Friday, June 28, 2019

Cellar Tour and Tasting at Weingut Robert Weil in Kiedrich, Rheingau, with Jan Christensen - Germany-North Tour 2019 by ombiasy WineTours: Quintessential Riesling

Pictures: Cellar Tour and Tasting at Weingut Robert Weil in Kiedrich, Rheingau, with Jan Christensen - Germany-North Tour 2019 by ombiasy WineTours: Quintessential Riesling

VDP: Wilhelm Weil, the fourth generation of the founding family, runs the estate founded by his great-grandfather in 1875. Since then, the hillside sites of the 90-hectare (222-acre) estate – Kiedrich Klosterberg, Kiedrich Turmberg, and Kiedrich Gräfenberg – have been cultivated exclusively with the precious Riesling grape. These practices ensure the production of individualistic, exceptional wines: cultivation of Riesling on a continuous basis; quality-oriented vineyard management aimed at reducing yields; selective harvesting by hand; and extremely gentle processing in the cellar. Today, many observers of the international wine world regard at estate Robert Weil, with its “château character”, as a worldwide symbol of German Riesling culture. Here, where tradition and contemporary oenological know-how are in harmony, the finest grapes yield tremendous wines, year after year.

Jan Christensen, Wilhelm Weil's Assistant, was our host. We first took a look at the vineyards from the tasting room and then toured the celler before sitting down with Jan in the chateau building for a formal tasting.

The Weingut Robert Weil wines are represented in the USA by Loosen Bros. USA.

Picture: Wilhelm Weil with Jan Christensen in Mainz

Robert Weil - Peerless, Uncompromising Rieslings from the Rheingau

(Loosen Bros. USA): Founded in 1875, Weingut Robert Weil is considered to be one of the Rheingau’s younger wine estates. It is located in the heart of Kiedrich, a village first documented in the year 950. Kiedrich Turmberg and Kiedrich Gräfenberg, the estate’s top vineyards, are among the finest sites in the Rheingau.

Pictures: Arriving

The estate cultivates 90 hectares (222 acres) of vineyards, of which 100 percent are planted with Riesling. Today, Wilhelm Weil, the great-grandson of the estate’s founder, carries on the tradition of uncompromising, quality-oriented vineyard and cellar practices – a tradition that has been the hallmark of the winery for four generations.

Pictures: Looking at the Vineyards

The Vineyards

Kiedrich Turmberg and Kiedrich Gräfenberg are situated on a southwest-facing ridge and a steep cliff with inclines of up to 60 percent. Their soils consist of deep and medium-deep stony, fragmented phyllite partially mixed with loess and loam. This combination of barren stony soils, an ideal microclimate, steep inclination and southwestern exposure allows the grapes to hang on the vine for a very long time. The resulting wines are complex and rich in minerals, with great elegance and finesse.

The vineyards are cultivated in an environmentally friendly manner: organic fertilizer is used as needed; green cover is planted in alternating rows to optimize the humus content of the soil; herbicides are never used, and other protective measures are used only sparingly and with respect for habitat.

Grapes are harvested by hand, with an extremely critical selection that involves up to 17 rounds through the vineyards. The goal of this meticulous attention is to reap the finest fruit possible for wines in every Prädikat level.

Pictures: In the Cellar

The Wines

The character of Robert Weil Rieslings is marked by the mineral-rich soils of the vineyards. These elegant, complex wines offer pronounced fruitiness with nuanced flavors and aromas. They embody a perfect interplay of fine yet firm acidity with natural sweetness and extract.

Pictures: Tasting at Weingut Robert Weil with Jan Christensen

The Wines Jan Poured


2018 Weingut Robert Weil Rheingau Riesling Trocken VDP.Gutswein

Made with the same exacting standards and meticulous attention to detail as the single-vineyard wines, the estate cuvées from Robert Weil are the starting point for the vinous journey into the best of the Rheingau. Sourced from vineyards neighboring their top hillside sites, these wines are classic Rheingau Rieslings that reflect the unique terroir of the region, as well as the distinctive, ultra-classy style of this legendary estate. The Rheingau Riesling Trocken is pure and intense, with a stony richness and a lively, well-balanced structure.

2018 Weingut Robert Weil Kiedricher Riesling Trocken VDP.Ortswein

The Village Wine (VDP.Ortswein) classification level, as the name implies, is used for wines that come entirely from vineyard sites in the same village. For Robert Weil, that village is Kiedrich, where the majority of their vineyards are located. The Kiedricher Riesling Trocken is produced from parcels of younger vines in the estate’s three hillside sites in the village of Kiedrich. It is lively and effusive, with balanced acidity and a stately Baroque body. Charming stone fruit aromas and citrus flavors are woven into a refined minerality giving it the versatility to accompany a wide variety of cuisine.


