Picture: A Journey through the Rhône Valley - Tasting at the American Wine Society (Northern Virginia Chapter), led by Annette Schiller, USA/ France
Annette Schiller led a Rhône Valley tasting at the American Wine Society (Northern Virginia Chapter). About 60 people attended the tasting (US$25). Annette poured 3 bottles/ 10 wines, both red and white, sweet and dry, from the the Northern Rhône and the Southern Rhône.
The tasting was heavily driven by the recent Rhône Valley tour by ombiasy WineTours: See: Rhône Valley Tour 2018 by ombiasy WineTours: Wine, Culture and History, France. Noteably, we visited 4 of the 10 producers presented by Annette during the 2018 Rhône Valley tour by ombiasy WineTours. All pictures Annette showed on her powerpoint presentation were from the recent Rhône Valley tour by ombiasy WineTours, takne by me.
Pictures: A Journey through the Rhône Valley - Tasting at the American Wine Society (Northern Virginia Chapter), led by Annette Schiller, USA/ France
The Rhône Valley
The Rhône Valley is one of the oldest wine regions in France, and the second largest after Bordeaux. The Greeks introduced viticulture in the 4th century BC. Later the Romans came and brought viticulture to a different level. Since then the world has discovered Rhône wines and some of the most famous wines come from the Rhône Valley.
The vineyards are located on both sides of the river. The Rhône Valley is divided into two distinctively different regions: the Northern Rhône and the Southern Rhône. The Northern Rhône stretches for 60 miles from Vienne – south of Lyon – to Valence, and produces just 5% of Rhône wines.
Pictures: A Journey through the Rhône Valley - Tasting at the American Wine Society (Northern Virginia Chapter), led by Annette Schiller, USA/ France
The region has a continental climate with pronounced seasons. The soils are granitic and schistous and the vineyards are located on very steep terraced slopes. The red grape of the Northern Rhône is 100% Syrah. Depending on the appellation the red wines are often blended with 5 – 20% of the white varietals Viognier, Marsanne, and Roussanne.
As the Rhône river flows southward and the valley widens the climate changes. It becomes more Mediterranean with long, warm summers and mild winters. Here we find the big brother of the Northern Rhône, the Southern Rhône wine region which accounts for 95% of the production and with Grenache being the principal variety in most red wine blends. There also is Syrah, Mourvèdre, ( “GSM” blends) and a variety of other red and white grapes. The landscape is much flatter than in the north and a variety of soils can be found: alluvial soils, limestone subsoils, sand, gravel, stones. We will taste the entire range of Rhône wines: reds, whites, rosé, sweet, fortified wines. It is so difficult to choose which wine estate to visit since there are many great producers. We selected top estates of different price points, from top-rated well-known expensive wines to budget friendly, excellent, unknown wines of small producers.
Pictures: Rhône Valley Tour 2018 by ombiasy WineTours: Wine, Culture and History, France
See also:
Rhône Valley Tour December 2017: From Lyon to Avignon - Wine, Food, Culture, History
Understanding the Wines of the Rhône Valley: The Classification - AOC/ Vin de Pay/ Vin de France The Rhône Wine Region in Southern France and its Wines: History, Classification, Northern and Southern Rhône
Rhône Valley Tour 2018 by ombiasy WineTours: Wine, Culture and History, France
The Wines we Tasted
2017 IGP Domaine de Saint Cosme, Les Deux Albion, Vaucluse Blanc, IGP
2017 Famille Perrin, Côtes du Rhône Réserve, Blanc, AOC Côtes du Rhône
2014 Guigal, AOC Côtes du Rhône, Rouge
2016 Domaine Les Aphillantes, AOC Côtes du Rhône Village, Rouge
2016 Domaine des Pasquiers, AOC Côtes du Rhône Village Sablet, Rouge
2016 Domaine Bastide Saint Vincent, AOC Vacqueyras, Rouge
2015 Domaine Belle, AOC Crozes-Hermitage, Rouge
2014, Château La Nerthe, AOC Chateauneuf du Pape, Rouge
2012, Domaine du Pégau, AOC Chateauneuf du Pape, Rouge
2014 Domaine Alain Ignace, AOC Muscat de Beaumes de Venise, Blanc
schiller-wine: Related Postings
UPCOMING Tours/ Wine Dinners/ Tastings - Annette and Christian Schiller/ ombiasyPR & WineTours/ schiller-wine, Germany, France, USA (Issued: January 1, 2019)
Ombiasy Wine Tours 2018: 3 x France and 3 x Germany - Ombiasy Newsletter December 2017
Announcement: Renaissance of the Terroir in Germany. Back to the Roots - Wine Tasting Seminar lead by Annette Schiller at the German Wine Society (Washington DC Chapter), USA
Rhône Valley Tour December 2017: From Lyon to Avignon - Wine, Food, Culture, History
Understanding the Wines of the Rhône Valley: The Classification - AOC/ Vin de Pay/ Vin de France
The Rhône Wine Region in Southern France and its Wines: History, Classification, Northern and Southern Rhône
Rhône Valley Tour 2018 by ombiasy WineTours: Wine, Culture and History, France
The 2018 American Wine Society National Conference in Buffalo, New York State, USA: Seen Through Christian Schiller's Camera Lens
Best Value of Bordeaux Tasting with Annette Schiller at the American Wine Society, USA
Thursday, January 10, 2019
Tuesday, January 8, 2019
Vineyard Tour and Tasting at Weingut Dr. Lindicke in Werder an der Havel, Brandenburg - Germany-East Tour 2018 by ombiasy WineTours: Wine, Art, Culture, History - Berlin, Saale-Unstrut, Sachsen, Württemberg, Franken
Picture: In the Wachtelberg Vineyard in Werder/ Brandenburg with Katharina Lindicke, Weingut Dr. Lindicke, Werder, Brandenburg
Weingut Dr. Lindicke arguably is the leading wine producer in Brandenburg, a tiny Landwein region in the northeast of Germany. Weingut Dr. Lindicke is owned and run by Katharina Lindicke and her parents, Dr. Manfred and Bettina Lindicke. Katharina Lindicke was our host.
Katharina Lindicke met us in the Wachtelberg vineyard. After a vineyard tour she sat down with us in the wine tavern of Weingut Dr. Lindicke for a tasting.
Wine in Werder/ Brandenburg
Brandenburg is one of the federal states that were re-created in 1990 upon the reunification of the former East Germany and West Germany. It lies in the northeast of the country covering an area of 29,478 square kilometers and has roughly 2.5 million residents. The capital and largest city is Potsdam. Brandenburg surrounds but does not include the national capital and city-state Berlin, which is a metropolitan area.
Pictures: Brandenburg and Berlin in Germany
Wine has been produced in Brandenburg since the Middel Ages and is being produced today, although only to a very limited extent. The wine production in Brandenburg accounts for 0.03 percent of Germany's total output. This is equivalent to about 30 percent of the production of Weingut Dr. Robert Weil in the Rheingau.
One of the early pillars of viticulture in Brandeburg was Lehnin Abbey, not far from Werder, founded in 1180 by Cistercian monks who came from Morimond Abbey in the Champagne region. (Morimond Abbey is one of the 4 daughter-abbeys of Cîteaux Abbey in Burgundy. Cîteaux is the birth place of the Cistercian Order. It was founded by Bendiction monks in 1098 who were unsatisfied with the rules of their order and started the Cistercian Order.) During medieval times the Markgrafen of Brandenburg pushed the viticultural development and Brandenburg wines were served at the dinner tables of the aristocracy.
In the mid 1800s. 192 people lived in Werder and 30 of them were winemakers, with the vineyard area totalling about 100 hectares. However starting at the end of the 19th century commercial viticulture was increasingly crowded-out by fruit orchards and the vineyards of Werder eventually disappeared completely.
Today, winemaking is back in Werder with Weingut Dr. Lindicke taking the lead. There are 2 vineyards, the Wachtelberg, which we visited, and the Galgenberg, which we saw from a distance.
The renaissance of viticulture in Werder started already in GDR times. Pushed by the City of Werder, 4.7 hectares were replanted in the Wachtelberg with vines by the GPG Obstproduktion Werder in 1985. Then came reunification and the renaissance of viticulture in Werder lost a bit of steam. But thanks to Dr. Lindicke and others, there are about 8 hectares of vineyards and 3 wine producers in Werder today. The Verein zur Förderung des historischen Weinbaus im Raum Werder (Havel) e.V. played an important role and, of course, Dr. Lindicke, who took over the Wachtelberg in 1996.
