Only a small selection of our wines make it into the premium class . We like to call them cellar gold . But what makes them so special and what explains the price difference? Let's first take a look at the four Riesling wines that were able to conquer the premium title from Graf von Weyher .
If you were a grapevine that loves the " dolce far niente ", you would probably choose the limestone marl as the rock. Because this soil is quite paradisiacal for a vine: soft, full of holes and a bit like a sponge. So there is enough water and you can cling on without having to root deeply. In addition, the lush sun in the south-west location on our vineyard - as a vine you can already go into raptures! Perhaps that is the reason why our Kalkmergel Riesling has such a gentle taste and is also the first of the four premium Riesling wines to be ready to drink after the harvest. A relaxed life also has an effect on the relaxed, well-rounded taste. No idea what relaxation tastes like? Try out! More background information on our four premium Rieslings can be found here:
Riesling premium wines
Riesling has been grown in Germany for over 600 years (you dare not even think about what it was like before!) and the Palatinate is the largest Riesling growing region in the world, so our specialty if you will. First of all, our premium Riesling is the same vine as the other wines. The grapes are also pressed in the same way. Same alcohol content (13%), all dry. So it's all just a marketing gimmick?
nope Because anyone who is familiar with wine knows that the vine and the processing are just two of the important elements that make a wine: Two other important factors are the location and yes, you can hardly believe it, the rock on which the vine grows ! Riesling is a grape that adapts very sensitively to its environment.
We at Graf von Weyher are quite proud to have four completely different types of rock in our comparatively small area (because that is rare!): red sandstone , granite , limestone marl and slate . Incidentally, the differences in the rock can be seen with the naked eye. So be sure to come to our winery here in the beautiful Palatinate at the next opportunity and take a guided tour!
But back to the differences: the vines have to adapt to the soil and that has a direct effect on the taste. Buntsandstein eg contains a lot of sand and many minerals, so it stores more water. That's pretty relaxed for the grapevine in dry summers, especially when compared to the hard granite or multi-layered slate.
The granite, on the other hand, which incidentally is really rare in Germany, has another advantage: it heats up a lot in direct sunlight and thus stores the natural heat for a longer period of time ... which can be pretty nice for the vine on cold spring nights!
It is relatively easy to understand that the location affects the taste : the more sun, the sweeter the wine. Our lime marl and red sandstone slopes face south-west , ie they get ten to eleven hours of sunshine in summer (and the southern Palatinate is one of the sunniest regions in Germany, so there's something going on!). Our slate and granite slopes, on the other hand, face south and bathe in the sun for a maximum of 8 hours in summer.
For our premium wines, we harvest each variant separately and process them with particular care. By the way, you can really taste the differences (and not only for real wine connoisseurs!). Try it out and find out which is your personal favorite Riesling. You can find more details about the cellar gold under the respective wines.
What wine experts say:
"In the nose with volume, in the scent green apple, apricot and peach. On the palate it is robust, medium-weight in body with some phenolic and present tactile minerality. Ends substantial and dry, very pointed." falstaff wine guide 2022
"Wet stone is evident on the nose, along with stone fruit such as vineyard peach and apricot. On the palate, the self-confident acidity and fruity sweetness form a small duet, beautiful interplay, harmoniously rounded wine, which is accompanied by lime-mineral enamel." falstaff wine guide 2021
"Full-bodied scent of juicy and ripe vineyard peach, yellow apple. Creamy on the palate with balanced acidity and juicy fruit again, the subtle residual sweetness is well integrated, clear expression, a finely spicy and harmoniously rounded wine." falstaff wine guide 2020
"Very young, refreshing, harmonious nose. Lots of citrus, apricot, peach and moist stones. Very well integrated acidity, fine structure. Beautiful minerality. Balanced and harmonious. A juicy Palatinate with style and a finely spicy, piquant finish. A pleasant companion for hot Days and mild summer evenings on the terrace..." Dr. Rolf Klein, experienced wine author and former editor-in-chief of the magazine " Weinwelt ".
Awards:
vintage 2020
(AP No. 5073053 1318)
- 89 points - good to very good! falstaff wine guide 2022
Vintage 2019
(AP No. 5073053 4319)
- 89 points - good to very good! falstaff wine guide 2021
Vintage 2018
(AP No. 5073053 1318)
- 89 points - good to very good! f alstaff Wine Guide 2020
Vintage 2017
( APN. 5073053 1318 )
- Golden chamber prize coin at the state awards for wine and sparkling wine awarded by the Rhineland-Palatinate Chamber of Agriculture .
Vintage 2016
( APN. 5073053 1717 )
- 1st place in the Riesling category in the competition ' the young southern Palatinate, something is growing '.
- 89 points in the international competition ' Best of Riesling' .
- Golden chamber prize coin at the state awards for wine and sparkling wine awarded by the Rhineland-Palatinate Chamber of Agriculture .
Vintage 2015
( APN. 5073053 0716 )
- 2nd place in the Riesling category in the competition ' the young southern Palatinate, something is growing '.
- 87 points in the international competition ' Best of Riesling' .
- Golden chamber prize coin at the state awards for wine and sparkling wine awarded by the Rhineland-Palatinate Chamber of Agriculture .
Vintage 2014
( AP No. 5073053 1015)
- 85 points in the international competition ' Best of Riesling' .
- Golden chamber prize coin at the state awards for wine and sparkling wine awarded by the Rhineland-Palatinate Chamber of Agriculture .
2013 vintage
( AP No. 5073053 1814)
- Silver chamber prize coin at the state awards for wine and sparkling wine awarded by the Rhineland-Palatinate Chamber of Agriculture .
- Silver prize at the international wine challenge AWC Vienna .
