Monday, April 30, 2018

Germany’s Best Dry Rieslings – Feinschmecker Riesling Cup 2017

Picture: The Winners of the Feinschmecker Riesling Cup 2017 - Maximilian von Kunow, Weingut von Hövel, Amelie von Schubert, Weingut Maximin Grünhaus, and Franz-Josef Eifel, Weingut Franz-Josef Eifel (Photo: Feinschmecker/ Facebook)

The results of the Feinschmecker Riesling Cup 2017 - Germany’s Best Dry Rieslings - were published in the February 2018 issue of Der Feinschmecker, Germany's leading gourmet journal.

Der Feinschmecker: The Riesling Cup 2017 goes to the winery Franz-Josef Eifel (Mosel) for the 2016 Trittenheimer Apotheke Alte Reben Riesling trocken and the winery Maximin Grünhaus (Mosel/ Ruwer) for the 2016 Abstberg Riesling Grosses Gewächs - because of equality of points both wineries share first place. In third place follows the winery von Hövel (Mosel/ Saar) with the 2016 Saar Riesling trocken. Congratulations!

Picture: Feinschmecker Riesling Cup

The Award Ceremony - Feinschmecker-Gala des Rieslings - took place in the Grandhotel Bayerischer Hof in Munich on November 18, 2017.

Picture: Feinschmecker Riesling Cup 2017 Award Ceremony in Munich

Dry Riesling in Germany

There are approximately 47,000 hectares planted with Riesling worldwide. Germany—with 22,500 hectares—accounts for about half of the total. From a global perspective, Riesling is a niche grape variety, accounting for less than 1% of world wine production. From a global perspective, it is the fruity-sweet style (with the fermentation stopped so that the wine remains sweet and the level of alcohol low) and the rare noble-sweet style (lusciously sweet wines due to noble rot or frost in the vineyard) that are receiving the attention of the connoisseurs of premium wines.

Pictures: Cellar Visit, Vineyard Walk and Tasting at Weingut Maximin Grünhaus in Mertersdorf, Ruwer, with Owner Dr. Carl von Schubert – Germany-North Tour 2017 by ombiasy WineTours

Dry Riesling has played a minor role in the world of wine, but this is changing. The Rieslings from Alsace and Austria, both considerably smaller producers of Riesling than Germany (Alsace produces approximately 15% and Austria approximately 7% of what Germany produces), have always been in the dry category (although the Rieslings from Alsace have shown a trend toward an increasing level of remaining sweetness in the wine over the past decades), and, importantly, Germany, the dominating Riesling force in the world, has undergone a major trans-formation in the past 40 years: The fruity-sweet Rieslings have been crowded out from the wine lists in Germany, while the “dry wave”—“Trockenwelle”—has swept the country. When you go to a wine bar, wine store, or restaurant in say Frankfurt, Berlin, or Munich, it is very difficult to find a fruity-sweet Riesling. The wine lists are dominated by dry Riesling.

Picture: Annette Schiller, Max von Kunow, Johannes Hasselbach, Alwin Jurtschitsch and Christian G.E. Schiller at BToo. See:Weingut von Hoevel – The New Generation: Max von Kunow in Washington DC, USA/Germany

Pictures: Cellar Tour and Tasting at Weingut von Hövel, Saar, with Owner/ Winemaker Maximilian von Kunow - Germany-North Tour 2017 by ombiasy WineTours

The Top 15 Wines

01 2016 Trittenheimer Apotheke Alte Reben Riesling trocken Franz-Josef Eifel (Mosel) Euro 18
01 2016 Abstberg Riesling Grosses Gewächs Maximin Grünhaus (Mosel/ Ruwer) Euro 27,90

03 2016 Saar Riesling trocken von Hövel (Mosel/ Saar) Euro 10,80

04 2016 Deidesheimer Kalkofen Riesling Spätlese trocken Jul. Ferd. Kimich (Pfalz) Euro12,30
04 2016 Blauschiefer Riesling trocken Dr. Loosen (Mosel) Euro 10.60