The Lindicke family entered the picture in 1991. The City of Werder asked Dr. Manfred Lindicke if he did not want to lease some of the old vineyards and grow wine there. Dr. Lindicke is a trained biologist. And an "Alter Werderaner". He and his wife Bettina supported the city's bid to promote the centuries-old tradition of viticulture in Werder, and so they said yes.
Vineyards in Werder: Wachtelberg and Galgenberg
The Wachtelberg vineyard totals 6.2 hectares today. It is owned by the City of Werder. The major part of it is long-term leased to Weingut Dr. Lindicke. The varieties Dornfelder, Regent, Saphira, Kernling, Sauvignon Blanc, Müller-Thurgau, Muscaris and Cabernet blanc are currently grown on the Wachtelberg.
Pictures: Vineyard Tour in the Wachtelberg in Werder/ Brandenburg
In 2012, the City of Werder was able to sort out the ownership problems of the other vineyard of Werder, the Galgenberg, whch is now owned by the City of Werder. The Galgenberg totals 1.4 hectares and is fully long-term leased to Weingut Dr. Lindicke.
Both the Wachtelberg and the Galgenberg belong to the Qualitätswein Anbaugebiet Saale Unstrut and Weingut Dr. Lindicke sells all his wines as Qualitätswein (mit Prädikat).
Winemaking at Weingut Dr. Lindicke
Initially, the wines of Weingut Dr. Lindicke were vinified in the state-owned winery Kloster Pforta Bad Kösen in Saxony-Anhalt. Since 2012, Weingut Dr. Lindicke has its own winemaking facility in Werder.
Qualitätswein (mit Prädikat)
Brandenburg is one of the 26 Landwein regions in Germany and thus Brandenburger Landwein is the rule in Brandenburg.
However, as a exception, the exisiting vineyards at reunification were attached to the Saale Unstrut Qualitätswein region or the Sachsen Qualitätswein region. Thus, Weingut Dr. Lindicke in Werder sells its wines as Qualitätswein (mit Prädikat) from Saale Unstrut. The wines from Schlieben in the Elbe-Elster county sell as Sachsen Qualitätswein.
Tasting with Katharina Lindicke
Following the vineyard tour we tasted a series of Weingut Dr. Lindicke wines with Katharina Lindicke.
The Wines we Tasted
NV Secco, Amelie, Weingut Dr. Lindicke, Werderaner Wachtelberg
2016 Weingut Dr. Lindicke, Werderaner Wachtelberg, Sauvignon blanc, Spätlese
2017 Weingut Dr. Lindicke, Werderaner Wachtelberg, Cabernet blanc, feinherb
2017 Weingut Dr. Lindicke, Werderaner Wachtelberg, Rosé, trocken
2016 Weingut Dr. Lindicke, Werderaner Wachtelberg, Regent, im Holzfass gereift
Lunch in Wittenberg
Following the visit of Weingut Dr. Lindicke we drove to Wittenberg for lunch. After lunch we had time to do a little bit of sightseeing. Wittenberg is closely associated with the Protestant Reformation. It was here where Martin Luther hammered the 90 theses at the door of the castle church.
Pictures: Lunch in Wittenberg
Postings: Germany-East Tour 2018 by ombiasy WineTours: Wine, Art, Culture, History - Berlin, Saale-Unstrut, Sachsen, Württemberg, Franken (Published and Forthcoming)
Germany-East Tour 2018 by ombiasy WineTours: Wine, Art, Culture, History - Berlin, Saale-Unstrut, Sachsen, Württemberg, Franken
Vineyard Tour and Tasting at the Königlicher Weinberg Klausberg in Sanssouci, Potsdam - Germany-East Tour 2018 by ombiasy WineTours: Wine, Art, Culture, History - Berlin, Saale-Unstrut, Sachsen, Württemberg, Franken
Vineyard Tour and Tasting at Weingut Dr. Lindicke in Werder an der Havel, Brandenburg, with Katharina Lindicke
Vineyard Tour, Cellar Tour and Tasting at Weingut Born in Salzatal, Saale-Unstrut, with Elisabeth Born - Germany-East Tour 2018 by ombiasy WineTours: Wine, Art, Culture, History - Berlin, Saale-Unstrut, Sachsen, Württemberg, Franken
Vineyard Visit and Wine Tasting Lunch at Weingut Hey in Naumburg, Saale-Unstrut, with Matthias Hey – Germany-East Tour 2016 by ombiasy WineTours
Wine Pairing Dinner at Restaurant Zufriedenheit in Naumburg, with Chef Robert Klaus and his Excellent Food, and Uwe Lützkendorf, Weingut Lützkendorf, and his World-class Wines - Germany-East Tour 2018 by ombiasy WineTours: Wine, Art, Culture, History - Berlin, Saale-Unstrut, Sachsen, Württemberg, Franken
Tasting at Weingut Uwe Lützkendorf, with Uwe Lützkendorf, in Bad Kösen, Saale-Unstrut – Germany-East Tour 2017 by ombiasy WineTours
Schiller's Favorite Winemakers in the Saale Unstrut Region, Germany
Visit and tasting at Landesweingut Kloster Pforta in Bad Kösen, Saale-Unstrut, with Managing Director Björn Probst
Weingut Kloster Pforta: Vineyard Tour, Cellar Tour and Tasting with Managing Director Christian Kloss – Germany-North Wine Tour by ombiasy (2014)
Wine and Music: "Martin Luther Lunch" at the Historic Vincenz Richter Restaurant, Weingut Vincenz Richter, in Meissen with Senior Boss Gottfried Herrlich and the Music of Bach, Mozart and Beethoven – Germany-East Tour 2017 by ombiasy WineTours
Vineyard Tour and Tasting at Weingut Schuh in Coswig, Sachsen, with Katharina Pollmer-Schuh and Matthias Schuh - Germany-East Tour 2018 by ombiasy WineTours: Wine, Art, Culture, History - Berlin, Saale-Unstrut, Sachsen, Württemberg, Franken
Tour and Dinner at Weingut Schloss Proschwitz - Prinz zur Lippe in Zadel, Sachsen, with Georg Prinz zur Lippe - Germany-East Tour 2017 by ombiasy WineTours
Visit and Tasting at the Sächsisches Staatsweingut Schloss Wackerbarth in Radebeul, Sachsen - Germany-East Tour 2018 by ombiasy WineTours: Wine, Art, Culture, History - Berlin, Saale-Unstrut, Sachsen, Württemberg, Franken
Wine and Opera in Dresden: Mozart at Semper Opera and the Best Wines of Sachsen at Wine Bar Weinzentrale in Dresden-Neustadt, with Owner/ Sommelier Jens Pietzonka – Germany-East Tour 2017 by ombiasy WineTours
Schiller's Favorite Winemakers in Sachsen (Saxony), Germany
Cellar Tour and Tasting at Weingut Aldinger in Fellbach (Stuttgart), with Matthias Aldinger - Germany-East Tour 2018 by ombiasy WineTours: Wine, Art, Culture, History - Berlin, Saale-Unstrut, Sachsen, Württemberg, Franken
Vineyard Walk, Cellar Tour and Tasting at Weingut Karl Haidle in Kernen-Stetten, Württemberg, with Moritz Haidle - Germany-East Tour 2018 by ombiasy WineTours: Wine, Art, Culture, History - Berlin, Saale-Unstrut, Sachsen, Württemberg, Franken
Vineyard Tour and Cellar Tour at Weingut Graf Adelmann, Burg Schaubeck, in Steinheim-Kleinbottwar, Württemberg, with Felix Count Adelmann - Germany-East Tour 2018 by ombiasy WineTours: Wine, Art, Culture, History - Berlin, Saale-Unstrut, Sachsen, Württemberg, Franken
Dinner with Felix Graf Adelmann, Weingut Graf Adelmann, at Burg Schaubeck in Kleinbottwar, Württemberg - Germany-East Tour 2018 by ombiasy WineTours: Wine, Art, Culture, History - Berlin, Saale-Unstrut, Sachsen, Württemberg, Franken
Cellar Tour and Tasting at Weingut Zehnthof Luckert, in Sulzfeld, Franken, with Philipp Luckert - Germany-East Tour 2018 by ombiasy WineTours: Wine, Art, Culture, History - Berlin, Saale-Unstrut, Sachsen, Württemberg, Franken
Cellar Tour and Tasting at Staatlicher Hofkeller in Würzburg, Franken, with General Manager Marcel von den Benken – Germany-East Tour 2016 by ombiasy WineTours
Visit and Tasting at Weingut Am Stein Ludwig Knoll in Würzburg, Franken - Germany-East Wine and Art Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2015)
Wine Pairing Dinner at 1 Michelin Star Restaurant Reisers am Stein and Tasting and Tour at Weingut am Stein Ludwig Knoll, with Winemaker Franziska Schömig - Germany-East Tour 2018 by ombiasy WineTours: Wine, Art, Culture, History - Berlin, Saale-Unstrut, Sachsen, Württemberg, Franken
Vineyard Tour, Cellar Tour and Tasting at Weingut Rudolf Fürst in Bürgstadt, Franken, with Sebastian Fürst
Tasting and Tour with the Pinot Noir Legend Paul Fürst, Weingut Rudolf Fürst in Bürgstadt, Franken – Germany-East Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2015)
Visit and Tasting at Weingut Benedikt Baltes in Klingenberg, Franken: The Wines of Weingut Benedikt Baltes and of Weingut Julia Bertram - Germany-East Tour 2018 by ombiasy WineTours: Wine, Art, Culture, History - Berlin, Saale-Unstrut, Sachsen, Württemberg, Franken
Schiller’s Favorites: 2 Legendary Wine Taverns in Würzburg – Juliusspital and Bürgerspital
Schiller’s Favorite Wine Taverns in Würzburg
Weingut Dr. Lindicke arguably is the leading wine producer in Brandenburg, a tiny Landwein region in the northeast of Germany. Weingut Dr. Lindicke is owned and run by Katharina Lindicke and her parents, Dr. Manfred and Bettina Lindicke. Katharina Lindicke was our host.
