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Demystifying the Labels A short German wine phrasebook Trocken Meaning dry, these whites are amongst the best value and most enjoyable.
Spätlese ‘Late Harvest’ wines typically have a delicious sweetness but are not dessert wines. They shouldn’t be confused with the frequent use of the term to designate dessert wines throughout the world.
Kabinett Light wines made with fully-ripened grapes, these traditionally have some sweetness balanced with crisp acidity. However, in certain examples, such as the wines of Dönnhoff, the wines are so supremely balanced that they are, to all intents and purposes, dry.
‘Select Berry Harvest’, made from hand-picked grapes often affected by noble rot, these wines are wonderfully rich and sweet.
Usually designated by gold foil on the bottle, but with no legal meaning, interpretations vary from producer to producer. For ours, Dönnhoff and Dr Loosen, this term signifies a high level of botrytis in Auslese wines.
Beerenauslese (BA)
Goldkapsel
‘Select Harvest’ wines, made from hand-picked, very ripe bunches. Covering a wide range of styles, Auslese can have some noble rot character, and its sweetness can reach into the realms of dessert wine.
‘Select Dry Berry Harvest’, very rare and made from shrivelled, overripe grapes, usually affected by noble rot. The use of the prefix ‘trocken-’ refers to the dried grapes, rather than the resulting style, which is lusciously sweet.
Auslese
Trockenbeerenauslese (TBA)
Grosses Gewächs Literally ‘great growth’, used to designate top level dry wines from specific sites – think French ‘Grand Cru’.
Eiswein Ice Wine made from grapes which have naturally frozen on the vine, creating a lusciously sweet, concentrated wine.
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Prost!
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To Dry German Whites German wine, and its perceptions, have changed. No longer should sugar-laden, clergy-inspired, bright-blue bottles spring to mind at the mere mention of Teutonic winemaking. Rather, Germany is a country which offers superb value for money, with modern, exciting winemaking techniques creating both ageworthy and ready-to-drink whites and reds of real character, grown in some of the world’s most spectacular vineyard locations. Labels which may initially seem daunting are the most informative in the wine world, offering information on location, producer and sweetness level. So have a peek at our phrasebook overleaf and give German wine a chance – you won’t be disappointed!
Rheingau The birthplace of Riesling, the Rheingau holds a hugely important place in global viticultural history. Nahe Sandwiched between Mosel and Rheingau, the wines of Nahe can offer the longevity of the former and the body and intensity of the latter. Mosel Whilst unfathomably steep slopes and tricky climatic conditions make ripening grapes a challenge, those that succeed ensure Mosel remains Germany’s most prestigious winemaking region. Franconia (Franken) Situated in Bavaria, better know for its beer-drinking traditions, Franconia is now producing excellent Pinot Noir.
2013 Eins Zwei Dry Riesling, Leitz, Rheingau £99 per case of 12 in bond Drink 2014-2017 From the Rheingau’s most revered producer, this amusingly named offering is a real game changer. This is a German Riesling that is crisp, dry and delicious, encapsulating everything that makes the grape so drinkable – light pithy lemon, apple and pear with a gentle texture and a mouth-watering finish. Weighing in at considerably less than entry level Chablis, this is a wine crying out for drinking.
2013 Oberhäuser Leistenberg Riesling Kabinett, Dönnhoff, Nahe £63 per case of 6 in bond Drink 2014-2024 Meaning ‘perform’ or ‘achieve’, the German word ‘Leisten’ perfectly describes this superb Kabinett. Blessed
with 100% slate soils, the ‘Leistenberg’ vineyard is perfect for retaining heat, allowing for a long, slow ripening period. With elegant minerality and fruit that builds up in delicate layers, the wine leaves you with an amazingly fresh, surprisingly dry, and enthrallingly lingering finish.
2013 Ürziger Würzgarten Riesling Dry Grosses Gewächs, Dr Loosen, Mosel £114 per case of 6 in bond Drink 2016-2026 The legendary producer, Dr Loosen, makes a wonderful dry ‘Grand Cru’ Riesling from the poetically named ‘Spice Garden of Ürzig’, a vineyard famous for its red slate and volcanic soil. With hints of spice, delightful tropical fruit flavours and delicious minerality to match, the 2013 is a classic example. This is a wine of mind-blowing intensity with an outstanding capacity to age - superb value for money.
To view all the wines in this offer please visit laywheeler.com/germany