Winemaker Notes
This youthful Chardonnay shows itself fresh in the glass. Besides spicy woody notes, herbaceous and mineral notes are added. A fine scent of quince and banana is also noticeable on the nose. The taste of freshness can also be appreciated. The full nutty, yeasty taste is carried and bundled by a taut, salty acidity. The fine minerality lends emphasis and gives a very long finish, this animates to the next sip.
Professional Ratings
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Vinous
The 2022 Chardonnay R was picked in the limestone soils of Siebeldingen, Godramstein and Arzheim. Half was whole-bunch-pressed, and half had skin contact. It spent a year on gross lees and was then racked, blended and aged for another six months on fine lees in used barrels. Smooth polenta and cool heavy cream define the nose. The palate is smoky, with an immense undertow of fruit that unites creamy banana and juicy apricot compote. Brightness supports this entire smooth, harmonious picture, always with the brightness of lemon. Medium-bodied but with lots of contour, the finish is really long. (Bone-dry)
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2022 Chardonnay R is from vines averaging 21 years of age from diverse vineyards in Siebeldingen (55%), Godramstein and Arzheim. Vinified in pièces (one-third of which were new) for 11 months, then blended and aged for another six months in old pièces, this is a quite aromatic and fruity Chardonnay with an elegant texture, finesse, mineral vitality and remarkable balance. There is bay leaf on the finish that is intense, dense and savory saline with fine phenolic grip and good tension. This had no maceration and gentle pressing.
One of the most popular and versatile white wine grapes, Chardonnay offers a wide range of flavors and styles depending on where it is grown and how it is made. While it tends to flourish in most environments, Chardonnay from its Burgundian homeland produces some of the most remarkable and longest lived examples. California produces both oaky, buttery styles and leaner, European-inspired wines. Somm Secret—The Burgundian subregion of Chablis, while typically using older oak barrels, produces a bright style similar to the unoaked style. Anyone who doesn't like oaky Chardonnay would likely enjoy Chablis.
This sunny and relatively dry region served for many years as a German tourist mecca and was associated with low cost, cheerful wines. But since the 1980s, it has gained a reputation as one of Germany’s more innovative regions, which has led to increased international demand.