Katharina Lindicke met us in the Wachtelberg vineyard. After a vineyard tour she sat down with us in the wine tavern of Weingut Dr. Lindicke for a tasting.
Wine in Werder/ Brandenburg
Brandenburg is one of the federal states that were re-created in 1990 upon the reunification of the former East Germany and West Germany. It lies in the northeast of the country covering an area of 29,478 square kilometers and has roughly 2.5 million residents. The capital and largest city is Potsdam. Brandenburg surrounds but does not include the national capital and city-state Berlin, which is a metropolitan area.
Pictures: Brandenburg and Berlin in Germany
Wine has been produced in Brandenburg since the Middel Ages and is being produced today, although only to a very limited extent. The wine production in Brandenburg accounts for 0.03 percent of Germany's total output. This is equivalent to about 30 percent of the production of Weingut Dr. Robert Weil in the Rheingau.
One of the early pillars of viticulture in Brandeburg was Lehnin Abbey, not far from Werder, founded in 1180 by Cistercian monks who came from Morimond Abbey in the Champagne region. (Morimond Abbey is one of the 4 daughter-abbeys of Cîteaux Abbey in Burgundy. Cîteaux is the birth place of the Cistercian Order. It was founded by Bendiction monks in 1098 who were unsatisfied with the rules of their order and started the Cistercian Order.) During medieval times the Markgrafen of Brandenburg pushed the viticultural development and Brandenburg wines were served at the dinner tables of the aristocracy.
In the mid 1800s. 192 people lived in Werder and 30 of them were winemakers, with the vineyard area totalling about 100 hectares. However starting at the end of the 19th century commercial viticulture was increasingly crowded-out by fruit orchards and the vineyards of Werder eventually disappeared completely.
Today, winemaking is back in Werder with Weingut Dr. Lindicke taking the lead. There are 2 vineyards, the Wachtelberg, which we visited, and the Galgenberg, which we saw from a distance.
The renaissance of viticulture in Werder started already in GDR times. Pushed by the City of Werder, 4.7 hectares were replanted in the Wachtelberg with vines by the GPG Obstproduktion Werder in 1985. Then came reunification and the renaissance of viticulture in Werder lost a bit of steam. But thanks to Dr. Lindicke and others, there are about 8 hectares of vineyards and 3 wine producers in Werder today. The Verein zur Förderung des historischen Weinbaus im Raum Werder (Havel) e.V. played an important role and, of course, Dr. Lindicke, who took over the Wachtelberg in 1996.
The Lindicke family entered the picture in 1991. The City of Werder asked Dr. Manfred Lindicke if he did not want to lease some of the old vineyards and grow wine there. Dr. Lindicke is a trained biologist. And an "Alter Werderaner". He and his wife Bettina supported the city's bid to promote the centuries-old tradition of viticulture in Werder, and so they said yes.
Vineyards in Werder: Wachtelberg and Galgenberg
The Wachtelberg vineyard totals 6.2 hectares today. It is owned by the City of Werder. The major part of it is long-term leased to Weingut Dr. Lindicke. The varieties Dornfelder, Regent, Saphira, Kernling, Sauvignon Blanc, Müller-Thurgau, Muscaris and Cabernet blanc are currently grown on the Wachtelberg.
Pictures: Vineyard Tour in the Wachtelberg in Werder/ Brandenburg
In 2012, the City of Werder was able to sort out the ownership problems of the other vineyard of Werder, the Galgenberg, whch is now owned by the City of Werder. The Galgenberg totals 1.4 hectares and is fully long-term leased to Weingut Dr. Lindicke.
Both the Wachtelberg and the Galgenberg belong to the Qualitätswein Anbaugebiet Saale Unstrut and Weingut Dr. Lindicke sells all his wines as Qualitätswein (mit Prädikat).
Winemaking at Weingut Dr. Lindicke
Initially, the wines of Weingut Dr. Lindicke were vinified in the state-owned winery Kloster Pforta Bad Kösen in Saxony-Anhalt. Since 2012, Weingut Dr. Lindicke has its own winemaking facility in Werder.
Qualitätswein (mit Prädikat)
Brandenburg is one of the 26 Landwein regions in Germany and thus Brandenburger Landwein is the rule in Brandenburg.
However, as a exception, the exisiting vineyards at reunification were attached to the Saale Unstrut Qualitätswein region or the Sachsen Qualitätswein region. Thus, Weingut Dr. Lindicke in Werder sells its wines as Qualitätswein (mit Prädikat) from Saale Unstrut. The wines from Schlieben in the Elbe-Elster county sell as Sachsen Qualitätswein.
Tasting with Katharina Lindicke
Following the vineyard tour we tasted a series of Weingut Dr. Lindicke wines with Katharina Lindicke.
The Wines we Tasted
NV Secco, Amelie, Weingut Dr. Lindicke, Werderaner Wachtelberg
2016 Weingut Dr. Lindicke, Werderaner Wachtelberg, Sauvignon blanc, Spätlese
2017 Weingut Dr. Lindicke, Werderaner Wachtelberg, Cabernet blanc, feinherb
2017 Weingut Dr. Lindicke, Werderaner Wachtelberg, Rosé, trocken
2016 Weingut Dr. Lindicke, Werderaner Wachtelberg, Regent, im Holzfass gereift
Lunch in Wittenberg
Following the visit of Weingut Dr. Lindicke we drove to Wittenberg for lunch. After lunch we had time to do a little bit of sightseeing. Wittenberg is closely associated with the Protestant Reformation. It was here where Martin Luther hammered the 90 theses at the door of the castle church.
