Country: Germany  Region: Rheingau  Vintage: 2014 Category: White Wine  Color:  White  Producer: Schloss Vollrads "Schloss Vollrads, one of the oldest wine estates in the world, has been making wine in the Rheingau since the 13th Century (with the first sales document for wine dating back to 1211). In 1716, the world's first Kabinett was produced at Schloss Vollrads and 300 years on, the estate is still going from strength to strength under the watchful eye of Rowald Hepp and assistant manager Christine Höhne.Rowald arrived at the estate in 1997 and instigated many changes to improve the quality, including strict pruning and crop thinning to reduce yields by up to 40% below the legal requirement. The 81 hectares of Riesling vineyards are located between the Rhine and the forest-clad hills that shelter the vines from the cooling winds from the north, so it is slightly warmer here than in the more southerly Rheinhessen. 21 hectares of vineyard are classified as 'Erstes Gewächs' ('First Growth'), the very best quality classification in Germany, and the soils are a mixture of weathered slate, loam, clay and loess.The 40 manual pickers leave the grapes on the vine until they are fully ripe, giving good accumulation of sugar as well as, for the Auslese upwards, good development of 'noble rot', or 'botrytis'. Sulphur dioxide levels are much lower than in most German wines because of the team's meticulous approach to hygiene and their eschewal of the use of 'süss-reserve' to sweeten the wines. They are sealed with the 'Vinolok' glass stopper to retain their freshness." Product Features: Sustainable;Vegan;Vegetarian Product Allergens: Sulphites Label Winemaker: Ralph Herke Vineyards:   All Schloss Vollrads' vineyards are planted with Riesling and are situated between the Rhine and the forest clad hills that protect the vines from the cool north winds. Rowald has been improving quality at Schloss Vollrads since he joined in 1997 and his philosophy runs through every aspect of production. Strict pruning ensures that yields are 40% lower than the legal requirement, while further reductions are made by crop thinning. Vinification: Fermentation took place with selected yeasts over three weeks in temperature controlled stainless steel tanks at 18°C.Tasting Notes: "As Bruno says, ""I wanted a pure product to reflect our complex forests, something reminiscent of our area and of course Juniper. In short, I wanted an Italian Gin."" Fresh juniper aromas are followed by a wealth of aromas, most notably lemon peel and orange zest, with other herbs adding to its complexity and persistence. The dry palate has subtle flavours reflecting the aromatics, with a smooth texture and lingering fresh juniper." Tasting Notes: Bright, vibrant pale yellow in colour. Round and fruity on the nose with notes of apple, pear and pineapple. The palate is round and mellow with a clear fruity taste and a strong mineral character. Characterised by its elegance, the acidity is well balanced by the residual sugar before the long, off dry finish. Food Suggestion:  Excellent on its own, but also great with spicy dishes, pasta, fish or poultry. Closure: Vinolok  ABV:11.5% Acidity [g/l]: 8.1 Classification: QBA