2018 Weingut Robert Weil Kiedricher Klosterberg Riesling Trocken VDP.Erste Lage

2018 Weingut Robert Weil Kiedricher Turmberg Riesling Trocken VDP.Erste Lage

Kiedrich Turmberg (“tower hill”), a separate slope adjacent to the Gräfenberg vineyard, is rated as premier cru. The German wine law of 1971 had incorporated Turmberg into the Gräfenberg, but in 2005 it was reinstated as an individual, classified site. The steep, southwest-facing site has a slate base with a thin topsoil layer composed of stony, gritty phyllite mixed with loess and loam. It produces very fine, elegant wines that are less massive than their counterparts from the Gräfenberg. Turmberg is wholly owned by Weingut Robert Weil. The Turmberg Trocken (dry) is bright and pure, with a lovely herbal tone that is characteristic of this site. It has a finely focused mineral structure and a juicy grip on the palate.


2017 Weingut Robert Weil Kiedricher Gräfenberg Riesling Trocken GG VDP.Grosse Lage

The deep to medium-deep stony soil of the Gräfenberg hillside is made up of phyllite interspersed with loess and loam. The Kiedrich Gräfenberg Riesling Grosses Gewächs is a perfect specimen of this mineral-rich terroir, displaying distinctive character and complexity. A full-bodied, dry-style wine, it offers a provocative balance of fruit, spice and flintiness. Fermented naturally in large wooden casks, the Kiedrich Gräfenberg Erstes Gewächs has a full, stony fruit aroma. It is weighty and complex on the palate, yet still quite elegant, with extraordinary length to the finish.

The Grosses Gewächs (“great growth”) designation is used only for the finest dry wine from a VDP.Grosse Lage (“grand cru”) classified vineyard. GG wines express the unique character of the vineyard and, being full-bodied dry wines, have great versatility with food.

2018 Weingut Robert Weil Kiedricher Gräfenberg Riesling Spätlese VDP.Grosse Lage

The outstanding quality of the Gräfenberg (“hill of the counts”) site was first documented in the late 12th century. It is a steep, southwest-facing slope in a sheltered side valley, with deep to medium-deep stony soil made up of phyllite interspersed with water-retaining layers of loess and loam. Yields are very low, resulting in wines with extraordinary concentration.

Always stunning, the Spätlese (“late picked”) from Kiedrich Gräfenberg is a massive wine of bewildering depth and complexity, with many layers of gorgeous fruit that unfold on the palate. It is a stately wine with power, harmony and impeccable balance.

schiller-wine: Related Postings (Germany-North Tour 2019 by ombiasy WineTours: Quintessential Riesling - Published and Forthcoming Postings)

Germany-North Tour 2019 by ombiasy WineTours: Quintessential Riesling

Attending the 2019 VDP.Weinbörse - Vintage 2018 - in Mainz - Germany-North Tour 2019 by ombiasy WineTours: Quintessential Riesling

Vineyard Tour, Cellar Visit and Tasting at Weingut Joachim Flick in Hochheim, Rheingau - Germany-North Tour 2019 by ombiasy WineTours: Quintessential Riesling

Lunch at the Weingut Schloss Johannisberg Gutsrestaurant - Germany-North Tour 2019 by ombiasy WineTours: Quintessential Riesling

Cellar Visit and Tasting at Weingut Wegeler in Oestrich-Winkel, Rheingau - Germany-North Tour 2019 by ombiasy WineTours: Quintessential Riesling

Cellar visit and tasting at winery Robert Weil in Kiedrich, Rheingau. with Jan Christensen

Kiedrich: Visit of the Basilica of Saint Valentine and of Weingut Robert Weil - Germany-North Wine Tour by ombiasy (2014)

Kloster Eberbach: Dinner, Guided Tour and  Aperitif at the Schwarzes Häuschen in the Steinberg Vineyard

Wining in the Steinberg Vineyard – Germany-North Wine Tour by ombiasy (2014)

Kloster Eberbach in the Rheingau: Lunch, Tour of the Abbey, the Steinberg and the Steinbergkeller, with Tasting - Germany-North Tour 2017 by ombiasy WineTours

Lunch, Cellar visit and tasting at winery Baron Knyphausen in Erbach, Rheingau, with Baron Knyphausen and winemaker Arne Willkens 

