SLATE, Rhine and Riesling – this triad characterizes the interplay of fruit and minerality in our wines. Loamy clay deposits from seas in the Devonian age about 400 million years ago fossilised into slate. All our vineyards in the Middle Rhine Valley are characterised by slate. Depending on the grape variety, vintage and the individual vineyards, the wines are more distinctly or more subtly influenced by the soil. The slate tone resonates most clearly in the fine Rieslings. Our showpiece example of this is the Riesling DEVON S.
One kilometre downstream from Bacharach, the Rhine is forced into a bend by a pronounced rock formation. The result was a vineyard with a clear divide: the BACHARACHER HAHN is located here, facing south. Pure blue clay slate produces distinctly mineral wines, and especially as a fruity Kabinett or Spätlese, the vineyard shows off all its elegance.
The best part of our Bacharach Hahn today once again bears the old cadastral designation IM HAHN. To the southeast, open to the Rhine, the grapes ripen for our VDP.GROSSES GEWÄCHS. The clay slate in the top vineyard produces lush, fruit-filled Rieslings with fine acidity and an intense character. At the foot of the slope, more rock has been weathered away, offering the best conditions for the Pinot Noir to develop on the slate loam. Our VDP.GROSSES GEWÄCHS offer very special experiences after a certain period of maturation.
Great wine grows from OLD VINES and passion; they are the foundation of our wine quality. Our oldest vines grow in the Rheingau on loamy loess soil with inclusions of Taunus quartzite. At the very top of the forest, bathed by cold winds that allow for a long ripening period, our old vines tower over Walluf and Martinsthal. This vineyard was planted by the grandfather of the current generation. An extremely vital expression of tradition.
Our VDP.GROSSE LAGE in the Rheingau is the WALLUFER WALKENBERG. The vineyard is situated along the gentle curve of the Mühlbach stream in Walluf. The mills that milled felt here until 100 years ago gave Bach and Weinberg their names. In outstanding years, we produce VDP.GROSSES GEWÄCHS full of flavour and substance here. The selections from the Rheingau vineyard are always fuller and more velvety than the more mineral Middle Rhine wines.
AM SCHLOSSBERG is the old cadastral name for a vineyard located around one kilometre upstream from Bacharach. The soil is characterised by slate loams which can store more water and ensure fine rooting of the vines. The Schlossberg is located directly below the old Fürstenberg ruins at the opening of the slope towards the Rhine. In late summer, cooler air flows from the Diebachtal to the Rhine. This allows the Riesling grapes to ripen perfectly. Fruity Riesling Spätlese wines with great storage potential grow here.
Unlike all of our other vineyards on the Middle Rhine, the ST JOST location is not located directly on the Rhine, but in the side valley about one kilometre from the river with its large water surface and balancing character. Here the clay slate has distinct greywacke inclusions and brings more steeliness and barrenness to the wine.