20213041_WGDE2021_ENGL

FRANKEN | A PORTRAIT OF THE REGION
It is not a beautiful subject but not one
we can skate over. In 2019, for instance,
Rudi May in Retzstadt had the lowest
yields in the entire history of his wine
estate. There was, however, some small
comfort in the fact that the few grapes he
could harvest were of superb quality and
the resulting wines, beautifully complex.
An extreme version of yield reduction,
one could say. Where 2020 is concerned,
Nina Bunzelt said: “Whatever fruit survived
the frost will have great quality.”
Apart from the spring frost, 2019 was a
very warm, dry year. The fruit was super
healthy throughout, comes with fine aromatics
and has more of an acidic spine
than 2018.
And note, I am returning to the fun bits. I
also assume that my former schoolteacher
is belatedly awarding me poor marks for
the sheer number of times I am using the
term “dry” in this text. In any case, it is of
no importance. Dry, dry, dry! That is
Franken.
But hang on. What’s going on here? Schloss
Sommerhausen is making mischief again.
Martin Steinmann completes his portfolio
of grandiose, bone-dry Sekts with some
At Weingut Rainer Sauer father Rainer makes
classically vinified wines while son Daniel offers
contemporary creations
that have gentle residual sweetness. But
let’s be honest, who doesn’t love a Kabinett
style. And imagine it with fizz. Really cool.
And now imagine slightly hot cuisine. Just
another string to Franken’s bow.
INFO
Read more about this author in our Tasting Panel
chapter on page 12.
Photos: Photography was provided
Martin Steinmann – Jack of all trades and
master of everything at Schloss Sommerhausen
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