Pictures: Lunch in Wittenberg
Postings: Germany-East Tour 2018 by ombiasy WineTours: Wine, Art, Culture, History - Berlin, Saale-Unstrut, Sachsen, Württemberg, Franken (Published and Forthcoming)
Germany-East Tour 2018 by ombiasy WineTours: Wine, Art, Culture, History - Berlin, Saale-Unstrut, Sachsen, Württemberg, Franken
Vineyard Tour and Tasting at the Königlicher Weinberg Klausberg in Sanssouci, Potsdam - Germany-East Tour 2018 by ombiasy WineTours: Wine, Art, Culture, History - Berlin, Saale-Unstrut, Sachsen, Württemberg, Franken
Vineyard Tour and Tasting at Weingut Dr. Lindicke in Werder an der Havel, Brandenburg, with Katharina Lindicke
Vineyard Tour, Cellar Tour and Tasting at Weingut Born in Salzatal, Saale-Unstrut, with Elisabeth Born - Germany-East Tour 2018 by ombiasy WineTours: Wine, Art, Culture, History - Berlin, Saale-Unstrut, Sachsen, Württemberg, Franken
Vineyard Visit and Wine Tasting Lunch at Weingut Hey in Naumburg, Saale-Unstrut, with Matthias Hey – Germany-East Tour 2016 by ombiasy WineTours
Wine Pairing Dinner at Restaurant Zufriedenheit in Naumburg, with Chef Robert Klaus and his Excellent Food, and Uwe Lützkendorf, Weingut Lützkendorf, and his World-class Wines - Germany-East Tour 2018 by ombiasy WineTours: Wine, Art, Culture, History - Berlin, Saale-Unstrut, Sachsen, Württemberg, Franken
Tasting at Weingut Uwe Lützkendorf, with Uwe Lützkendorf, in Bad Kösen, Saale-Unstrut – Germany-East Tour 2017 by ombiasy WineTours
Schiller's Favorite Winemakers in the Saale Unstrut Region, Germany
Visit and tasting at Landesweingut Kloster Pforta in Bad Kösen, Saale-Unstrut, with Managing Director Björn Probst
Weingut Kloster Pforta: Vineyard Tour, Cellar Tour and Tasting with Managing Director Christian Kloss – Germany-North Wine Tour by ombiasy (2014)
Wine and Music: "Martin Luther Lunch" at the Historic Vincenz Richter Restaurant, Weingut Vincenz Richter, in Meissen with Senior Boss Gottfried Herrlich and the Music of Bach, Mozart and Beethoven – Germany-East Tour 2017 by ombiasy WineTours
Vineyard Tour and Tasting at Weingut Schuh in Coswig, Sachsen, with Katharina Pollmer-Schuh and Matthias Schuh - Germany-East Tour 2018 by ombiasy WineTours: Wine, Art, Culture, History - Berlin, Saale-Unstrut, Sachsen, Württemberg, Franken
Tour and Dinner at Weingut Schloss Proschwitz - Prinz zur Lippe in Zadel, Sachsen, with Georg Prinz zur Lippe - Germany-East Tour 2017 by ombiasy WineTours
Visit and Tasting at the Sächsisches Staatsweingut Schloss Wackerbarth in Radebeul, Sachsen - Germany-East Tour 2018 by ombiasy WineTours: Wine, Art, Culture, History - Berlin, Saale-Unstrut, Sachsen, Württemberg, Franken
Wine and Opera in Dresden: Mozart at Semper Opera and the Best Wines of Sachsen at Wine Bar Weinzentrale in Dresden-Neustadt, with Owner/ Sommelier Jens Pietzonka – Germany-East Tour 2017 by ombiasy WineTours
Schiller's Favorite Winemakers in Sachsen (Saxony), Germany
Cellar Tour and Tasting at Weingut Aldinger in Fellbach (Stuttgart), with Matthias Aldinger - Germany-East Tour 2018 by ombiasy WineTours: Wine, Art, Culture, History - Berlin, Saale-Unstrut, Sachsen, Württemberg, Franken
Vineyard Walk, Cellar Tour and Tasting at Weingut Karl Haidle in Kernen-Stetten, Württemberg, with Moritz Haidle - Germany-East Tour 2018 by ombiasy WineTours: Wine, Art, Culture, History - Berlin, Saale-Unstrut, Sachsen, Württemberg, Franken
Vineyard Tour and Cellar Tour at Weingut Graf Adelmann, Burg Schaubeck, in Steinheim-Kleinbottwar, Württemberg, with Felix Count Adelmann - Germany-East Tour 2018 by ombiasy WineTours: Wine, Art, Culture, History - Berlin, Saale-Unstrut, Sachsen, Württemberg, Franken
Dinner with Felix Graf Adelmann, Weingut Graf Adelmann, at Burg Schaubeck in Kleinbottwar, Württemberg - Germany-East Tour 2018 by ombiasy WineTours: Wine, Art, Culture, History - Berlin, Saale-Unstrut, Sachsen, Württemberg, Franken
Cellar Tour and Tasting at Weingut Zehnthof Luckert, in Sulzfeld, Franken, with Philipp Luckert - Germany-East Tour 2018 by ombiasy WineTours: Wine, Art, Culture, History - Berlin, Saale-Unstrut, Sachsen, Württemberg, Franken
Cellar Tour and Tasting at Staatlicher Hofkeller in Würzburg, Franken, with General Manager Marcel von den Benken – Germany-East Tour 2016 by ombiasy WineTours
Visit and Tasting at Weingut Am Stein Ludwig Knoll in Würzburg, Franken - Germany-East Wine and Art Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2015)
Wine Pairing Dinner at 1 Michelin Star Restaurant Reisers am Stein and Tasting and Tour at Weingut am Stein Ludwig Knoll, with Winemaker Franziska Schömig - Germany-East Tour 2018 by ombiasy WineTours: Wine, Art, Culture, History - Berlin, Saale-Unstrut, Sachsen, Württemberg, Franken
Vineyard Tour, Cellar Tour and Tasting at Weingut Rudolf Fürst in Bürgstadt, Franken, with Sebastian Fürst
Tasting and Tour with the Pinot Noir Legend Paul Fürst, Weingut Rudolf Fürst in Bürgstadt, Franken – Germany-East Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2015)
Visit and Tasting at Weingut Benedikt Baltes in Klingenberg, Franken: The Wines of Weingut Benedikt Baltes and of Weingut Julia Bertram - Germany-East Tour 2018 by ombiasy WineTours: Wine, Art, Culture, History - Berlin, Saale-Unstrut, Sachsen, Württemberg, Franken
Schiller’s Favorites: 2 Legendary Wine Taverns in Würzburg – Juliusspital and Bürgerspital
Schiller’s Favorite Wine Taverns in Würzburg
Labels:
2018,
Germany,
Ombiasy Wine Tours
Friday, January 4, 2019
4 German Wines in James Suckling's Top 100 Wines 2018
Pictures: Cornelius Dönnhoff, David Schildknecht and Annette Schiller in New York. See: Rieslingfeier 2018 in New York City: Gränd Tasting and Gala Dinner
James Suckling released his Top 100 Wines of 2018 on November 4, 2018 on his website JamesSuckling.com. Interestingly, there are 4 German wines on the list, all dry, all Riesling, all Grand Cru (Grosses Gewächs). German wine guru Stuart Pigott is Contributing Editor.
James Suckling: "....we chose a fascinating array of different wines including a dry riesling from one of Germany’s greatest winemakers, the Dönnhoff family – Dönnhoff Riesling Nahe Dellchen GG 2017 (No. 3). This glorious white highlights Germany‘s continued success with dry white winemaking and the dedication and precision of its top winemakers...."
In addition to Weingut Dönnhoff from the Nahe, you find Weingut Künstler from the Rheingau, Weingut Christmann from the Pfalz and Weingut Wittmann from Rheinhessen on the list. We have visited all of them on one of the recent Germany tours by ombiasy WineTours. I am reposting the text of James Suckling with his list and I am adding pictures of the 4 included German wine estates.
Picture: Annette and Christian Schiller with Wine Journalist Stuart Pigott
James Suckling: "I knew back in 2016 what would be the JamesSuckling.com Wine of the Year in 2018. Or at least, I had a pretty fair idea. I tasted 800 barrel samples in Bordeaux in March 2016, and I was blown away by the superb quality of the 2015 vintage. It was a superlative year producing classically structured reds with incredible beauty, structure, freshness, and finesse. They were neo-classical wines reminiscent of great young Bordeaux of my career such as 1982 and 1989. I gave potential perfect 100-point ratings to eight wines. About two years later (January this year), I tasted the 2015 Bordeaux again, and I rated 14 wines 100 points. It was the largest number of perfect wines in a single vintage of Bordeaux in my nearly four decades as a wine critic.
Picture: Annette Schiller, Helmut Dönnhoff and daughter Christina Dönnhoff (Weingut Dönnhoff) and Didier Cuevlier (Chateau Leoville Poyferre) at Weingut Dr. Robert Weil
Pictures: An ombiasy WineTours Afternoon with Riesling Star Winemaker Helmut Doennhoff at Weingut Doennhoff in Oberhausen in the Nahe Valley, Germany
My favorite perfect wine of the 2015 vintage has always been St.-Emilion’s Chateau Canon, and that’s why it’s our 2018 Wine of the Year. This blend of cabernet franc and merlot is an exquisite wine showing depth and intensity and superb concentration with balance. It is a wine of a lifetime.
