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!
Langwerth Von Simmern OLDEST CONTINOUSLY OWNED FAMILY WINE ESTATE IN THE WORLD!!
The Power of History Owned by the Langwerth Von Simmern family since 1464. Own 25 hectars of vineyard around the village of Eltville. 95% of vineyards are classified as FIRST GROWTH (Gross lagen). All wines are fermented in stainless steel tanks and 1,200 liter oak stucks. Average production is 12,000 9 liter cases.
Langwerth Von Simmern Best vineyards are Erbacher Marcobrunn and Rauenthaler Baiken. Fruit, spice, substance and acidity all married in perfect harmony. Hatttenheimer Nussbrunnen is always most open of the wines, loaded with fresh peach. Sandy, loamy soil makes racey, full bodied aromatic wines. Erbacher Marcobrunn is always most closed of the wines due to deep chalky loess rich soil. Oldest vineyard is Hattenheimer Mannberg (1464) and the Von Simmern s own 90% of it. Brunn means well or spring. Rauenthaler Baiken used only for noble sweet wines or dry wines (Erste Gewachs). Rauenthaler Baiken Hatttenheimer Nussbrunnen
Langwerth Von Simmern In 2005 made only 300 liters of Beerenauslese. In 2005 they made only 150 liters of Trockenbeerenauslese. Use integrated sustainable farming practices while working to be as organic as possible. Oldest members of the V.D.P. Verband Deutscher Prädikatsweingüter ev (Association of German Prädikat Wine Estates)
Andrea & Agi The estate is now run by the Baron George and his wife Baroness Andrea Langwerth von Simmern.
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.