Falkenstein "Niedermenniger Herrenberg" Weissburgunder Trocken AP 2 '21

Hofgut Falkenstein is in the Saar, one of the coolest areas of the Mosel wine region. Here, since the 1980s, the Weber family has been making some of the most vibrant, captivating expressions of Riesling in the world as well as Pinot Blanc. Erich Weber and his son Johannes work in the vineyards and cellar, with occasional help from Erich’s two other sons as well. They farm about nine hectares of Riesling vines,  including a hectare of ungrafted vines; the average vine age is between 40 and 50 years old, and the oldest are from 60 to 90 years old. The primary soil is gray slate, with some quartz. They have about 2.2 hectares on the slope of Euchariusberg, revered as one the Saar’s top sites for grape growing. No pesticides or herbicides are used, and biodiversity is a focus of their work in the vineyard.

The grapes are harvested by hand, and their work in the cellar is traditional. The various parcels are vinified separately in old oak Fuder (1,000-liter casks) with ambient yeasts. The wines, made in dry (trocken) and off-dry (feinherb) styles, are then aged in designated casks and bottled directly off the gross lees. Each Fuder is bottled separately, a rare practice today though more common historically. Each wine’s AP number refers to a specific cask, and the casks are usually named for a previous owner of the plot, though some are historic site-specific names.

This Pinot Blanc is a beautiful balance of pure fruit flavors and minerality. The grapes are left to ripen until reaching the Spätlese designation and then fermented and bottle trocken (dry).

A perfect match for simple preparations of pork loin or chops.