The 2015 Chateau Canon is our wine of the year showing incredible depth, structure and finesse and rated 100 points!
The Canon 2015 was just one of dozens of perfect wines rated by the JamesSuckling.com tasting team this year including myself, my son Jack, Nick Stock and Stuart Pigott. We tasted more than 22,000 wines in 2018 and travelled to dozens of tasting locations around the world from Napa Valley to Barossa Valley to France, Spain, Italy, Austria, New Zealand, Australia, Germany, and the United States – and back again. We visited dozens of wineries and spoke to hundreds of winemakers. We did the due diligence in tasting and reporting on the best wines of this year. And we are proud of all the hard work!
Picture: Annette Schiller, Christian Schiller and Steffen Christmann at the 2. Internationale Riesling Symposium in Hattenheim, Germany
Pictures: Winery Tour and Wine Tasting at Weingut A. Christmann, with Steffen Christmann – Germany-South Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2014)
This year’s top 100 is based on the best wines we tasted with a minimum production of about 300 cases. We had some other top scoring wines such as rarified trockenbeerenauslese and tiny single-vineyard production wines, but we decided not to include them in the list since very few people in the world will ever drink them! The score was the most important factor in our ranking for the Top 100 list, but we also arranged the wines in their respective ratings level according to price whereby a wine with the same score with a lower price would be positioned higher in the list. We also only allowed one wine per winery in the list.
Bordeaux dominated the list with almost two dozen wines and rightly so considering the greatness of the 2015. I have written numerous times that “Bordeaux is Back!” with this wonderful vintage. And it is back in strength. Don’t miss buying these wines, particularly from the Right Bank (Pomerol and St. Emilion), which are already delicious to drink but will improve with age for decades ahead.
Besides Bordeaux’s Canon (No. 1), Belair-Monange (No. 2) and Beausejour Duffau-Lagarosse (No. 6) being in the Top 10 of 2018, we chose a fascinating array of different wines including a dry riesling from one of Germany’s greatest winemakers, the Dönnhoff family – Dönnhoff Riesling Nahe Dellchen GG 2017 (No. 3). This glorious white highlights Germany‘s continued success with dry white winemaking and the dedication and precision of its top winemakers. At No. 4 is Taylor’s Vintage Port 2016. Vintage Port is a lifelong favorite (I wrote my only book about it back in 1989) and the Taylor’s is the jewel of this fantastic new vintage for Portugal’s famous fortified wine.
Jack Suckling, Stuart Pigott and myself tasting in Mendoza, Argentina, this year. We found a general movement to finesse and balance from just simply power.
Pictures: Annette and Christian Schiller with Gunter Künstler, Weingut Künstler, at Weingut Robert Weil
Pictures: Vineyard Walk, Cellar Tour and Wine Tasting at Weingut Künstler – Germany-North Wine Tour by ombiasy (2014)
Jack Suckling, Stuart Pigott and myself tasting in Mendoza, Argentina, this year. We found a general movement to finesse and balance from just simply power.
Clos Apalta Valle de Apalta 2015 (No. 5) is the second vintage in a row from this great name of Chile to receive 100 points and it continues to amaze us with its balance, beauty and integrity. It underlines the ever growing movement to produce world class wines in Chile and the uniqueness of the various terroirs of the country. The Ridge Vineyards Santa Cruz Mountains Monte Bello 2015 is equally unique but for its long history of quality winemaking and its adherence to maintaining its character and style in California red winemaking while so many others in the state went to high octane bottlings.
Pictures: Cellar Tour and Wine Tasting with Philipp Wittmann and Eva Clüsserath-Wittmann at Weingut Wittmann in Westhofen – Germany-South Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2014)
Le Macchiole Bolgheri Scrio 2015 (No. 6) and Marchesi Antinori Toscana Solaia 2015 (No. 7) are equally harmonious and unique as the great California cabernet. They show how amazing the 2015 vintage was in Italy, particularly Tuscany. The pure syrah Scrio was one of dozens of superb wines from the coast of Tuscany while Solaia 2015 is the greatest Solaia in its almost four decades history.
The Tyrrell’s Shiraz Hunter Valley Old Patch 2017 (No. 10) is the second time this Australian icon has been in our Top 100 and we revel in the wine’s uniqueness and history as it is produced from vineyards planted in 1867. This is the greatest old-vine wine in existence.
Yet this year’s list of JamesSuckling.com’s Top 100 Wines of 2018 has so many exceptional wines. They are wines that all of us – me, Jack, Nick and Stuart – dream about drinking again and enjoying a moment with family and friends to taste and savor their greatness. We hope you enjoy this year’s Top 100 too!"
James Suckling's Top 100 Wines 2018
1Château Canon St.-Emilion 2015
2Château Bélair-Monange St.-Emilion 2015
3Dönnhoff Riesling Nahe Dellchen GG 2017
4Taylor’s Vintage Port 2016
5Clos Apalta Valle de Apalta 2015
6Château Beauséjour Duffau-Lagarosse St.-Emilion 2015
7Ridge Vineyards Santa Cruz Mountains Monte Bello 2015
8Le Macchiole Bolgheri Scrio 2015
9Marchesi Antinori Toscana Solaia 2015
10Tyrrell's Shiraz Hunter Valley Old Patch 2017
11Vieux Château Certan Pomerol 2015
12Rippon Pinot Noir Central Otago Tinker's Field 2015
13Château Trottevieille St.-Emilion 2015
14Christmann Riesling Pfalz Idig GG 2017
15F. X. Pichler Riesling Wachau Unendlich Smaragd 2017
16Argentiera Bolgheri Superiore 2015
17Tolpuddle Pinot Noir Coal River Valley Coal River Valley 2017
18Podere Poggio Scalette Alta Valle della Greve Il Carbonaione 2015
19Château de Beaucastel Châteauneuf-du-Pape 2016
20Littorai Pinot Noir Sonoma County Sonoma Valley Sonoma Coast The Haven Vineyard 2016
21Famille Hugel Riesling Alsace Schoelhammer 2009
22Fattoria Le Pupille Maremma Toscana Saffredi 2016
23Trapiche Malbec Cabernet Franc Mendoza Iscay 2013
24Beringer Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley Private Reserve 2015
25Tenuta Sette Ponti Toscana Oreno 2016
26S.C. Pannell Shiraz McLaren Vale Koomilya JC Block 2015
27Graham’s Vintage Port 2016
28Susana Balbo Wines Valle de Uco Nosotros Single Vineyard 2013
29Ulysses Napa Valley 2016
30Domaine Zind Humbrecht Riesling Alsace Grand Cru Rangen de Thann Clos Saint Urban 2016
31Duemani Syrah Costa Toscana Suisassi 2016
32Muga Rioja Aro 2015
33Hewitt Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley Double Plus 2014
34Bruno Giacosa Barbaresco Asili Riserva 2014
35Castello di Ama Chianti Classico Vigneto Bellavista Gran Selezione 2015
36Realm Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley Oakville To Kalon Vineyard 2015
37Château Pavie St.-Emilion 2015
38Château Trotanoy Pomerol 2015
39Spinifex Shiraz Barossa Valley Single Vineyard Moppa 2016
40Château L'Evangile Pomerol 2015
41Château Pape Clément Pessac-Léognan 2015
42Quinta do Noval Vintage Port Nacional 2016
43Continuum Napa Valley Sage Mountain Vineyard 2015
44Château Clinet Pomerol 2015
45Château La Mission Haut-Brion Pessac-Léognan 2015
46Château Péby-Faugères St.-Emilion 2015
47Künstler Riesling Rheingau Hölle GG 2017
48Château Palmer Margaux 2015
49Château Lafleur Pomerol 2015
50Château Smith-Haut-Lafitte Pessac-Léognan 2015
51Cockburn’s Vintage Port 2016
52Château Margaux Margaux 2015
53Château Pétrus Pomerol 2015
54Damilano Barolo Cannubi Riserva 1752 2010
55Château Le Pin Pomerol 2015
56Franz Hirtzberger Riesling Wachau Ried Singerrriedel Smaragd 2017
57Cayuse Vineyards Syrah Walla Walla Valley Bionic Frog 2014
58Escarpment Pinot Noir Martinborough Kupe 2016