Tour and Tasting at Weingut Baron Knyphausen in Erbach, Rheingau - Germany-North Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2015)

Tasting and dining at winery Kaufmann in Hattenheim, Rheingau, with Owners and winemakers Urban Kaufmann and Eva Raps

Family-style Wine-pairing Lunch at Weingut Hans Lang - Kaufmann, with Owners/ Winemakers Urban Kaufmann and Eva Raps - Germany-North Tour 2016 by ombiasy WineTours

Cellar tour, vineyard tour, and tasting in the vineyard at winery Laquai in Lorch, Rheingau, with Gundolf Laquai

Lunch at restaurant Altes Haus in Bacharach

Tasting and vineyard drive at winery Ratzenberger in Bacharach, Mittelrhein, with Jochen Ratzenberger 

Vineyard Tour and Tasting at Weingut Ratzenberger, Mittelrhein, with Jochen Ratzenberger - Germany-North Tour 2017 by ombiasy WineTours

Rhine River Cruise in the Mittelrhein Valley

Rhine River Cruise in the Mittelrhein Valley, an UNESCO World Heritage Region - Germany-North Tour 2016 by ombiasy WineTours

Guided tour of Eltz Castle

Tasting at winery Reinhold Franzen, Bremm, Terrassen-Mosel, with Angelina Franzen

Tasting at winery Jos. Jos. Prüm in Bernkastel-Wehlen, Mosel, with Amei Prüm

Tasting at the Legendary Weingut J.J. Prüm with Amei Prüm – Germany-North Tour by ombiasy WineTours 2016

Wine-pairing dinner at winery Richard Böcking in Traben-Trarbach, Middle Mosel, with Owner Denman Zirkle

Tasting at winery Dr. Loosen in Bernkastel-Kues, Middle Mosel, with Ernst Loosen

Wine Tasting at Weingut Dr. Loosen in Bernkastel-Kues, Mosel – Germany-North Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2015)

Ernst Loosen Presented his Wines at Weingut Dr. Loosen, Bernkastel-Kues, Mosel Valley, Germany

Weingut Dr. H Thanisch - Erben Mueller-Burggraef: Visit of the famous Berncasteler Doctor Cellar and Tour and Tasting at  Weingut Dr. H Thanisch - Erben Mueller-Burggraef, with Ownwe Matthias Willkomm

The Wines of the Berncasteler Doctor, Bernkastel-Kues in the Mosel Valley, Germany

Lunch at Restaurant Juffer Flair of Weingut Christian Steinmetz in Brauneberg

Tasting at winery Haart in Piesport, Mosel, with Johannes Haart

Schiller’s Favorite Wine Taverns in Trier, Germany

Cellar tour and tasting at winery Peter Lauer in Ayl, Upper Mosel, Saar Valley, with Katharina Lauer and Peter Lauer

Lunch at Weinrestaurant Ayler Kupp at winery Peter Lauer

Tasting at winery H. Dönnhoff, Oberhausen, Nahe, with Anne Dönnhoff 

Wine Tasting and Cellar Tour at Weingut Dönnhoff with Christina Dönnhoff – Germany-North Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2014)

An Afternoon with Riesling Star Winemaker Helmut Doennhoff at Weingut Doennhoff in Oberhausen in the Nahe Valley, Germany

Visit and tasting at winery Dr. Crusius, Traisen, Nahe, with Peter and Judith Crusius.

Vineyard tour, cellar tour and tasting at winery Kruger-Rumpf, Münster-Sarmsheim, Nahe, with Stefan and Georg Rumpf

Tour, Tasting, Dinner and Overnight Stay at Weingut Kruger Rumpf, Nahe, with Stefan, Cornelia and Georg Rumpf – Germany-North Tour 2017 by ombiasy WineTours

Vineyard tour and tasting at winery Bischel in Appenheim, Rheinhessen, with Christian Runkel, Owner and Winemaker

Winery visit and lunch at winery Louis Guntrum in Nierstein, Rheinhessen, with Konstantin Guntrum

Guntrum is Back (Stuart Pigott/ James Suckling): Wine Pairing Lunch and Tour at Weingut Louis Guntrum in Nierstein, Rheinhessen, with Owners Konstantin and Stephanie Guntrum - Germany-South and Alsace 2017 Tour by ombiasy WineTours

Mainlust “Desche Otto” – an Ultra Traditional Apple Wine Tavern, with an Innovative Twist, off the Beaten Track in Schwanheim, Frankfurt am Main, Germany






