Description

Koehler Ruprecht offers a range of Riesling from the Saumagen vineyard. Saumagen is one of Pfalz’s greatest Riesling sites due to its calcareous soils and south-facing slope, which allows for mineral and long-lived Riesling.

Koehler Ruprecht Kallstadter Saumagen Riesling Spatlese Trocken is a selection of healthy grapes showing a golden colour. Left on skins for one night, it is then fermented with indigenous yeasts and aged in barrel until June the following year. Koehler Ruprecht selects the most elegant barrels to go into this blend.

2019 is a cracking release for the Koehler Ruprecht Kallstadter Saumagen Pfalz Riesling Spatlese Trocken. It is just a baby though. It smells herbal, spicy, and distinctly mineral, with yellow fruits showing through. The palate of this Koehler Ruprecht is chalky, with a generous mouthfeel, yellow fruits, and spice predominate. The acid is tingly and bright.

While you can smell and taste the class of this wine, I wouldn’t recommend approaching this vintage of Koehler Ruprecht until its 15 birthday.

Koehler Ruprecht Kallstadter Saumagen Pfalz Riesling Spatlese Trocken 2019, and all wines are eligible for at least 5% off any six bottles. And 10% off any 12 bottles. Some wines will be at a more significant discount and not subject to further discounts.

Koehler Ruprecht is one Pflaz’s oldest wineries. It is now owned by the Sauvage family, who also owns Burn Cottage in Central Otago. Koehler Ruprecht produces small batches of biodynamically grown and hand-harvested grapes. They use indigenous yeasts, old barrels. They are wines to keep for the long-term, and in particular, their Kallstadter Saumagen is a wine to leave for 15 years.

Pfalz 

Situated on the Rhine River, Pfalz is often not mentioned in the same breath as Rheingau, Alsace or Wachau for great Riesling. Yet, the dry Riesling from this region lacks nothing when it comes to powerful, structural and complex dry Riesling. This is where to go for great value Riesling that will age for the long-term.

Riesling

Riesling is one of the world’s most noble varieties and known transmitters of terroir. Riesling is an important variety of quality wine production. Although only makes up approximately 4% of the planted area. Find wonderful Riesling in Germany, Austria, Alsace and Australia. They can be as dry as any wine you’ll’ taste or super sweet and luscious. See more about Riesling here.

Trocken

This means the wine has been fermented to a point where it tastes dry, and there is almost no sugar left. The grapes may have been picked at Spatlese or Auslese level, but Trocken means that the wine will taste try no matter who ripe it was at harvest time.

Spatlese

Meaning late picked. The wines can be lean and focused or rich, silky and opulent. Knowing the producer style is helpful in picking out the ones that will suit you. Often great value for drinking and cellaring.

Germany

When you think of the wines of Germany, most likely, you will think of the off-dry Rieslings of the Mosel. And with great reason too. They are delicious. But Germany has many regions and styles. Sure Riesling is the king of the quality wines. But the further south you go, the more you can find Spatburgunder. Or, as we know it, Pinot Noir. Carried there by the same monks who planted out Burgundy. The Pinot Noir in recent history has improved out of sight.

Wine

Wine is the result you get from fermented grape juice. There is proof of wine production dating back 8000 years ago. Fashions, innovations and many other factors have influenced the way wine has evolved over the years.

The wine grape is impressive. It contains everything you need to make grape wine except for the yeast, which lives on the outside of the skins.

Human inputs can influence the final product, including the viticulture (growing) choices. And the winemaker can shape the wine to a point too.

The best wines of the world often refer to terroir. Terroir is a French term that refers to all the climatic, geological and topographical influences on a specific piece of land. And it is true that neighbouring vineyards, grown identically, can taste noticeably different.

White Wine

It is interesting to know that you can make white wine from almost any grape. The colour comes from the skins, and if there is no contact, there is no colour. White wines tend to be delicate, perfumed, higher in acid and lower in alcohol. It seems for this and many other reasons, it is hard to make an incredibly impressive white wine. But those that have mastered the art are indeed some of the best winemakers in the world.

It is a falsehood to think that white wine does not age as well as red wine. But it is correct that white wine, as a rule, doesn’t’ age for as long.

The Wine Depository

I, Phil, have been running The Wine Depository since 2011. The Wine Depository exists to make sure you are drinking the good wines. You can browse and pick what is interesting to you. Or you can make contact with me. I’ll’ make sure you get what you want, to your palate, to your budget and to your door.