59El Enemigo Chardonnay Mendoza 2016
60Montevetrano Colli di Salerno 2016
61Bodega Chacra Pinot Noir Patagonia Treinta y Dos 2016
62Wittmann Riesling Rheinhessen Morstein GG 2017
63Contino Rioja Vina del Oliva 2016
64Castello di Bossi Chianti Classico Berardo Riserva 2015
65Catena Zapata Mendoza White Bones 2016
66Yarra Yering Yarra Valley Dry Red Wine No. 1 2016
67Clonakilla Shiraz Viognier Canberra District 2017
68Kosta Browne Pinot Noir Sonoma County Sonoma Coast Freestone 2016
69Shaw + Smith Shiraz Adelaide Hills Balhannah Vineyard 2015
70Albert Mann Pinot Noir Alsace Grand P 2016
71Bilancia Syrah Hawkes Bay La Collina 2016
72Domaine du Vieux Télégraphe Châteauneuf-du-Pape La Crau 2016
73Mount Mary Yarra Valley Quintet 2015
74Terrazas de los Andes Chardonnay Valle de Uco Espinillo 2017
75Viñedo Chadwick Cabernet Sauvignon Valle de Maipo 2016
76Peter Michael Winery Chardonnay Sonoma County Knights Valley Mon Plaisir 2015
77Tua Rita Toscana Redigaffi 2016
78Colgin Cellars Syrah Napa Valley IX Estate 2015
79Screaming Eagle Napa Valley 2015
80Artadi Alava El Carretil 2015
81Château Larcis-Ducasse St.-Emilion 2015
82Abreu Napa Valley Las Posadas 2015
83Concha y Toro Puente Alto Don Melchor Puente Alto Vineyard 2015
84Foradori Teroldego Vigneti delle Dolomiti Granato 2016
85Gonzalez Byass Jerez Tio Pepe Cuatro Palmas Amontillado
86Bodega Lanzaga Rioja Las Beatas 2015
87Casanova di Neri Brunello di Montalcino Tenuta Nuova 2013
88Bond Napa Valley St. Eden 2014
89Eredi Fuligni Brunello di Montalcino Riserva 2012
90Dana Estates Napa Valley Lotus Vineyard 2015
91Château Mouton Rothschild Pauillac 2015
92Newton Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley Mt. Veeder 2016
93Château Rieussec Sauternes 2015
94Louis Roederer Champagne Cristal Rosé 2008
95Château Pavie-Macquin St.-Emilion 2015
96Joseph Drouhin Montrachet Grand Cru Marquis de Laguiche 2016
97Masseto Toscana 2015
98Vasse Felix Cabernet Sauvignon Malbec Margaret River Tom Cullity 2014
99Vega Sicilia Ribera del Duero Reserva Especial Unico
100Château Lafite Rothschild Pauillac 2015
For tasting reviews of these wines go to JamesSuckling.com: James Suckling's Top 100 Wines 2018
schiller-wine: Related Postings
UPCOMING Tours/ Wine Dinners/ Tastings - Annette and Christian Schiller/ ombiasyPR & WineTours/ schiller-wine, Germany, France, USA (Issued: January 1, 2019)
Ombiasy Wine Tours 2018: 3 x France and 3 x Germany - Ombiasy Newsletter December 2017
Announcement: Renaissance of the Terroir in Germany. Back to the Roots - Wine Tasting Seminar lead by Annette Schiller at the German Wine Society (Washington DC Chapter), USA
Rieslingfeier 2018 in New York City: Gränd Tasting and Gala Dinner
An ombiasy WineTours Afternoon with Riesling Star Winemaker Helmut Doennhoff at Weingut Doennhoff in Oberhausen in the Nahe Valley, Germany
Winery Tour and Wine Tasting at Weingut A. Christmann, with Steffen Christmann – Germany-South Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2014)
Vineyard Walk, Cellar Tour and Wine Tasting at Weingut Künstler – Germany-North Wine Tour by ombiasy (2014)
Cellar Tour and Wine Tasting with Philipp Wittmann and Eva Clüsserath-Wittmann at Weingut Wittmann in Westhofen – Germany-South Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2014)
James Suckling released his Top 100 Wines of 2018 on November 4, 2018 on his website JamesSuckling.com. Interestingly, there are 4 German wines on the list, all dry, all Riesling, all Grand Cru (Grosses Gewächs). German wine guru Stuart Pigott is Contributing Editor.
James Suckling: "....we chose a fascinating array of different wines including a dry riesling from one of Germany’s greatest winemakers, the Dönnhoff family – Dönnhoff Riesling Nahe Dellchen GG 2017 (No. 3). This glorious white highlights Germany‘s continued success with dry white winemaking and the dedication and precision of its top winemakers...."
In addition to Weingut Dönnhoff from the Nahe, you find Weingut Künstler from the Rheingau, Weingut Christmann from the Pfalz and Weingut Wittmann from Rheinhessen on the list. We have visited all of them on one of the recent Germany tours by ombiasy WineTours. I am reposting the text of James Suckling with his list and I am adding pictures of the 4 included German wine estates.
Picture: Annette and Christian Schiller with Wine Journalist Stuart Pigott
James Suckling: "I knew back in 2016 what would be the JamesSuckling.com Wine of the Year in 2018. Or at least, I had a pretty fair idea. I tasted 800 barrel samples in Bordeaux in March 2016, and I was blown away by the superb quality of the 2015 vintage. It was a superlative year producing classically structured reds with incredible beauty, structure, freshness, and finesse. They were neo-classical wines reminiscent of great young Bordeaux of my career such as 1982 and 1989. I gave potential perfect 100-point ratings to eight wines. About two years later (January this year), I tasted the 2015 Bordeaux again, and I rated 14 wines 100 points. It was the largest number of perfect wines in a single vintage of Bordeaux in my nearly four decades as a wine critic.
Picture: Annette Schiller, Helmut Dönnhoff and daughter Christina Dönnhoff (Weingut Dönnhoff) and Didier Cuevlier (Chateau Leoville Poyferre) at Weingut Dr. Robert Weil
Pictures: An ombiasy WineTours Afternoon with Riesling Star Winemaker Helmut Doennhoff at Weingut Doennhoff in Oberhausen in the Nahe Valley, Germany
My favorite perfect wine of the 2015 vintage has always been St.-Emilion’s Chateau Canon, and that’s why it’s our 2018 Wine of the Year. This blend of cabernet franc and merlot is an exquisite wine showing depth and intensity and superb concentration with balance. It is a wine of a lifetime.
The 2015 Chateau Canon is our wine of the year showing incredible depth, structure and finesse and rated 100 points!
The Canon 2015 was just one of dozens of perfect wines rated by the JamesSuckling.com tasting team this year including myself, my son Jack, Nick Stock and Stuart Pigott. We tasted more than 22,000 wines in 2018 and travelled to dozens of tasting locations around the world from Napa Valley to Barossa Valley to France, Spain, Italy, Austria, New Zealand, Australia, Germany, and the United States – and back again. We visited dozens of wineries and spoke to hundreds of winemakers. We did the due diligence in tasting and reporting on the best wines of this year. And we are proud of all the hard work!
Picture: Annette Schiller, Christian Schiller and Steffen Christmann at the 2. Internationale Riesling Symposium in Hattenheim, Germany
Pictures: Winery Tour and Wine Tasting at Weingut A. Christmann, with Steffen Christmann – Germany-South Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2014)
This year’s top 100 is based on the best wines we tasted with a minimum production of about 300 cases. We had some other top scoring wines such as rarified trockenbeerenauslese and tiny single-vineyard production wines, but we decided not to include them in the list since very few people in the world will ever drink them! The score was the most important factor in our ranking for the Top 100 list, but we also arranged the wines in their respective ratings level according to price whereby a wine with the same score with a lower price would be positioned higher in the list. We also only allowed one wine per winery in the list.
Bordeaux dominated the list with almost two dozen wines and rightly so considering the greatness of the 2015. I have written numerous times that “Bordeaux is Back!” with this wonderful vintage. And it is back in strength. Don’t miss buying these wines, particularly from the Right Bank (Pomerol and St. Emilion), which are already delicious to drink but will improve with age for decades ahead.