06 2016 Chara*** Riesling trocken Alexander Laible (Baden) Euro 15

07 2016 Alte Reben Riesling Spätlese trocken Karthäuserhof (Mosel/ Ruwer) Euro 15,90
07 2016 Kreuznacher Paradies Riesling trocken Korrell (Nahe) Euro 18
07 2016 Schloss Saarsteiner Riesling Grosses Gewächs Schloss Saarstein (Mosel/ Saar) Euro 28,50
07 2016 Kiedricher Turmberg Riesling trocken Robert Weil (Rheingau) Euro 25,94

11 2016 Maximin Herrenberg Erste Lage Riesling trocken Carl Loewen (Mosel) Euro 19,90

12 2016 Steeger St. Jost Erste Lage Riesling trocken Toni Jost (Mittelrhein) Euro 14

13 2016 Rosengewächs Riesling trocken August Kesseler (Rheingau) Euro 30
13 2016 Oberhäuser Kieselberg Riesling Spätlese trocken Sitzius (Nahe) Euro 7,80

15 2016 Lorcher Pfaffenwies Riesling Erstes Gewächs Altenkirch (Rheingau) Euro 19,50
15 2016 Kaseler Nieschen Auf den Mauern Riesling Grosses Gewächs Erben von Beulwitz (Mosel/ Ruwer) Euro 19,50

Pictures: The 15 Riesling Cup 2017 Wines in Der Feinschmecker, Heft 2, Februar 2018

Previous Feinschmecker Riesling Cup Winners

For previous years, see on schiller-wine:

Germany’s Best Dry Rieslings - Feinschmecker Riesling Cup 2015: Dönnhoff Rules! The Nahe Rules!
Germany’s Best Dry Rieslings – Feinschmecker Riesling Cup 2014
Germany’s Best Dry Rieslings – Feinschmecker Riesling Cup 2013
Germany’s Best Dry Rieslings – Feinschmecker Riesling Cup 2012
Germany’s Best Dry Rieslings - Feinschmecker Riesling Cup 2011
The 11 Top German Dry Rieslings – Feinschmecker German Riesling Cup 2010 (Vintage 2009)
The 13 Top German Dry Rieslings – Feinschmecker German Riesling Cup 2009 (Vintage 2008)
Riesling Cup 2009 - Germany's Top Dry 2007 Rieslings

schiller-wine: Related Postings

Upcoming Tours/ Wine Dinners/ Tastings - Annette and Christian Schiller/ ombiasyPR & WineTours/ schiller-wine, Germany, France, USA (Issued: April 2, 2018)

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

UPCOMING Ombiasy Wine Tours in 2018 to Germany and Alsace (May/ June) and to Bordeaux and Burgundy-Champagne (September)

Invitation: TWO !!!!! Exceptional Bordeaux Winemaker Dinners: Lafon-Rochet, May 7, and Haut-Bailly, May 8, 2018, Washington DC, USA

Cellar Visit, Vineyard Walk and Tasting at Weingut Maximin Grünhaus in Mertersdorf, Ruwer, with Owner Dr. Carl von Schubert – Germany-North Tour 2017 by ombiasy WineTours

Weingut von Hoevel – The New Generation: Max von Kunow in Washington DC, USA/Germany

Cellar Tour and Tasting at Weingut von Hövel, Saar, with Owner/ Winemaker Maximilian von Kunow - Germany-North Tour 2017 by ombiasy WineTours

Friday, April 27, 2018

Wine-Pairing Lunch at Château Pichon Longueville Baron in Pauillac - Bordeaux Tour by ombiasy WineTours 2017 France

Picture: Lunch at Château Pichon Longueville Baron

Château Pichon Longueville Baron in Pauillac is one of the most stunning estates in Bordeaux. It is currently owned by the insurance company AXA Millésimes.