Thursday, June 27, 2019

Germany's Greatest Wines: 50 Exceptional German Wines - Falstaff/ Ulrich Sauter

Picture: Annette Schiller and Egon Müller in New York City. See: The Annual "Slaughterhouse" Riesling Feast in New York: Rieslingfeier 2017, USA

Falstaff, a leading German wine and food journal, issued a list of 50 exceptional German wines. The list was put togather by Ulrich Sauter, who is in charge of wines at Falstaff. He took into account a number of factors, but at the end of the day it is a personal list of somebody who really knows German wine,

01 Scharzhofberger Trockenbeerenauslese, Egon Müller-Scharzhof

Already in terms of auction proceeds a world record: At the auction of the Großer Ring in 2015 buyers paid Euro 12,000 plus surcharge for a 0.75-liter bottle. And also otherwise this is a wine of extreme: It brings the highest possible grape maturity from the coolest possible top vineyard in the glass. And: Anyone who puts such a bottle in the cellar still does good to his or her grandchildren and great-grandchildren - these wines are still fresh after 80 years.

Pictures: Annette and Christian Schiller with Egon Müller, Weingut Egon Müller, at the Rieslingfeier 2015 in New York City, USA, see: The 11 Winemakers: Rieslingfeier 2015 in New York City, USA

02 Wehlener Sonnenuhr Auslese, J. J. Prüm

If you want to understand classic Mosel wine at its core and enjoy it in its pointed form, you can not ignore this label. Of course, typically Dr. Manfred Prüm and his daughter Dr. Katharina climb up the predicate ladder much higher than the "normal" Auslese. But this wine marks a maximum of its own kind: more drinking pleasure with such a combination of longevity and minerality is hard to imagine.

Picture: Annette Schiller and Manfred Prüm

Picture: Christian Schiller with Katharina Pruem at Wegmans in Virginia. See also: JJ Pruem Goes Supermarket: Meeting Katharina Pruem and Tasting the Incredible JJ Pruem Wines at Wegmans

Pictures: Tasting at the Legendary Weingut J.J. Prüm with Amei Prüm – Germany-North Tour by ombiasy WineTours 2016

03 Niederhausen Hermannshöhle Riesling GG, Dönnhoff

Far beyond the borders of the Nahe Region - and especially internationally - the Hermannshöhle is the epitome of a dry German sinlge vineyard Riesling with depth and ripeness: What Helmut Dönnhoff has created in three decades in terms of profile and reputation, but above all in terms of qualitative reliability, is now being continued by his son Cornelius.

Picture: Cornelius Dönnhoff, David Schildknecht and Annette Schiller in New York. See: Rieslingfeier 2018 in New York City: Gränd Tasting and Gala Dinner

Pictures: With Helmut Dönnhoff, Weingut Dönnhoff (Nahe), at the 2019 Weinbörse in Mainz. See: Attending the 2019 VDP.Weinbörse - Vintage 2018 - in Mainz - Germany-North Tour 2019 by ombiasy WineTours: Quintessential Riesling

Pictures: An Afternoon with Riesling Star Winemaker Helmut Doennhoff at Weingut Doennhoff in Oberhausen in the Nahe Valley, Germany

Pictures: Tasting with Anne Dönnhoff. See: Germany-North Tour 2019 by ombiasy WineTours: Quintessential Riesling