Besides Bordeaux’s Canon (No. 1), Belair-Monange (No. 2) and Beausejour Duffau-Lagarosse (No. 6) being in the Top 10 of 2018, we chose a fascinating array of different wines including a dry riesling from one of Germany’s greatest winemakers, the Dönnhoff family – Dönnhoff Riesling Nahe Dellchen GG 2017 (No. 3). This glorious white highlights Germany‘s continued success with dry white winemaking and the dedication and precision of its top winemakers. At No. 4 is Taylor’s Vintage Port 2016. Vintage Port is a lifelong favorite (I wrote my only book about it back in 1989) and the Taylor’s is the jewel of this fantastic new vintage for Portugal’s famous fortified wine.
Jack Suckling, Stuart Pigott and myself tasting in Mendoza, Argentina, this year. We found a general movement to finesse and balance from just simply power.
Pictures: Annette and Christian Schiller with Gunter Künstler, Weingut Künstler, at Weingut Robert Weil
Pictures: Vineyard Walk, Cellar Tour and Wine Tasting at Weingut Künstler – Germany-North Wine Tour by ombiasy (2014)
Jack Suckling, Stuart Pigott and myself tasting in Mendoza, Argentina, this year. We found a general movement to finesse and balance from just simply power.
Clos Apalta Valle de Apalta 2015 (No. 5) is the second vintage in a row from this great name of Chile to receive 100 points and it continues to amaze us with its balance, beauty and integrity. It underlines the ever growing movement to produce world class wines in Chile and the uniqueness of the various terroirs of the country. The Ridge Vineyards Santa Cruz Mountains Monte Bello 2015 is equally unique but for its long history of quality winemaking and its adherence to maintaining its character and style in California red winemaking while so many others in the state went to high octane bottlings.
Pictures: Cellar Tour and Wine Tasting with Philipp Wittmann and Eva Clüsserath-Wittmann at Weingut Wittmann in Westhofen – Germany-South Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2014)
Le Macchiole Bolgheri Scrio 2015 (No. 6) and Marchesi Antinori Toscana Solaia 2015 (No. 7) are equally harmonious and unique as the great California cabernet. They show how amazing the 2015 vintage was in Italy, particularly Tuscany. The pure syrah Scrio was one of dozens of superb wines from the coast of Tuscany while Solaia 2015 is the greatest Solaia in its almost four decades history.
The Tyrrell’s Shiraz Hunter Valley Old Patch 2017 (No. 10) is the second time this Australian icon has been in our Top 100 and we revel in the wine’s uniqueness and history as it is produced from vineyards planted in 1867. This is the greatest old-vine wine in existence.
Yet this year’s list of JamesSuckling.com’s Top 100 Wines of 2018 has so many exceptional wines. They are wines that all of us – me, Jack, Nick and Stuart – dream about drinking again and enjoying a moment with family and friends to taste and savor their greatness. We hope you enjoy this year’s Top 100 too!"
James Suckling's Top 100 Wines 2018
1Château Canon St.-Emilion 2015
2Château Bélair-Monange St.-Emilion 2015
3Dönnhoff Riesling Nahe Dellchen GG 2017
4Taylor’s Vintage Port 2016
5Clos Apalta Valle de Apalta 2015
6Château Beauséjour Duffau-Lagarosse St.-Emilion 2015
7Ridge Vineyards Santa Cruz Mountains Monte Bello 2015
8Le Macchiole Bolgheri Scrio 2015
9Marchesi Antinori Toscana Solaia 2015
10Tyrrell's Shiraz Hunter Valley Old Patch 2017
11Vieux Château Certan Pomerol 2015
12Rippon Pinot Noir Central Otago Tinker's Field 2015
13Château Trottevieille St.-Emilion 2015
14Christmann Riesling Pfalz Idig GG 2017
15F. X. Pichler Riesling Wachau Unendlich Smaragd 2017
16Argentiera Bolgheri Superiore 2015
17Tolpuddle Pinot Noir Coal River Valley Coal River Valley 2017
18Podere Poggio Scalette Alta Valle della Greve Il Carbonaione 2015
19Château de Beaucastel Châteauneuf-du-Pape 2016
20Littorai Pinot Noir Sonoma County Sonoma Valley Sonoma Coast The Haven Vineyard 2016
21Famille Hugel Riesling Alsace Schoelhammer 2009
22Fattoria Le Pupille Maremma Toscana Saffredi 2016
23Trapiche Malbec Cabernet Franc Mendoza Iscay 2013
24Beringer Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley Private Reserve 2015
25Tenuta Sette Ponti Toscana Oreno 2016
26S.C. Pannell Shiraz McLaren Vale Koomilya JC Block 2015
27Graham’s Vintage Port 2016
28Susana Balbo Wines Valle de Uco Nosotros Single Vineyard 2013
29Ulysses Napa Valley 2016
30Domaine Zind Humbrecht Riesling Alsace Grand Cru Rangen de Thann Clos Saint Urban 2016
31Duemani Syrah Costa Toscana Suisassi 2016
32Muga Rioja Aro 2015
33Hewitt Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley Double Plus 2014
34Bruno Giacosa Barbaresco Asili Riserva 2014
35Castello di Ama Chianti Classico Vigneto Bellavista Gran Selezione 2015
36Realm Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley Oakville To Kalon Vineyard 2015
37Château Pavie St.-Emilion 2015
38Château Trotanoy Pomerol 2015
39Spinifex Shiraz Barossa Valley Single Vineyard Moppa 2016
40Château L'Evangile Pomerol 2015
41Château Pape Clément Pessac-Léognan 2015
42Quinta do Noval Vintage Port Nacional 2016
43Continuum Napa Valley Sage Mountain Vineyard 2015
44Château Clinet Pomerol 2015
45Château La Mission Haut-Brion Pessac-Léognan 2015
46Château Péby-Faugères St.-Emilion 2015
47Künstler Riesling Rheingau Hölle GG 2017
48Château Palmer Margaux 2015
49Château Lafleur Pomerol 2015
50Château Smith-Haut-Lafitte Pessac-Léognan 2015
51Cockburn’s Vintage Port 2016
52Château Margaux Margaux 2015
53Château Pétrus Pomerol 2015
54Damilano Barolo Cannubi Riserva 1752 2010
55Château Le Pin Pomerol 2015
56Franz Hirtzberger Riesling Wachau Ried Singerrriedel Smaragd 2017
57Cayuse Vineyards Syrah Walla Walla Valley Bionic Frog 2014
58Escarpment Pinot Noir Martinborough Kupe 2016
59El Enemigo Chardonnay Mendoza 2016
60Montevetrano Colli di Salerno 2016
61Bodega Chacra Pinot Noir Patagonia Treinta y Dos 2016
62Wittmann Riesling Rheinhessen Morstein GG 2017
63Contino Rioja Vina del Oliva 2016
64Castello di Bossi Chianti Classico Berardo Riserva 2015
65Catena Zapata Mendoza White Bones 2016
66Yarra Yering Yarra Valley Dry Red Wine No. 1 2016
67Clonakilla Shiraz Viognier Canberra District 2017
68Kosta Browne Pinot Noir Sonoma County Sonoma Coast Freestone 2016
69Shaw + Smith Shiraz Adelaide Hills Balhannah Vineyard 2015
70Albert Mann Pinot Noir Alsace Grand P 2016
71Bilancia Syrah Hawkes Bay La Collina 2016
72Domaine du Vieux Télégraphe Châteauneuf-du-Pape La Crau 2016
73Mount Mary Yarra Valley Quintet 2015
74Terrazas de los Andes Chardonnay Valle de Uco Espinillo 2017
75Viñedo Chadwick Cabernet Sauvignon Valle de Maipo 2016
76Peter Michael Winery Chardonnay Sonoma County Knights Valley Mon Plaisir 2015
77Tua Rita Toscana Redigaffi 2016
78Colgin Cellars Syrah Napa Valley IX Estate 2015
79Screaming Eagle Napa Valley 2015
80Artadi Alava El Carretil 2015
81Château Larcis-Ducasse St.-Emilion 2015
82Abreu Napa Valley Las Posadas 2015
83Concha y Toro Puente Alto Don Melchor Puente Alto Vineyard 2015
84Foradori Teroldego Vigneti delle Dolomiti Granato 2016
85Gonzalez Byass Jerez Tio Pepe Cuatro Palmas Amontillado
86Bodega Lanzaga Rioja Las Beatas 2015
87Casanova di Neri Brunello di Montalcino Tenuta Nuova 2013
88Bond Napa Valley St. Eden 2014
89Eredi Fuligni Brunello di Montalcino Riserva 2012
90Dana Estates Napa Valley Lotus Vineyard 2015
91Château Mouton Rothschild Pauillac 2015