We had a gorgeous wine lunch at Château Pichon Longueville Baron. This was preceeded by a vineyard and winery tour and a tasting. This posting covers the lunch. I already reported about the first part of the visit: Tour and Tasting at Château Pichon Longueville Baron in Pauillac - Bordeaux Tour by ombiasy WineTours 2017 France

Nicolas Santier, responsable du développement réceptif et tourisme, was our host. During the tour, we were welcomed by Jean-René Matignon, Technical Director.

Picture: Château Pichon Longueville Baron in Pauillac

Château Pichon Longueville Baron

Château Pichon Longueville Baron (often referred to as Pichon Baron) in Pauillac is one of 15 Deuxièmes Crus in the Classification of 1855. It was once part of a larger estate, owned by Pierre de Rauzan, along with Château Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande. In 1850 the estate was divided into the two current Pichon estates facing each other as one enters Pauillac along the D2 highway.

Château Pichon Baron stayed in the de Pichon-Longueville family until 1933 when the last surviving family member sold it to Jean Bouteiller, member of a family well-known in the Bordeaux wine scene. His heirs did not manage to keep the quality of the wines and in 1987 the estate was bought by AXA Millésimes. With the new owner, reconstruction of the fermenting room and cellars, and renovation of the château itself, began in 1988.

Pictures: With Jean-René Matignon, Technical Director, at the Sorting Table

Excellent terroir across from the 1st growth Latour property, stretching south bordering the Léoville estates in Saint-Julien gives the wines elegance, balance, and finesse. Château Pichon Baron's 73 hectares are planted with Cabernet Sauvignon (60%), Merlot (35%), Cabernet Franc (4%) and Petit Verdot (1%). The average age of the vines is 30 years.

Grapes are harvested and sorted by hand, and then macerated for 20-30 days, and fermented at 28-32 °C in temperature controlled stainless steel vats of varying sizes. The wine is transferred into oak barrels for aging after finishing its malolactic fermentation.

The estate also produces a second wine, Les Tourelles de Longueville. Les Griffons de Pichon Baron is the estate's latest addition.

The property is currently managed by Christian Seely.

Pictures: In the Cellar of  Château Pichon Longueville Baron

The AXA Wine Portfolio

Château Pichon Baron, 2nd Cru Classé Pauillac, France
Château Suduiraut, 1er Cru Classé Sauternes, France
Château Petit-Village, Pomerol, France
Château Pibran, Pauillac, France
Domaine de l’Arlot, Nuits-Saint-Georges, France
Domaine Disznókö, Tokaj, Hongrie
Quinta do Noval, Douro, Portugal
AXA also owns one of the larger Bordeaux wine negociant companies, Compagnie Medocaine.

Tasting

We tasted all 3 wines. The 2016 and 2015 vintages were from barrel, the others from bottle. I have put the wine searcher average prices in US$.in brackets.

Pictures: Tasting at Château Pichon Longueville Baron, Pauillac

2016 Les Griffons De Pichon Baron US$49
2016 Les Tourelles de Longueville US$42
2016 Château Pichon Longueville Baron US$161
2015 Château Pichon Longueville Baron US$160
2010 Château Pichon Longueville Baron US$234
2009 Château Pichon Longueville Baron US$209

Lunch at Château Pichon-Longueville Baron

Following the tour and tasting, we walked over to the chateau for lunch.

Picture: Walking over to the Château

Champagne Reception

We started off with a Champagne reception in the private rooms of Château Pichon-Longueville-Baron.

Pictures: Champagne Reception

Lunch

We than proceed for lunch to the dining room.

Pictures: Lunch at Château Pichon Longueville Baron

Lunch Wines

I have added the wine-searcher average prices in US$.

NV Champagne Agrapart&Fils Terroir Grand Cru Blanc de Blancs Extra Brut US$65

2014 S de Suduiraut US$39


2006 Château Pichon Longueville Baron US$136
2004 Château Pichon Longueville Baron US$139
1990 Château Pichon Longueville Baron US$354


2010 Château de Suduiraut 1er Cru Classé Sauternes US$82


Bye-bye

Thanks Nicolas Santier for a wonderful lunch.

Pictures: Bye-bye.

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