2017 Dr. Bürklin-Wolf 'Rechbächel P.C.' Riesling Wachenheimer

Winemaker Notes:  In 1597, Bernhard Bürklin, town clerk and mayor of Wachenheim, founded Germany's largest privately owned estate, Bürklin-Wolf. The estate is based in the Mittelhaardt, the quality core of Germany’s Pfalz, located an hours drive north‐east of Alsace. Aptly, the Pfalz Mittelhardt is the topographical and geological extension of France’s Côte d’Or and Alsace. The Mittelhardt’s best sites are similarly located within a very narrow, sheltered east‐facing strip of land.This historic estate has a 400 year history and is the largest family owned winery in Germany with 110 hectares. The vineyards are located in Wachenheim, Forst, Deidesheim and Ruppertsberg including the monopol sites "Wachenheimer Rechbächel" and "Gaisböhl" in Ruppertsberg.

Disillusioned with confusing German wine laws that rated all vineyards equal and defined quality by sugar level, Bettina Bürklin-von Guradze made a radical decision in 1994 to focus on terroir-driven, dry, 100% riesling vineyard-designated bottlings. Her model is that of Burgundy, with 4 tiers of quality : basic "estate" wine, named "village" cuvées, premiers crus (which she calls P.C.) and grands crus (G.C.). After historical and geological research, she discovered that her own classification matched the Royal Bavarian Vineyard Classification of 1828.Bettina made the decision to undertake a total conversion to BIODYNAMIC VITICULTURE, COMPLETED IN 2005, and Burklin-Wolf has thus become the first German member of the prestigious Biodyvin group.

CRITICAL ACCLAIM


Vinous - "Pungent green tea, apple, and lemon feature on the nose and palate of this infectiously juicy offering, whose youthful charm contrasts with the personality of its Altenburg sibling. There is an intricacy of flavors, subtly smoky and herbal, that the descriptor "green tea" only very imperfectly captures. A soft sense of chalkiness dovetails with a silken texture, and a tingling sensation and marine, saline notes set the salivary glands to palpitating on the superbly sustained finish."