Gift Suggestions

Winemaker Carl SchmittWagner decided to replant his best vineyard. He painstakingly selected only the best Rieslingvines for the focus of his renowned winery. In the year 1896 he planted Maximin Herrenberg with ungrafted Rieslingvines with 10,000 vines per hectare. A few years ago this very vineyard was ranked by the Prussian tax authority among the best sites along the Mosel. Today this vineyard still stands on its original site from 1896. This makes it probably the oldest vineyard in the world with ungrafted Rieslingvines of this size.

Maximin Herrenberg has a southern exposure of red slate. This very rare terroir gives the wines a unique structure. Coming straight from the Mosel River is the Maximin Herrenberg Riesling Alte Reben Trocken 1896. Clean, cool and spicy on the nose. Orange, kumquat and fennel stand out. In the mouth, it is rich, ripe, intense, excitingly clean, pure, salty, tasty and balanced. A Riesling with great elegance and finesse.

"Leiwener Laurentiuslay". This vineyard is one of the best Mosel has to offer. Owned by the Loewen winery since 1982, when they bought 6000 vines from one of the best vineyards of the Reichsgraf von Kesselstadt winery. Today the vineyard at Laurentiuslay is one hectare in size. Here they grow their best wines. They are very proud that this perception is shared by Hugh Johnson and Stuart Pigott who classified Laurentiuslay as a Grand Cru Site.

At the Loewen winery they grow vines that reach an almost biblical age. The roots go deep into the soil, so even in dry summers the small but golden yellow grapes reach a good level of ripeness. For Riesling "Alte Reben" the grapes are harvested from vines at least 50 years old. The yield of these vineyards is small, but the ripening of the grapes is excellent. The spontaneous fermentation that follows the harvest takes place over a period of 100 days and only a few days before bottling the yeast is removed.

The result is a wine that shows the full spectrum of Riesling aromas along with a wonderful richness and the elegance of a prima ballerina. Full and complex nose of stone fruit, quince, orange and lemon with some floral notes. Herbal and spicy. Juicy, expressive and well-structured with a long mineral aftertaste.

Rich aromatic notes of red cherry, clove and anise are framed by toasted oak and herbs. Layers of complexity abound from all these generous aromatic elements and reveal to us a Pinot Noir of great power and persistence. Deeply concentrated red berries define the palate.

Density, a sense of oak, fine tannins and crisp acidity combine to create a long and complex finish. Enjoy The Journey Pinot Noir with Beef Wellington served with roasted winter vegetables.

Fragrant aromas of ripe apple, citrus blossom and roasted almonds combine with a generous lift of toasty oak and a hint of gun smoke. Charred stone fruit with a mealy and creamy richness derived from barrel fermentation provide the framework for this full-bodied wine, structurally tied together with a precise line of lush acidity leading into a long, lingering finish.

This deliciously complex wine will be a great partner to pan-roasted deep sea fish, finished with brown butter and sage, served with celeriac puree and a simple green salad.

An intensely complex and alluring nose displaying a myriad of aromas. Charred grapefruit and struck match dominate the initial impression of this wine and lead into a fragrant spectrum of toasted spice seeds and undertones of white peach. The palate displays contrasting characters of ripe citrus, gunflint and a warm perfume of spice derived from new oak.

Juicy acidity balances the richness from the barrel fermentation and lees aging, providing a satisfyingly dry and long finish. A perfect accompaniment with most seafood dishes, the 2016 Pride and Glory will marry beautifully with crayfish barbequed over coals, served on a charred fennel salad with a lemon infused olive oil dressing.

Charming aromas of candied citrus, ripe peach and honeysuckle are supported by subtle oak notes. The luscious palate demonstrates stone fruit and grapefruit pith complemented by a hint of praline from the extended time in oak and lees stirring. Partial malolactic fermentation has helped to soften the palate while the residual acidity extends the wine to a salivating dry finish.

The King's Bastard Chardonnay pairs well with most white meats, pork and seafood. Try it with crispy pork belly with celeriac puree and seared wild greens.