Van Volxem - Saar Riesling 2018

Van Volxem - Saar Riesling 2018 (88 TSW)

The Van Volxem domain is located in the historic center of Wiltingen, one of the most famous wine-growing communities on the Saar (mosel wineregion)

As a former monastery wine estate of the Luxembourg Jesuits, it already had large plots of vineyards in the best area of Wiltingen such as Schwarzhofberger which, like the other vineyards, were classified as Grand Cru in 1868. The average age of the vines is 40 years, with peaks exceeding 100 years. Root-like rootstock still grows on slate because Phylloxera couldn’t settle in it.

Roman Niewodniczanski, who took over the domain in 2000 and completely restored it, is a descendant of the Bittburger beer dynasty. His urge for quality is indomitable and his aim is to let the various top terroirs (steep mineral-rich slate, sandstone and rhyolite) speak optimally. Major investments have been made in the vineyards and the new cellar.

The extremely low yields in combination with the non-interventionist approach in the cellar (the controlled idleness) yield authentic Riesling wines of a particularly high level.

This Saar Riesling is one of the entry level Rieslings with a qreat value. I recently stocked some Grosses Gewächs of this winery to open over 5-10 years.

About this wine:

After a manual harvest, the grapes of 30-year-old vines go partly into stainless steel tanks and partly into feeders for soaking and eventually fermentation with wild, grape-yeasts. There is no malolactic fermentation with this wine. This total process of vinification and aging takes about 6 to 7 months, a minimum of sulfur is used, after which bottling takes place without clarification.

My tasting notes:

In the glass a bright straw yellow color.
On the medium+ nose aromas of peach, citruspeel and mango with hints of elderflower, apricot and tiny petrol hint.
On the palate dry, great crispy acitdity and freshness. Lot of body and juicy yellow fruit, peach, citrus, wet stone and a mineral finish.