Tasting at Weingut Emrich-Schönleber in Monzingen, Nahe, with Owner/ Winemaker Frank Schönleber - Germany-North Tour 2017 by ombiasy WineTours

AlbaMoretz Haziran 21, 2022

Picture: Tasting at Weingut Emrich-Schönleber in Monzingen, Nahe, with Owner/ Winemaker Frank Schönleber - Germany-North Tour 2017 by ombiasy WineTours

The Nahe Valley portion of the 2017 Germany-North Tour by ombiasy WineTours comprised:

Tasting at Weingut Emrich-Schoenleber in Monzingen, Nahe, with Frank Schönleber

Wine-pairing Lunch at Landgasthof Zur Traube in Meddersheim, Nahe, with Petra Hexamer and the Wines of Weingut Hexamer.

Dinner with Wine Pairing the Restaurant of Weingut Kruger-Rumpf in Münster-Sarmsheim, Nahe, with Cornelia, Stefan and Georg Rumpf.

At Weingut Emrich-Schoenleber in Monzingen, Frank Schönleber was our host.

Pictures: Arriving at Weingut Emrich-Schönleber

Weingut Emrich-Schönleber

The first mentioning of winegrowing in the Schönleber family dates back to the mid-18th century. Today the estate has 20.4 hectares of vineyards and 85% is planted with Riesling. Monzingen is located in the western fringes of the Nahe winegrowing area, with vineyards situated between 160 to 250 metres above sea level, and protected from the north by the Soonwald forest. Werner Schönleber’s rigorous quality control brought the winery to the upper echelon in Germany and beyond.

Werner and son Frank’s philosophy of winemaking says it all: “It is up to us to nurture both soil and vine. We are very careful to ensure that these two elements are healthy and in mutual balance - that is, most importantly, that the yield of the vines is in harmony with the water and nutrients available in the soil. We tend assiduously to each individual vine by hand. In doing so, we can control yields and ensure that the foliage on each vine is always well aerated. This allows the grapes to remain healthy for longer and to be picked late in the harvest at optimum ripeness. Only the minimum of nutrients is drawn from the soil. Except for the juice in the grapes, we ultimately return all the natural goodness back into the vineyard where it belongs. We generally fertilize with good-quality, home-made compost where necessary.”

Pictures: Tasting at Weingut Emrich-Schönleber in Monzingen, Nahe, with Owner/ Winemaker Frank Schönleber - Germany-North Tour 2017 by ombiasy WineTours

Vineyards

Total: 20.4 hectares

Varieties: 86% Riesling, 7% Grauburgunder, 5% Weißburgunder, 2% Müller-Thurgau

Production: ca. 130,000 bottles/year

9.0 ha FRÜHLINGSPLÄTZCHEN, Monzingen | VDP.GROSSE LAGE
5.5 ha HALENBERG, Monzingen | VDP. GROSSE LAGE
0.7 ha AUF DER LEY, Monzingen | VDP. GROSSE LAGE
2.8 ha Monzingen | VDP.Ortswein
2.4 ha VDP. Gutswein

Monzinger Frühlingsplätzchen: The Frühlingsplätzchen vineyard has a southwest-to-southeast exposure. At its steepest point, it has a 70% incline. It is little wonder therefore that the winter snows melt the fastest and that spring awakens particularly early in this vineyard. Its soils mostly consist of red slate and gravel, frequently interspersed with the red-coloured loam referred to as Rotliegend. Even at a young age, Frühlingsplätzchen will seduce you with its playful, spring-like fruit character. Its aromas are often redolent of peach and ripe apple, while fine herbal notes also tend to emerge. A few years of cellaring will lend a more pronounced minerally quality that makes Frühlingsplätzchen wines increasingly electrifying with age.

Picture: Christian Schiller and Werner Schönleber, Weingut Emrich-Schönleber at the 2013 Riesling Gala at Kloster Eberbach, Germany

Monzinger Halenberg: Monzingen's smallest vineyard is planted exclusively with Riesling vines, most of which belong to us. Facing south with gradients of up to 70%, Halenberg has stony blue slate and quartzite soils that put our vines through their paces - making them struggle in the summer for every drop of water. As a result, the grapes in this vineyard stay smaller and develop an especially exquisite aroma. Halenberg has an inherent, finely structured, minerally saltiness. It often reveals aromas reminiscent of ripe grapefruit and other exotic fruits. After a little ageing, it takes on its characteristically spicy, herbal personality.

Picture: Annette Schiller and Frank Schönleber at Kloster Eberbach

Monzinger Auf der Ley: This vineyard plot is situated above Halenberg. Gravel is the dominating feature of its soil, in addition to slate. The average incline is 50%. Strong thermals mean that the vineyard is very warm despite its lofty perch. Wines from this site have cool, stony characteristics. Auf der Ley is our most austere wine – but it also has the strongest personality. To a certain extent, it marries the finesse and elegance of Frühlingsplätzchen with the minerally intensity of Halenberg. Only after a number of years does it begin to show its true stature.

The Wines we Tasted

2016 Weingut Emrich-Schönleber Weissburgunder S trocken
2015 Weingut Emrich-Schönleber Grauburgunder S trocken

2016 Weingut Emrich-Schönleber Riesling trocken
2016 Weingut Emrich-Schönleber Lenz Riesling trocken
2016 Weingut Emrich-Schönleber Mineral Riesling trocken

2015 Weingut Emrich-Schönleber Frühtau Monzinger Riesling trocken
2014 Weingut Emrich-Schönleber Halgans Monzinger Riesling trocken

2016 Weingut Emrich-Schönleber Halgans Monzinger Riesling trocken
2010 Weingut Emrich-Schönleber Halgans Monzinger Riesling trocken

2016 Weingut Emrich-Schönleber Frühlingsplätzchen Riesling GG VDP.Grosse Lage
2016 Weingut Emrich-Schönleber Halenberg Riesling GG VDP.Grosse Lage
2010 Weingut Emrich-Schönleber Halenberg Riesling GG VDP.Grosse Lage

2012 Weingut Emrich-Schönleber Frühlingsplätzchen Riesling Spätlese VDP.Grosse Lage
2014 Weingut Emrich-Schönleber Halenberg Riesling Spätlese VDP.Grosse Lage
2015 Weingut Emrich-Schönleber Halenberg Riesling Auslese VDP.Grosse Lage