04 Kiedrich Gräfenberg Riesling Trockenbeerenauslese, Weingut Robert Weil
05 Erden Prälat Riesling Auslese, Weingut Dr. Loosen
06 Rüdesheim Schlossberg Riesling (trocken), Weingut Georg Breuer
07 Zeltingen Sonnenuhr Riesling Auslese*** Goldene Kapsel, Weingut Markus Molitor
08 Geisenheim Rothenberg Riesling Trockenbeerenauslese, Weingüter Wegeler – Gutshaus Rheingau
09 Oestrich Lenchen Riesling Trockenbeerenauslese, Weingut Peter Jakob Kühn
10 Scharzhofberger Pergentsknopp Riesling GG, Weingut van Volxem
11 Nackenheim Rothenberg Riesling Trockenbeerenauslese, Weingut Gunderloch
12 Brauneberg Juffer Sonnenuhr Riesling Auslese Lange Goldkapsel, Weingut Fritz Haag
13 G-Max Riesling trocken, Weingut Klaus Peter Keller
14 Würzburg Stein-Harfe, Silvaner GG, Bürgerspital zum Hl. Geist
15 Rothenberg Riesling Alte Reben GG, Weingut Kühling-Gillot
16 Bürgstadt Centgrafenberg Hunsrück Spätburgunder GG, Weingut Rudolf Fürst
17 Erbach Marcobrunn Trockenbeerenauslese, Weingut Freiherr Langwerth von Simmern
18 Steinberg Riesling aus dem Cabinetkeller, Hessische Staatsweingüter Kloster Eberbach
19 Lump Silvaner Trockenbeerenauslese, Weingut Horst Sauer
20 Assmannshausen Höllenberg Spätburgunder GG, Weingut August Kesseler
21 Pünderich Marienburg Raffes GG, Weingut Clemens Busch
22 Walporzheimer Kräuterberg Spätburgunder GG, Weingut Meyer-Näkel
23 Forst Kirchenstück GG Riesling, Weingut von Winning
24 Winningen Uhlen, Roth Lay Riesling GG, Weingut Heymann-Löwenstein
25 Dorsheim Burgberg Riesling GG, Schlossgut Diel
26 »Heydenreich« Spätburgunder GG, Weingut Friedrich Becker
27 Forst Kirchenstück Riesling GG, Weingut Dr. Bürklin-Wolf
28 Bernkastel Doctor Riesling Spätlese, Weingut Wwe. Dr. H. Thanisch – Erben Müller-Burggraef
29 Kallstadt Saumagen Riesling Auslese trocken RR, Weingut Koehler-Ruprecht
30 Oberrotweil Kirchberg Spätburgunder GG, Weingut Salwey
31 Homburg Kallmuth Silvaner GG Asphodill, Weingut Fürst Löwenstein
32 Forst Kirchenstück Riesling GG, Weingut Reichsrat von Buhl
33 Spätburgunder »Juwel«trocken, Weingut Krone Assmannshausen
34 Spätburgunder Alte Reben trocken, Weingut Jean Stodden
35 Fellbach Lämmler Lemberger GG, Weingut Rainer Schnaitmann
36 Kallstadt Saumagen Spätburgunder GG, Weingut Rings
37 Hochheim Hölle Riesling GG, Weingut Künstler
38 Iphofen Julius-Echter-Berg Silvaner GG, Weingut Hans Wirsching
39 Spätburgunder Rhini trocken, Weingut Hanspeter Ziereisen
40 Neipperg Schlossberg Lemberger GG, Weingut Graf Neipperg
41 Cuvée X trocken, Weingut Knipser
42 Silberlack Riesling GG, Domäne Schloss Johannisberg
43 Würzburg Stein Silvaner GG, Weingut Juliusspital
44 Ruländer »R« trocken, Weingut Reinhold und Cornelia Schneider
45 Bacharach Hahn »Im Hahnen« Riesling GG, Weingut Toni Jost – Hahnenhof
46 Maximin Grünhaus Abtsberg Riesling Spätlese, Maximin Grünhaus – Schlosskellerei C. von Schubert
47 Fellbach Lämmler Spätburgunder GG, Weingut Aldinger
48 Kirrweiler Mandelberg Weißburgunder GG, Weingut Bergdolt
49 Achkarren Schlossberg Grauburgunder GG, Weingut Dr. Heger
50 »Granat« trocken, Weingut Albrecht Schwegler

Pictures: Christian and Annette Schiller with Wilhelm Weil at Weingut Robert Weil in Kiedrich

Pictures: Kiedrich: Visit of the Basilica of Saint Valentine and of Weingut Robert Weil - Germany-North Wine Tour by ombiasy (2014)

schiller-wine: Related Postings

Announcement: ombiasy WineTours in 2019 - Germany-North and Bordeaux

Ombiasy Wine Tours 2018: 3 x France and 3 x Germany - Ombiasy Newsletter December 2017

UPCOMING Tours/ Wine Dinners/ Tastings - Annette and Christian Schiller/ ombiasyPR & WineTours/ schiller-wine, Germany, France, USA (Issued: June 3, 2019)

Reminder: Ombiasy Wine Tour to Bordeaux: September 03 - September 12, 2019

The Annual "Slaughterhouse" Riesling Feast in New York: Rieslingfeier 2017, USA

The 11 Winemakers: Rieslingfeier 2015 in New York City, USA

JJ Pruem Goes Supermarket: Meeting Katharina Pruem and Tasting the Incredible JJ Pruem Wines at Wegmans

Tasting at the Legendary Weingut J.J. Prüm with Amei Prüm – Germany-North Tour by ombiasy WineTours 2016

Rieslingfeier 2018 in New York City: Gränd Tasting and Gala Dinner

Attending the 2019 VDP.Weinbörse - Vintage 2018 - in Mainz - Germany-North Tour 2019 by ombiasy WineTours: Quintessential Riesling

