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Von Hövel, Scharzhofberg, Riesling Spätlese

Mosel-Saar-Ruwer, Germany 2007 (750mL)
$30.00
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Von Hövel, Scharzhofberg, Riesling Spätlese


Weingut Von Hövel, currently run by seventh generation Max Von Kunow, has been skyrocketed into great fame ever since Max took over. With an impressive background filled with apprenticeships, education in enology and wine business, wine consulting, and winemaking in his family blood, Max’s path has led him to greatness. Although Max has doubled the estate’s vineyard holdings, implemented organic farming, and made innovative changes in winemaking style that has led to truly phenomenal wines, the estate’s greatest achievement is without a doubt their production from a small seven acre parcel in the famed Scharzhofberg vineyard. Akin to a Grand Cru level vineyard in France and originally planted with vines back in Roman times, this ancient vineyard is so prestigious that Scharzhofberg wines are known in every corner of the world. From wine geeks to Sommeliers to collectors—everyone wants a taste of this vineyard, and for good reason. Cooler than other areas in the Saar, the Scharzhofberg vineyard needs longer hang time to ripen properly; of course, the moderate climate keeps the acidity high and those precious slate soils add piercing minerality to the mix. I must stress this is not dessert wine, this is a perfect accompaniment to savory foods, particularly Thai.

The 2007 Von Hovel Scharzhofberg has a concentrated golden core that moves to green and reflections on the rim. Highly aromatic, this incredible Riesling smells of dried green apple, dried apricot, red mango, honeysuckle, lime blossom, over-ripe white peach, banana peel, petrol and wet slate. The palate is off-dry, but immediately balanced by high acidity, which brings tension and structure to the wine along with a dry finish just 5-6 seconds in (due to the acidity cleansing the palate). Flavors on the palate are similar to the nose, driven by dried peaches, apricots, mango and kaffir lime zest and green apple framed by an extensively long, distinct slate minerality finish. This wine blew me away at a recent tasting and is just phenomenal in its eighth year of age, though could easily be cellared for several more decades. A truly stunning Riesling like this has just the right amount of sugar and acid balance to age perfectly for more time than you can even imagine. Every decade, this wine will become significantly more dry; the sugar will slowly fade away and the wine’s intricate complexity will only increase. I really love pairing a Riesling of this caliber with a tasty, spicy Laotian beef salad—you just can’t go wrong with this recipe.
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Country
Germany
Region
Mosel-Saar-Ruwer
Sub-Region
GermanySaar
Soil
Grey Slate
Farming
Sustainable
Blend
Riesling
Alcohol
9.0
OAK
Neutral

Germany

Western Germany

Pfalz

The Pfalz is Germany’s second-largest wine region (behind Rheinhessen, which it borders to the south). The vineyards are situated between the thickly forested Haardt Mountains and the western bank of the Rhine River, with soils that are rich in loam mixed with sandstone, loess (wind-blown silt), and chalky clay.

Western Germany

Rheinhessen

he Rheinhessen is Germany’s largest-production wine zone and, in comparison to some of the dramatic valleys further north, is a more open landscape of gently rolling hills.

Western Germany

Saar

The Saar River is a tributary of the Mosel (and in-cluded in the broader “Mosel-Saar-Ruwer”) PDO designation with vineyards perched on steep slopes of blue Devonian slate. The rocky soils and cool temperatures of these northerly valleys produce Germany’s most chiseled, high-acid  styles of Riesling.

Southwestern Germany

Baden

Baden, Germany’s southernmost wine region, has a long history with the “Pinot” family. The region’s vineyards were planted by the same Cistercian Monks who established Pinot Noir in Burgundy. Bordered by the Rhine River and the Black Forest, Baden has diverse soils—everything from loess (silt) to volcanic tuff to limestone, the most prized Pinot Noir soil of all.

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