I recently caught up with two members of Germany’s young winemaking generation in Edinburgh, when the city’s university was the final port of call in a nine date tour of british university wine clubs, organised by the Wines of Germany generic body.
The idea was to introduce the UK’s wine enthusiast students to the newer styles of German wine being made by younger winemakers, with the winemakers from estates like Leitz of the Rheingau, Rudolf Furst of Franken and Pfeffingen of the Pfalz talking about, and pouring, their wines for the audience.
On this leg the task fell to Konrad Salwey of Weingut Salwey in Baden (left of picture), and Sebastian Oberbillig of Weingut Deutschherrenhof in the Mosel Valley (right of picture).
The tour had taken in Oxford, Cambridge, Bristol and the LSE before wending its way north to finish with the universities of St Andrews and Edinburgh. I asked Konrad and Sebastian how it had gone, and both were impressed not just by the level of interest displayed by the students, but also their complete lack of any prejudice against German wines. It seems the notoriety of Liebfraumilch in the 70’s has bypassed this generation, who come to German wine without negative preconceptions.
That’s not to say that Germany does not have a battle on its hands in terms of recognition: the fact that Germany made so many dry white wines not just from Riesling, but from Pinot Gris, Pinot Blanc and even Chardonnay was news to many. The fact that Germany makes increasing quantities of red wine was met with disbelief by some, though red varieties now account for 37% of Germany’s total grapevine acreage.
This cleverly conceived road show comes against a very positive background for German wines. In the £4 to £5 category Germany is currently the second fastest growing country in UK wine sales, with sales up 22% between 2005 and 2007, whilst in the £5-plus category the increase is even more dramatic, with a 31% rise making Germany the third best performer in this category (stats AC Neilson)
Another interesting statistic suggests that Riesling – so long the favourite grape of many wine-lovers but one that made no impact on general consumers – has finally started to gain mass appeal. German exports have attained their highest ever volumes and the highest prices on record.
The wines
Salwey (Baden) Grauburgunder Kabinett 2006
2006 saw lots rain in August and September (200mm in August) says konrad, so Botrytis and mildew problems meant leaving around 50% of grapes on the ground. Grapes for this wine grow on yellow limestone. It has a very attractive, peachy, soft nose with lovely mealy qualities and plenty of ripe stone fruit aromas. The fleshiness gives a plump softness, but there is lovely acidity and length with a touch of salty minerality adding a tangy, food-friendly freshness. 90/100. 12.5%. £9.60, Tanners. See all Salway stockists on wine-searcher.
Pfeffingen (Pfalz) Weissburgunder Kabinett Trocken 2006
From the Pfalz, Pinot Blanc grown on chalky soils, is given yeast contact for six months. Very rich, quite exotic nose, with touch of banana and baked apple. The palate has some fat and weight, with plenty of ripe, mouth-filling fruit like pears and apple, with touches of apricot richness. There’s a note of Epsom salts in the finish, and lovely brightness and balance. 89/100. 12.5%. £11.55, Robert Anthony Wines. See all Pfeffingen stockists on wine-searcher.
Deutschherrenhof (Mosel) Riesling Trocken Alte Reben 2006
From the Mosel and Slaty slopes, this is a product of Deutschherrenhof’s oldest vineyards (more than 30 years old). Sebastian talks of lots of changes in the estate, including lowering cropping levels to 60 – 65 hl/ha for their mid range and premium wines. They are also moving half of their production to screwcap. Delicate, peach and red apple aromatics, with a lemony zest in the background. On the palate there is a flattering, easy hint of off-dry sweetness (this has 7.2g/l of sugar) and it is mouthfilling with orange zest fruit and a certain power, though balanced and with good length 89/100. Not in UK
Deutschherrenhof Riesling Fienherb Sebastian No 1 Halbtrocken 2006
Sebastian’s own experiment having travelled and worked vintages in Australia, New Zealand and more, this wine is a project based on a vineyard given to him by his father on his 18th birthday. Sebsastian says that in the nine years since he first made this wine, the other wines in the portfolio have been made in a more similar style and its is today not so different – lower yields, some skin contact, left on lees for seven months or so. Quite a meaty, powerful nose, with crisp orchard fruits. The fruit on the palate is off-dry, with a lovely peachy ripeness. Very nice balance and harmony here. 89/100. Not in UK
Pfeffingen Pfeffo Riesling 2007
Lovely freshness and elegance. With racy lime fruit and a burgeoning sense of nectarine ripeness, but all restrained and classy. 87/100. Not yet in UK.
Leitz (Rheingau) Riesling Spätlese Rudesheimer Magdalenenkreuz 2006
Bottled in screwcap, this has a very fine and refined minerality on the nose, with little exotic fruit hints in amongst tangy apple skin and little salty notes. Lovely palate, with a fine sweetness and lovely ripe pear and some flowery, ogen melon notes. Beautiful acidity and shimmering length. Delightful. 91/100, 7.5%. £13.99, Booth’s, Christopher Piper. See all Leitz stockists on wine-searcher.
Rudolf Furst (Franken) Spätburgunder Centrafenberg 2005
From red sandstone vineyards, aged in older barriques. Very pale garnet colour, with a fine herbal and aniseedy note, and a lovely earthy, truffly character. On the palate there’s a tight, edgy character, with a gamy edge and tight, fine, beetroot and cherry skin fruit. Lovely silky tannins and a fine Pinot character here with good acidity. Terrific, but very young. 91/100. £24.00, Uncorked, Connolly’s, Larners. See all Furst stockists on wine-searcher.
Salwey Spätburgunder Reserve 2006
One third each of new, second use and older oak. Volcanic black soil and 30 year-old vines. A little more depth to the colour, with a seductive, smoky, tobacco and toasted caraway seed nose. On the palate a slightly baked, slightly reductive quality perhaps, and what might be a malolactic character? Nice mouthfilling fruit and good tannin and acid freshness, and a very successful wine in a more difficult vintage. 88/100. Not in UK