An Afternoon with Riesling Star Winemaker Helmut Doennhoff at Weingut Doennhoff in Oberhausen in the Nahe Valley, Germany

Germany-North Tour 2019 by ombiasy WineTours: Quintessential Riesling

Kiedrich: Visit of the Basilica of Saint Valentine and of Weingut Robert Weil - Germany-North Wine Tour by ombiasy (2014)

Wednesday, June 26, 2019

Touring the Vineyards of Vosne-Romanée, Côte de Nuits, with Armelle Rion, Domaine Armelle et Bernhard Rion – Bourgogne (and Champagne) Tour by ombiasy WineTours 2018, France

Picture: Touring the Vineyards of Vosne-Romanée, Côte de Nuits, with Armelle Rion, Domaine Armelle et Bernhard Rion – Bourgogne (and Champagne) Tour by ombiasy WineTours 2018, France

We visited Domaine Armelle et Bernhard Rion in Vosne-Romanée, Côte de Nuits.The visit consisted of two parts.

First, Armelle Rion joined us in the bus and took us on a tour of the vineyards of Vosne-Romanée.

Seond, we returned to the domaine, where we did a cellar tour and sat down for a tasting with Armelle Rion.

This posting covers the vineyard tour. A second posting will cover the cellar visit and tasting.

Domaine Armelle et Bernhard Rion is a family affair and we also met Bernhard Rion as well as Melissa and Alice Rion and Alice's husband Louis Rion. With the latter two we recently enjoyed a winemaker dinner at the French Embassy in Washington DC, USA. Domaine Armelle et Bernhard Rion is well represented in the Washington DC area via Elite Wines.

Pictures: Winemaker Dinner with Alice Rion and Louis Hamman, Domaine Rion, Vosne ­Romanée, Bourgogne, at the French Embassy/ Restaurant Le Café Descartes in Washington DC
he French Embassy in Washington DC

Domaine Rion was founded in 1880 by Pierre Rion. His son Louis substantially enlarged the domaine. Forth generation Bernard Rion now manages the Domaine Rion with his wife Armelle and his daughter Alice. Wine production is very traditional with a high respect for nature. Vineyard management methods rely on natural or very specific products. 'Pheronomes' are diffused around the vineyards to provoke sexual confusion in certain insects eliminating the need to use insecticides. The average vines are over 50 years old and their roots draw nutrition from deep down in the ground.

Pictures: Touring the Vineyards of Vosne-Romanée, Côte de Nuits, with Armelle Rion, Domaine Armelle et Bernhard Rion

Vosne-Romanee Wine (wine searcher)

wine searcher: Vosne-Romanée is a small commune in Burgundy's Côte de Nuits district, known mainly for its red wine from the Pinot Noir grape. Originally named just Vosne, the village took the suffix Romanée in 1866 in honor of its most prized vineyard, La Romanée. It is often grouped together with the neighboring commune of Flagey-Echézeaux; while the villages are entirely separate, their finest vineyards are clustered together immediately north of Vosne-Romanée.

The classic Vosne-Romanée wine is considered by many to have the perfect balance of weight, structure, elegance and longevity. Tasting notes often refer to a combination of tart red fruits (particularly cherries and raspberries) and darker elements of undergrowth, licorice and smoke.

The village has been a known source of quality wines for more than a thousand years, since the arrival of the monks of the Saint-Vivant monastery. Today, it makes wine almost exclusively from Pinot Noir, although up to 15 percent of the local white varieties are permitted, to allow for natural planting variations and mutations. The wines are made under the Vosne-Romanée communal appellation (with about one-third coming from premier cru sites) and six grand cru appellations, each pertaining to a specific vineyard.

The entire surface area of Vosne-Romanée Grand Cru vineyards is only 27 hectares (67 acres – about half the size of the single Clos de Vougeot climat just across the commune boundary). This is divided between six individual sites: La Grand Rue, La Tâche, Richebourg, La Romanée, Romanée-Saint-Vivant and the most famous, Romanée-Conti. Despite this small surface area, Vosne-Romanée Grand Cru red wines are some of the most respected (and most expensive) in the world.

Vosne-Romanée's best vineyards lie just above the village, on the mid-slopes of the Côte d'Or; this is where the grand cru sites are located. Around these prestigious sites are dotted the Vosne-Romanée Premier Cru vineyards and some entirely unclassified land. The difference between a grand cru vine and one deemed worthy only of the regional Bourgogne appellation is sometimes a matter of a few feet.

