The Wine Edition of Rundfunkchor Berlin
Vivace cantabile: The Riesling KALKMERGEL from Peter Siener
Peter Siener, firmly rooted in his native Pfalz (Palatinate), is one of the most talented vintners in this up-and-coming region of the southern wine route, near the French border. It cultivates exclusively classical varieties like Riesling and Burgundy, both red and white. When asked what his favourite wine is, Peter Siener’s answer is quick and to the point: “Riesling and Pinot Noir”. Anyone lucky enough to get to know his White Burgundy and St. Laurent will quickly discover that these are much more than pleasing complements to food.
No other white wine grape has more to say about its place of origin than Riesling. In its strength and elegance, Peter Siener’s spontaneously fermented growth from the southern Pfalz reflects the heterogeneous soil, heavily loamy but laced with lighter lime. While still possessing considerable depth, this wine has an exotic nose, playful fruitiness and subtle mineral tones that dance on the palate.
2014 Riesling KALKMERGEL, Weingut Siener (Pfalz) 0.75l €11.95 (€15.95/l)
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Adagio espressivo: The Red Wine Cuvée AUFWIND from Thomas Hensel
Wine is passion for pleasure, precisely the passion that made Thomas Hensel become a vintner. Not that there wasn’t already a tradition in his family. Hensels have owned their site in and around Bad Dürkheim for over 300 years, and so it comes as no surprise that Thomas Hensel has a perfect feel for the plants and for trending grape varieties. Hensel’s vineyard is young, like the man himself. As a vintner and amateur pilot he knows the value of soil conformity and adhesion. His personal blend of joie de vivre, foresight and precision results in wonderful wines, full of character. Exemplifying them are “Aufwind” (upwind) and “Höhenflug” (high-altitude flight) as well as the top-of-the-line “Ikarus”, pressed from the rare Cabernet Cubin grape.
The cuvée of Bad Dürkheim vintner Thomas Hensel offers a blend of traditional and modern! The Cabernet Sauvignon, a grape variety with a migration background, represents the new Pfalz, whereas the St. Laurent variety belongs to the region’s classical red wine varieties. Its harmonious duet is marked by both darker and lighter tones, ranging from powerful to supple. A play with spice and a long finish.
2014 AUFWIND Red Wine Cuvée, Weingut Hensel (Pfalz) 0.75l €11.95 (€15.93/l)
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Allegro con spirito: Riesling Sekt Brut from Gut Hermannsberg
In 1902 the Prussian state established the domain and acquired the first land: jagged and rocky terrain that included a former copper mine. Planting the vineyard was extremely arduous: boulders and rocks had to be broken up and enormous amounts of earth moved. The first Riesling grapes were planted in 1903. In 2010 the former state-owned domain was renamed Gut Hermannsberg. Its history reflects the story of German vineyards in the last hundred years. The name change was followed by the vineyard’s rapid rise to international renown – for a variety of reasons, through an unsettled period with serious crises. That makes it even more gratifying to witness how cellarmaster Karsten Peter and his team have harnessed the great potential of the former “Royal Prussian Wine-Producing Domain”.
The Nahe winery of Gut Hermannsberg is famous for its Rieslings grown on a soil mix of porphyry and slate. But there’s also music in its Sekt, made by classical bottle fermentation, with a delightfully creamy texture, enlivening play of fruits and subtle mousseux. A veritable sparkling epiphany!
Riesling Sekt Brut, Gut Hermannsberg (Nahe Region) 0.75l € 16.50 (€22.60/l)
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