one else has done so much for the reputation of Rheingau wines and for the renown of German wines in general as Wilhelm Weil. Robert Parker Jr.:The World s Greatest Wine Estates. A Modern Perspective: he included Weingut Robert Weil in his profiles of the top 175 leading wine estates throughout the world. Gabler Verlag; There is no wine guide who does not sing the praises of the Rieslings from the Robert Weil Estate. The wines enjoy a worldwide reputation.
Fun Facts To Know & Tell Bernkastler Badstube is any blend of fruit from 1er Cru and/or Grand Cru vineyards within Bernkastle. Wehlener Sonnenuhr has reputation as most typical example of Blue Slate soil terroir. Fein Herb is between kabinett and halb trocken. Stuck is a 1200 liter oak barrel from Rheingau. Fudor is 1000 liter oak barrel from the Mosel.
More Fun Facts 1 acre =.40 hectares. Gros Lagen = First growth, Prussian ranking from 1897. Erste Gewach = First growth in Rheingau, government regulated. Sonnenuhr = sundial. Fruhlingsplatchen = warm place to sit in the spring. Brunn = well or spring. Chapatalization = adding sugar to the must.
VINTAGES MATTER An Overview of the 21st Century to Date
21st Century Vintage Recap 2000 - Difficult, wet and cold with lots of unclean botrytis. 2001 - Very good. Warm spring, early bloom, rain when needed most during summer and a beautiful warm fall. 2002 - Long warm growing season. Early bud break and flowering, long warm and healthy growing season made for textbook wines in good quantity at all levels.
21st Century Vintages Cont 2003 - Most sun hours of any vintage in last 2 centuries. Early bud break and flowering led to intense ripeness and slightly lower acidity. 2004 - Classic. Average bud break and flowering followed by a normal summer with rain just when needed. Ripeness and acidity similar to 2002. 2005 - Very nice growing season. Small crop after large 2004 but with classic structure. Ripeness and acidity levels similar to both 2002 and 2004. Majority of fruit picked at Auslese sugar levels. Very clean botrytis.
21st Century Vintages Cont 2006 - Heavy must weights (higher then 2003) due to botrytis. Picked early (earliest on record) to get clean fruit, deep color, more acidity then 2005. No true kabinettes (declassified spatlese). Hard to make trockens, but made lots of noble sweet wines. 1976 with acidity!! 2007 - Warm April led to early bud break, cool from May-September. Long, slow growing season, not warm or moist enough for botrytis. Picked under warm, clear skies for a great vintage. Lots of true kabinette, very little noble sweet wines.
21st Century Vintages Cont 2008 - Above average temperatures and rain during the growing season. Blossom was 2 weeks earlier then normal but was long hang time of up to 120 days giving good physiological ripeness. Rain at harvest meant a smaller crop then expected due to severe sorting. 2009 - Many say best of the decade! Long growing season with steady temperatures; cool at night and warn during the day. Rain when needed but not at other times. Substance, finesse and elegance define the vintage.