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 how can we explain the price difference? Let's first look at the four Riesling wines that were able to win the premium rating from Graf von Weyher .
Riesling premium wines
Riesling has been grown in Germany for over 600 years and the Palatinate is the largest Riesling growing region in the world, so our specialty if you will. Our premium Riesling is made from the same grape as the other wines. The grapes are pressed in the same way. Same alcohol content (13%), all dry. So is it all just a marketing gimmick?
Nope. Anyone who knows anything about wine knows that the vine and the processing are just two of the important elements that make up a wine: Two other important factors are the location and yes, you won't believe it, the rock on which the vine grows! The Riesling is a grape that adapts very sensitively to its environment.
We at Graf von Weyher are very proud to have four completely different types of rock on our relatively small area (because that's rare!): red sandstone , granite , marl and slate . The differences in the rock can actually 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 tour!
But back to the differences: The vines have to adapt to the subsoil and this has a direct effect on the taste. For example, red sandstone contains a lot of sand and many minerals, so it stores more water. This is quite relaxed for the vines in dry summers, especially compared to hard granite or multi-layered slate.
Granite, on the other hand, which is actually quite rare in Germany, has another advantage: when exposed to direct sunlight, it heats up considerably and thus stores the natural heat for a long time... which can be quite 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 limestone marl and red sandstone slopes face south-west, meaning they receive ten to eleven hours of sunshine in the summer (and the southern Palatinate is one of the sunniest regions in Germany, so there is plenty of sunshine!). Our slate and granite slopes, on the other hand, face south and receive a maximum of eight hours of sun in the summer.
For our premium wines, we harvest each variety separately and process them with particular care. You can really taste the differences (and that does n't just apply to real wine connoisseurs!). Try it out and find out which is your personal favorite Riesling. You can find more details about Kellergold in the individual wines.
This is what wine experts say:
"A bouquet of herbal, spicy aromas, young peach and rocky notes. On the palate, it has a crisp acidity that easily balances the aromas of the nose such as apricot and orange zest. A wine with potential that is already a pleasure to drink." Falstaff Wine Guide 2022
"Classic Riesling nose with peach and apricot, a little lemon and also fine slate spice. On the palate, medium extract, 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 color play with golden reflections; on the nose, complex aromas reminiscent of citrus fruits, peach, melon and lychee; the taste shows the exciting interplay of a striking acidic impression with a balanced minerality and slightly exotic fruit sweetness; elegant and lively aftertaste. " DLG Federal Wine Awards , Frankfurt am Main, 05/2020.
"Yellow fruit bouquet with apricot and peach, also leafy greens 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 by subtle sweetness." Falstaff Wine Guide 2020.
"... The fruity Rieslings like the Kalkmergel are particularly well received, as they deliberately border on semi-dry and come across as very melty. Normally, granite and slate are the clear demarcations, they are crisper and more straightforward..." Vinum Weinguide Detschland 2018.
"Delicate yellow with green reflections; interesting aromas of green apple and lychee underlined by gooseberry; on the palate a fruity residual sweetness followed by a racy, invigorating acidity; fresh, tangy finish." DLG Federal Wine Award, Frankfurt am Main, 08/2019
"Very fresh, appetizing, delicately fruity nose with subtle mineral notes, 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 Leipziger Allerlei." Dr. Rolf Klein, experienced wine author and former editor-in-chief of the magazine "Weinwelt".
Awards:
year 2020 (AP.No. 5073053 4421)
91 points - "excellent wine, among the best wines of the vintage." Falstaff Wine Guide 2022
Year 2019 ( AP. No. 5073053 0920 )
Golden DLG Prize awarded and recognized by the DLG - Federal Wine Awards.
90 points - "excellent wine, among the best wines of the vintage." Falstaff Wine Guide 2021
Year 2018 ( AP. No. 5073053 0819 )
90 points - "excellent wine, among the best wines of the vintage." Falstaff Wine Guide 2020
Year 2017 ( AP. No. 5073053 1218 )
89 points at the international competition ' Best of Riesling '
89 points - "Very good wines that usually age well. They often offer the best price-enjoyment ratio" Vinum Wine Guide 2018
Vintage 2016 ( AP. No. 5073053 3317 ) 2nd filling, the same wine.
Golden Chamber Prize Coin at the state awards for wine and sparkling wine awarded by the Chamber of Agriculture of Rhineland-Palatinate .
Year 2016 ( AP. No. 5073053 1817 )
Silver Chamber Prize Coin at the state awards for wine and sparkling wine awarded by the Chamber of Agriculture of Rhineland-Palatinate .
89 points at the international competition ' Best of Riesling '
Year 2015 ( AP. No. 5073053 0616 )
89 points at the international competition ' Best of Riesling '
Golden Chamber Prize Coin at the state awards for wine and sparkling wine awarded by the Chamber of Agriculture of Rhineland-Palatinate .
Year 2014 ( AP. No. 5073053 1115 )
87 points at the international competition ‘ Best of Riesling ’.
Golden Chamber Prize Coin at the state awards for wine and sparkling wine awarded by the Chamber of Agriculture of Rhineland-Palatinate .
Year 2013 ( AP. No. 5073053 1714 )
87 points at the international competition ' Best of Riesling '
Golden Chamber Prize Coin at the state awards for wine and sparkling wine awarded by the Chamber of Agriculture of Rhineland-Palatinate .
Golden DLG Prize awarded and recognized by the DLG - Federal Wine Awards.
0.75 liters
