This wine is a true expression of terrior from the single best parcels from each of the three vineyards. As Johannes’ Father puts it “it’s a little silly to talk about “terroir” when you’re going out into the vineyard three times to select what aspect of terroir you’re going to push forward. It’s like picking two or three voices out of the chorus and saying “Now you three shout.” What you want is for the entire chorus to sing.” So beginning in 2003, Johannes began an experiment, which turned into a revelation. He waits until the parcel is “optimally ripe” and harvest everything at once— green berries, yellow berries, and botrytis berries, and ferment them spontaneously in Fuder.  This represents a traditional style and a true expression of terroir.

Anrecht, a the south-facing parcel representing the most prized piece of the Himmelreich  which was ranked in the top categories of the 1868 Prussian classification. Anrecht has the deepest subsoil of broken slate mixed with organic matter (humus) and loam. It is further away from river and village compared to Rotlay and Schmitt, hence a tad cooler but nonetheless excellent.

James Suckling 96 points