92Newton Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley Mt. Veeder 2016
93Château Rieussec Sauternes 2015
94Louis Roederer Champagne Cristal Rosé 2008
95Château Pavie-Macquin St.-Emilion 2015
96Joseph Drouhin Montrachet Grand Cru Marquis de Laguiche 2016
97Masseto Toscana 2015
98Vasse Felix Cabernet Sauvignon Malbec Margaret River Tom Cullity 2014
99Vega Sicilia Ribera del Duero Reserva Especial Unico
100Château Lafite Rothschild Pauillac 2015
For tasting reviews of these wines go to JamesSuckling.com: James Suckling's Top 100 Wines 2018
schiller-wine: Related Postings
UPCOMING Tours/ Wine Dinners/ Tastings - Annette and Christian Schiller/ ombiasyPR & WineTours/ schiller-wine, Germany, France, USA (Issued: January 1, 2019)
Ombiasy Wine Tours 2018: 3 x France and 3 x Germany - Ombiasy Newsletter December 2017
Announcement: Renaissance of the Terroir in Germany. Back to the Roots - Wine Tasting Seminar lead by Annette Schiller at the German Wine Society (Washington DC Chapter), USA
Rieslingfeier 2018 in New York City: Gränd Tasting and Gala Dinner
An ombiasy WineTours Afternoon with Riesling Star Winemaker Helmut Doennhoff at Weingut Doennhoff in Oberhausen in the Nahe Valley, Germany
Winery Tour and Wine Tasting at Weingut A. Christmann, with Steffen Christmann – Germany-South Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2014)
Vineyard Walk, Cellar Tour and Wine Tasting at Weingut Künstler – Germany-North Wine Tour by ombiasy (2014)
Cellar Tour and Wine Tasting with Philipp Wittmann and Eva Clüsserath-Wittmann at Weingut Wittmann in Westhofen – Germany-South Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2014)
Labels:
2019,
Germany,
Ombiasy Wine Tours
Tuesday, January 1, 2019
UPCOMING Tours/ Wine Dinners/ Tastings - Annette and Christian Schiller/ ombiasyPR & WineTours/ schiller-wine, Germany, France, USA (Issued: January 1, 2019)
Picture: Annette and Christian Schiller in Lyon. See: Rhône Valley Tour 2018 by ombiasy WineTours: Wine, Culture and History, France
Below is a list of the wine tours, wine dinners and wine tastings planned by Annette and Christian Schiller/ ombiasyPR & WineTours/ schiller-wine for the coming months.
For questions concerning the ombiasy wine tours please consult the ombiasy website.
For all other events please send me (cschiller@schiller-wine.com) or Annette (aschiller@ombiasypr.com) an e-mail.
January 2019
Washington DC, USA, January 4: A Journey through the Rhône Valley - Tasting at the American Wine Society ( Northern Virginia Chapter), led by Annette Schiller. See: Rhône Valley Tour 2018 by ombiasy WineTours: Wine, Culture and History, France
Washington DC, USA, January 18: The Renaissance of Terroir in German Wine - Tasting at the German Wine Society ( Washington DC Chapter), led by Annette Schiller. See: Announcement: Renaissance of the Terroir in Germany. Back to the Roots - Wine Tasting Seminar lead by Annette Schiller at the German Wine Society (Washington DC Chapter), USA
February 2019
March 2019
Frankfurt, Germany: Tasting the Best of Virginia Wines in Frankfurt - Virginia Governor's Cup Case 2017. See: Tasting the Best of Virginia Wines in Frankfurt, Germany, with Stuart Pigott: Virginia Governor's Cup Case 2016
Frankfurt, Germany: Tasting Aged American Red Wines (Cabernet Sauvignon/ Merlot)
April 2019
Rheingau, Mittelrhein, Ahr, Mosel, Nahe: Germany-North Tour 2019. See: Germany-North Tour 2017 by ombiasy WineTours: Quintessential German Riesling and the Northernmost Pinot Noir
May 2019
June 2019
Alsace, France, June 18 - 22: Alsace Tour 2019 (Weinfreundeskreis Hochheim)
July 2019
August 2019
September 2019
Bordeaux, France, September 2019: 2019 Bordeaux Tour by ombiasy WineTours. See: Total Immersion in Bordeaux: World Class Wines and Exquisite French Gourmet Cuisine - Bordeaux Tour 2017 by ombiasy WineTours, France
schiller-wine: Related Postings
Ombiasy Wine Tours 2018: 3 x France and 3 x Germany - Ombiasy Newsletter December 2017
Total Immersion in Bordeaux: World Class Wines and Exquisite French Gourmet Cuisine - Bordeaux Tour 2017 by ombiasy WineTours, France
Germany-North Tour 2017 by ombiasy WineTours: Quintessential German Riesling and the Northernmost Pinot Noir
The 2018 American Wine Society National Conference in Buffalo, New York State, USA: Seen Through Christian Schiller's Camera Lens
Tasting the Best of Virginia Wines in Frankfurt, Germany, with Stuart Pigott: Virginia Governor's Cup Case 2016
Rhône Valley Tour 2018 by ombiasy WineTours: Wine, Culture and History, France
Announcement: Renaissance of the Terroir in Germany. Back to the Roots - Wine Tasting Seminar lead by Annette Schiller at the German Wine Society (Washington DC Chapter), USA
Below is a list of the wine tours, wine dinners and wine tastings planned by Annette and Christian Schiller/ ombiasyPR & WineTours/ schiller-wine for the coming months.
For questions concerning the ombiasy wine tours please consult the ombiasy website.
For all other events please send me (cschiller@schiller-wine.com) or Annette (aschiller@ombiasypr.com) an e-mail.
January 2019
Washington DC, USA, January 4: A Journey through the Rhône Valley - Tasting at the American Wine Society ( Northern Virginia Chapter), led by Annette Schiller. See: Rhône Valley Tour 2018 by ombiasy WineTours: Wine, Culture and History, France
Washington DC, USA, January 18: The Renaissance of Terroir in German Wine - Tasting at the German Wine Society ( Washington DC Chapter), led by Annette Schiller. See: Announcement: Renaissance of the Terroir in Germany. Back to the Roots - Wine Tasting Seminar lead by Annette Schiller at the German Wine Society (Washington DC Chapter), USA
February 2019
March 2019
Frankfurt, Germany: Tasting the Best of Virginia Wines in Frankfurt - Virginia Governor's Cup Case 2017. See: Tasting the Best of Virginia Wines in Frankfurt, Germany, with Stuart Pigott: Virginia Governor's Cup Case 2016
Frankfurt, Germany: Tasting Aged American Red Wines (Cabernet Sauvignon/ Merlot)
April 2019
Rheingau, Mittelrhein, Ahr, Mosel, Nahe: Germany-North Tour 2019. See: Germany-North Tour 2017 by ombiasy WineTours: Quintessential German Riesling and the Northernmost Pinot Noir
May 2019
June 2019
Alsace, France, June 18 - 22: Alsace Tour 2019 (Weinfreundeskreis Hochheim)
July 2019
August 2019
September 2019
Bordeaux, France, September 2019: 2019 Bordeaux Tour by ombiasy WineTours. See: Total Immersion in Bordeaux: World Class Wines and Exquisite French Gourmet Cuisine - Bordeaux Tour 2017 by ombiasy WineTours, France
schiller-wine: Related Postings
Ombiasy Wine Tours 2018: 3 x France and 3 x Germany - Ombiasy Newsletter December 2017
Total Immersion in Bordeaux: World Class Wines and Exquisite French Gourmet Cuisine - Bordeaux Tour 2017 by ombiasy WineTours, France
Germany-North Tour 2017 by ombiasy WineTours: Quintessential German Riesling and the Northernmost Pinot Noir
The 2018 American Wine Society National Conference in Buffalo, New York State, USA: Seen Through Christian Schiller's Camera Lens
Tasting the Best of Virginia Wines in Frankfurt, Germany, with Stuart Pigott: Virginia Governor's Cup Case 2016
Rhône Valley Tour 2018 by ombiasy WineTours: Wine, Culture and History, France
Announcement: Renaissance of the Terroir in Germany. Back to the Roots - Wine Tasting Seminar lead by Annette Schiller at the German Wine Society (Washington DC Chapter), USA
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