Placeholder Image

Burg Ravensburg, “Sulzfeld” Riesling Trocken

Baden, Germany 2019 (750mL)
$28.00
/
Your cart is empty.
  • In stock, ready to ship
  • Inventory on the way
Fruit
Earth
Body
Tannin
Acid
Alcohol

Burg Ravensburg, “Sulzfeld” Riesling Trocken

I would be hard-pressed to think of another winery, anywhere in the world, that packs as much into a $28 bottle as Burg Ravensburg. This historic estate, located at the northern end of the Baden region, is a German winemaking landmark dating to the 13th century, a castle perched atop a steep hill and surrounded by Grosse Lage (grand cru) vineyard sites. 
In addition to being one of the oldest wine estates in Germany, it is also likely the largest to be certified organic. Its home village, Sulzfeld, within the Baden sub-region of Kraichgau, is not just one of Germany’s greatest Riesling terroirs but equally famous for its Pinot Noirs. Today’s Riesling Trocken (dry) has all the diamond-cut brilliance we look for in the greatest German Rieslings, which shouldn’t be the least bit surprising—Burg Ravensburg owns roughly 80% of the Grosse Lage sites in the Kraichgau, where vineyards rise to some of the highest elevations in Germany, in a unique mix of marl, sandstone, and volcanic deposits. This is a long way from the steep slopes of the Mosel, but it’s a thrillingly familiar Riesling sensation: mineral as all get-out, perfumed, mouth-wateringly fresh and bone-dry. How is it possible that this wine costs just $28? Nevermind, it doesn’t matter—just make sure you don’t miss out!
The year ‘1251’ is prominently displayed on every Burg Ravensburg label, and why not? There aren’t many estates in the world—and far fewer vineyards—that draw on this much history. Yet, shockingly, the family itself goes back even further, having been locally documented as Barons back in 931 AD. I’d say it’s safe to assume they know the land better than anyone else could. To extract every ounce of character from this ancient terroir, owner Heinz Heiler made a wise decision when he hired Claus Burmeister: Not only does Claus have a degree in viticulture, he was raised in the Burg Ravensburg cellar, as his own father was head winemaker when Claus was growing up. 

If you’re in the town of Sulzfeld and you spot a Grosse Lage vineyard, chances are Burg Ravensburg owns it. They are the king of premium vines around here, and although today’s “Sulzfeld” bottling isn’t designated “grand cru,” it is sourced primarily from two legendary Riesling parcels: “Husarenkappe,” right next to the winery in Sulzfeld, and “Kapellenberg,” in neighboring Eichelberg. Husarenkappe, which translates to “Hussar’s Cap,” is named for the legend of Freiherr Göler von Ravensburg, who, in 1782, transported Riesling seedlings to Sulzfeld inside his hat and planted them on the castle’s slopes. One of the key soil types in the area is called “gypsum keuper,” a sedimentary marl and sandstone mixture, although Kapellenberg is said to contain some volcanic material as well.

All of which gives us a succulent, mouthwatering 2019 Riesling Trocken bursting with exotic aromas and jolting the palate awake with acidity and minerality. Considering that the last Burg Ravensburg wine we featured was an ethereal Pinot Noir, color me impressed: This estate does everything at the very highest level. In the glass, the wine shines a silvery straw-gold with green reflections, with assertive aromas of grapefruit pith, white peach, lime blossom, jasmine, and wet stones. The palate is medium-bodied and full of tension, with a dry, mineral, floral finish that leaves your mouth watering. It is ready to enjoy now and over the next few years with first course salads, main course Thai dishes, or raw/smoked fish. Ultimately, it’s a chameleon wine that will go with almost anything, so don’t sweat the pairing too much. Just keep it in good supply, because you’ll be reaching for a second bottle sooner rather than later. Cheers!
Placeholder Image
Country
Germany
Region
Baden
Sub-Region
GermanyVillage of Sulzfeld
Soil
Keuper (Gypsum-Rich Clay Marl & Sandstone)
Farming
Organic
Blend
Riesling 100%
Alcohol
12.5
OAK
None
TEMP.
45-50
Glassware
All Purpose / Riesling Stem
Drinking
Now-2022
Decanting
Optional
Pairing
Thai Charred Squid

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.

Others We Love