Wines from our own Saar Valley vineyards
Between 1988 and 2001 we owned and worked some small steeply-sloping vineyards in
the rugged and beautiful Saar Valley, on the western border of Germany near
Luxembourg.
The vines are 100% Riesling, probably the greatest white wine variety
of all.
The 1988/89 wines are pure classic Saar Rieslings, racy, slatey, steely, dry wines, fermented and matured in stainless steel tanks for the freshest, cleanest flavour:-
1988 Kanzemer Schlossberg, Riesling Spätlese Trocken (very dry; 10½% alc).
From very old un-grafted vines (planted in 1916) growing on an incredibly steep slope in the
best blue slate soil, which gives that wonderful steely character. Only 692
bottles from our 0.1 hectare site. Harvested at 80°Oe.
Rrp = £4.10 Trade price = £3.05 + Vat
1989 Kanzemer Schlossberg, Riesling Kabinett Trocken (very dry; 9½% alcohol).
In
flavour this is riper than the 1988, but rainfall in September swelled the
grapes and diluted the sugars to 72°Oe, otherwise we would have harvested an
auslese.
Rrp = £3.80 Trade price = £2.83 + Vat
1989 Wiltinger Schlossberg, Riesling Kabinett Trocken (very dry; 10% alcohol).
Only a few hundred yards along the hillside from Kanzemer Schlossberg, also
72°Oe but a different form of slate in the soil develops a zest of lemon in the
flavour.
Rrp = £3.80 Trade price = £2.83 + Vat
For the 1990 to 1994 harvests, we transported the grapes 120 miles to the Rheinpfalz, where our good friend Bernd Philippi supervised the winemaking. In a specialist book on the Riesling vine and wines, Bernd is described as the best producer of dry Riesling wines in the world. Using his special technique of grape-skin-contact, and his old barrels with their special yeast, has produced some superb white wines. Under EC rules (because the winemaking was in a remote region) the wines have to be labeled Deutscher Tafelwein, even though the grapes were ripe enough to be Auslese or Spätlese. We are fortunate that the 1990 vintage was one of the greatest:-
1990 Olive-green label, Riesling Trocken (dry; 11% alcohol).
From our best
vineyard the Kanzemer Schlossberg; harvested at 85°Oe. Subtle but immensely
powerful and complex, deep and intense flavour.
Rrp = £7.00 Trade price = £4.99 + Vat
1990 Slate-grey label, Riesling Trocken (dry, 11% alcohol).
From our Wiltinger
Schlossberg vineyard; harvested at 80°Oe. Mellow yet intense riesling flavour
with citrus character from the site.
Rrp = £7.00 Trade price = £4.99 + Vat
1990 Sun-yellow label, Riesling Trocken (dry; 11% alcohol).
From our Kanzemer
Sonnenberg vineyard; harvested at 81°Oe. A big wine with a very smooth, round
character, full of flavour and easy to drink!
Rrp = £5.00 Trade price = £3.64 + Vat
1991 Black capsule, Riesling Trocken (dry; 9% alcohol).
From our Kanzemer
Schlossberg vineyard; harvested at 69°Oe. Dry but approaching medium-dry.
Excellent balanced wine.
Rrp = £5.50 Trade price
= £3.98 + Vat
1991 Silver capsule, Riesling Trocken (dry; 9% alcohol).
From our Wiltinger
Schlossberg vineyard; harvested at 66°Oe. Perfect riesling flavour with citrus
character from the site. One of our best wines.
Rrp = £6.50 Trade price = £4.65 + Vat
1992 Copper capsule, Riesling (medium-dry, 9% alcohol).
From our Kanzemer
Schlossberg vineyard; harvested at 76°Oe. Delicious wine.
Rrp = £5.20 Trade price = £3.79 + Vat
From 1995 to 2001 we were assisted by a very good young winemaker in Kanzem, using different yeasts and techniques, the wines are traditional in style with pure Riesling grape flavours.
1996 Riesling Sekt (Brut, 11% alcohol).
From our Kanzemer Sonnenberg vineyard;
harvested at 70°Oe. Hand-made like a champagne, with 4 years secondary
fermentation.
Rrp = £7.50 Trade price = £5.43 + Vat
1997 Riesling Auslese (medium, 8½% alcohol).
Our Kanzemer Sonnenberg
vineyard; harvested at 83°Oe. Saar auslese is always rare. Delicious flavours, it will improve for many years. We always dreamed
about producing such a wine. Special 0.50cl
bottle.
Rrp = £6.50 Trade
price = £4.65 + Vat
1999 Riesling Auslese (medium, 11% alcohol).
From our Kanzemer Sonnenberg
vineyard; harvested at 99°Oe - a 'gold capsule' auslese! A superb wine, rich
and sweet, and will improve for 20 years. A wine for 'laying down'.
Rrp = £9.00 Trade price = £6.45 + Vat
We send wines by 'mail order' for a small additional charge.
To place an order: please e-mail Derek@exmoor-excellence.com listing the wines you wish to buy and saying if you are a private buyer or trade customer. We will then e-mail you a pro-forma invoice.