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 .
Our dry slate Riesling is one of the four premium single-vineyard wines of the winery. Here in Weyher it is in a southerly position . That means it doesn't get quite as much sun as it does in a south-west location, and that's a good thing. Shale rock consists of hard , impermeable layers in which water does not stay for long. The vine has to be tough, rooted deep and not easily deterred. It is logical that this also affects the grapes. This wine is straightforward and clear, just right for people who know what they want. 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:
"A bouquet of herbal aromas, young peach and rocky notes. Crisp acidity on the palate, which loosely balances the nose aromas such as apricot and orange zest. A wine with potential that is already a pleasure." falstaff wine guide 2022
"Classic Riesling nose with peach and apricot, some lemon and also fine slate spiciness. Medium extract on the palate, relaxed mouthfeel, ripe acidity, beautiful spice and minerality that lingers for a long time. Classic style with precise soil expression." falstaff wine guide 2021.
" Yellow-green play of colors with golden reflections; complex aromas reminiscent of citrus fruits, peach, melon and lychee on the nose; the taste shows the exciting interplay of a striking acid impression with a balanced minerality and slightly exotic fruit sweetness; elegant and lively aftertaste. " DLG- Federal Wine Awards , Frankfurt am Main, 05/2020.
"Yellow fruity bouquet with apricot and peach, also leafy green and notes of rock flour. The ripe and balanced acidity leads through a clearly defined texture, juicy and slate mineral, fine spiciness and well rounded off by subtle sweetness." falstaff wine guide 2020.
"... The fruity Rieslings like the lime marl are particularly well received, which deliberately border on semi-dry and come across with a lot of enamel. Normally, ganite and slate are the clear demarcation, they are crisper and more straightforward..." Vinum Wine Guide Germany 2018.
"Tender yellow with green reflections; interesting aromatic aromas of green apple and lychee accompanied by gooseberries; fruity residual sweetness on the palate followed by a classy, invigorating acidity; fresh, sparkling finish." DLG Federal Wine Awards, Frankfurt am Main, 08/2019
"Very fresh, appetizing, delicately fruity nose with subtle hints of minerals, acidity very well integrated. Notes of apple, grapefruit and star fruit, light-footed and delicate. With fine fish such as turbot or sole, with tender spring vegetables - with real Leipzig all sorts." dr Rolf Klein, experienced wine author and former editor-in-chief of the magazine " Weinwelt ".
Awards:
vintage 2020
(AP No. 5073053 4421)
- 91 points - "excellent wine, among the best wines of the vintage." falstaff wine guide 2022
Vintage 2019
( AP No. 5073053 0920 )
- Golden DLG prize and awarded by the DLG - Federal Wine Awards.
- 90 points - "excellent wine, among the best wines of the vintage." falstaff wine guide 2021
Vintage 2018
( AP No. 5073053 0819 )
- 90 points - "excellent wine, among the best wines of the vintage." falstaff wine guide 2020
Vintage 2017
( AP No. 5073053 1218 )
- 89 points in the international competition ' Best of Riesling '
- 89 points - "Very good wines, which usually age well. They often offer the best value for money" Vinum Wine Guide 2018
Vintage 2016
( AP No. 5073053 3317 )
- Golden chamber prize coin at the state awards for wine and sparkling wine awarded by the Rhineland-Palatinate Chamber of Agriculture .
Vintage 2016
( AP No. 5073053 1817 )
- Silver chamber prize coin at the state awards for wine and sparkling wine awarded by the Rhineland-Palatinate Chamber of Agriculture .
- 89 points in the international competition ' Best of Riesling '
Vintage 2015
( AP No. 5073053 0616 )
- 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 2014
( AP No. 5073053 1115 )
- 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 .
2013 vintage
( AP No. 5073053 1714 )
- 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 .
- Golden DLG prize and awarded by the DLG - Federal Wine Awards.