Below this mid-slope section the slopes are too shallow to offer any degree of elevation or increased exposure to the sun. On the higher slopes, as the ground rises towards the spine of the Côte d'Or, the mesoclimate cools slightly, reducing the likelihood of the grapes attaining optimum ripeness and complexity.

Pictures: Touring the Vineyards of Vosne-Romanée, Côte de Nuits, with Armelle Rion, Domaine Armelle et Bernhard Rion

Vosne-Romanée (Clive Coats)

Clive Coats: Nowhere is wine more noble than in Vosne-Romanée. Between the Nuits-Saint-Georges premier cru of Boudots to the south and the walls of the Clos de Vougeot at the northern end lie the 240 hectares of Vosne-Romanée vineyard: the most valuable piece of vinous real estate in the world.

Appellation Romanée Conti Grand Cru: The Romanée-Conti vineyard dominates the village, with its wines among the most expensive in the world. It is a monopole of Domaine de la Romanée-Conti. Around 600 cases are made each year from the vineyard's 1.8 ha.

Appellation La Romanée Grand Cru: La Romanée is a monopole of the Château de Vosne-Romanée. Only 300 cases are made each year from this plot of 0.84 ha.

Appellation La Tâche Grand Cru: La Tâche is Domaine de la Romanée Conti's other monopole, and its 6 ha consist of the vineyards of La Tâche and Les Gaudichots.

Appellation Richebourg Grand Cru: The 8 ha of the Richebourg cru are divided between 10 growers, including Domaine Leroy and Domaine de la Romanée Conti.

Appellation La Grande Rue Grand Cru: The least-renowned of the six grands crus is a monopole of Domaine François Lamarche, and was only promoted from premier cru recently. Its 1.4 hectares lie between La Tâche and Romanée-Conti.

Appellation Romanée Saint Viviant Grand Cru: Domaine de la Romanée Conti owns over half of the area's 9.5 ha.

Although unable to command the same prices as their grand cru neighbors, the village is home to many excellent premier cru wines. Fifty-eight hectares of this is premier cru, and there are 11 of these. Five of them lie just above the grands crus, six on the same altitude or a little further down the slope.

Back at Domaine Armelle et Bernhard Rion in Vosne-Romanée, Côte de Nuits

The tour of the vineyards of Vosne-Romanée ended at the domaine, where we did a cellar tour and sat down for a tasting with Armelle Rion. This will be covered in a separate posting.

Pictures: Back at Domaine Armelle et Bernhard Rion in Vosne-Romanée, Côte de Nuits

Burgundy (and Champagne) Tour 2018 by ombiasy WineTours: From Lyon to Paris - Wine, Food, Culture and History (Forthcoming an already relased Postings)

Burgundy (and Champagne) Tour 2018 by ombiasy WineTours: From Lyon to Paris - Wine, Food, Culture and History, France

Dinner at a Bouchon - Chez Paul - in Lyon: Schiller’s Favorite Bouchons in Lyon, France

Introduction to the Burgundy Wine Region at Antic Wine in Lyon with Flying Sommelier Georges Dos Santos - Burgundy (and Champagne) 2016 Tour by ombiasy WineTours

Lunch at La Table de Chaintré (1 Star Michelin) in Chaintré, with Chef Sébastien Grospellier - Burgundy (and Champagne) Tour 2018 by ombiasy WineTours: From Lyon to Paris

In the Most Prestigious AOC in the Mâconnais: Pouilly-Fuissé, France

Visit and Tasting at Domaine de Fussiacus in Fuissé, Poully-Fuissé, Mâconnais, with Owner/ Winemaker Yannik Pacquet - Burgundy (and Champagne) Tour 2018 by ombiasy WineTours: From Lyon to Paris

Vineyard Tour, Cellar Tour and Tasting at Domaine Desvignes in Givry, Côte Chalonnaise, with Owner/ Winemaker Gautier Desvignes - Burgundy (and Champagne) Tour 2018 by ombiasy WineTours: From Lyon to Paris

Lunch at Restaurant Le Mercurey in Mercurey - Bourgogne (and Champagne) Tour 2016 by ombiasy WineTours

At Domaine Theulot­-Juillot in Mercurey, Côte Chalonnaise, with Nathalie Theulot - Bourgogne (and Champagne) Tour 2016 by ombiasy WineTours

Tour of Château de Rully and Tasting of Domaine du Château de Rully Wines, with Count Raoul de Ternay - Bourgogne (and Champagne) Tour 2016 by ombiasy WineTours

Dinner at Restaurant Le Chevreuil in Meursault, with the Wines of Domaine Matrot - Burgundy (and Champagne) Tour 2018 by ombiasy WineTours: From Lyon to Paris

Cellar Tour and Tasting at Cave Ropiteau Frères in Meursault, Côte de Beaune - Burgundy (and Champagne) Tour 2018 by ombiasy WineTours: From Lyon to Paris

Cellar Tour and Tasting at Domaine Michel Prunier & Fille in Auxey­ Duresses, Côte de Beaune - Bourgogne (and Champagne) Tour 2016 by ombiasy WineTours

Where Robert Parker likes to Eat: Lunch at La Crémaillère in Auxey-Duresses - Bourgogne (and Champagne) Tour 2016 by ombiasy WineTours

Vineyard Tour and Tasting in the Vineyard in Meursault with Karoline Knoth and the Wines of Domaine Pierre Morey - Burgundy (and Champagne) Tour 2018 by ombiasy WineTours: From Lyon to Paris

Olivier Leflaive in Puligny Montrachet: Vineyard Walk and Cellar Tour, with Patrick Leflaive - Bourgogne (and Champagne) Tour by ombiasy WineTours 2018, France

Wine-pairing Lunch at La Table de Olivier in Puligny Montrachet with Patrick Leflaive – Bourgogne (and Champagne) Tour by ombiasy WineTours 2018, France

Visit and Tasting at Château de Chassagne-Montrachet in Chassagne-Montrachet, Côte de Beaune – Bourgogne (and Champagne) Tour by ombiasy WineTours 2018, France

Visit and Tasting: Maison Joseph Drouhin in Beaune – Bourgogne (and Champagne) Tour 2016 by ombiasy WineTours, France

Schiller’s Favorite Wine Bars in Beaune, Bourgogne

Visit: Hospices de Beaune – Bourgogne (and Champagne) Tour by ombiasy WineTours 2016, France

Lunch at Le Carmin (1 Star Michelin) in Beaune – Bourgogne (and Champagne) Tour by ombiasy WineTours 2018, France

Vineyard Tour, Cellar Tour and Tasting at Château de Pommard in Pommard, Côte de Beaune - Bourgogne (and Champagne) Tour by ombiasy WineTours 2018, France

Cellar Tour and Tasting at Domaine Faiveley in Nuits-Saint-George, Côte de Nuits, with Matilde Nicolas, Communications Director - Bourgogne (and Champagne) Tour by ombiasy WineTours 2018, France

Visit of Château du Clos de Vougeot - Bourgogne (and Champagne) Tour 2016 by ombiasy WineTours

Vineyard tour, cellar tour and tasting at Domaine Armelle et Bernhard Rion in Vosne-Romanée, Côte de Nuits, with Armelle Rion

Cellar Tour and Tasting at Domaine Armelle et Bernhard Rion in Vosne ­Romanée, Côte de Nuits - Bourgogne (and Champagne) Tour 2016 by ombiasy WineTours

Cellar Tour and Tasting at Domaine Guillon & Fils in Gevrey­-Chambertin, Côte de Nuits, with Jean-Michel Guillon - Bourgogne (and Champagne) Tour 2016 by ombiasy WineTours

An Institution: Lunch at Restaurant Chez Guy in Gevrey­-Chambertin - Bourgogne (and Champagne) Tour 2016 by ombiasy WineTours

Cellar tour and tasting at Domaine Pierre Gelin in Fixin, Côte de Nuits. with Owner/ Winemaker Pierre Gelin.

Wine Pairing Lunch, Cellar Visit, Vineyard Tour and Tasting at Domaine Jean­ Marc Brocard in Préhy, Chablis – Bourgogne (and Champagne) Tour 2016 by ombiasy WineTours, France

Schiller’s Favorite Wine Bars and other Wine Venues in Chablis, France

Visit and tasting at Château Long-Depaquit in Chablis, with General Manager Cécilia Trimaille.

Champagne – An Introduction, France

French Champagne Houses and German Roots

Visit and Tasting at Champagne Jean Josselin, a Grower Champagne House in Gyé­ sur­ Seine – Bourgogne (and Champagne) Tour 2016 by ombiasy WineTours, France

Tour of the Avenue de Champagne in Épernay

Dinner at 1-Michelin star restaurant Les Berceaux in Épernay

Cellar visit and tasting at the Champagne House Mercier in Épernay

Lunch at La Coupole, Montparnasse, Paris

Dining and Wining on Boulevard Montparnasse in Paris: La Rotonde, Le Dôme and La Coupole, France – Pre-Bordeaux Wine Tour 2016 by ombiasy WineTours, France