Pfeffingen Dry Riesling 2020
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Notes of apricot, peach and a touch of yellow apple unfold on the nose, while juicy flavors and a racy minerality lend the wine a
lovely and unexpected elegance.
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2021-
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Pfeffingen, idyllically located amidst its vineyards, is operated by oenologists Jan Eymael, his wife Karin and his mother Doris. All three of them are passionate wine-growers, whose unconditional endeavors to achieve top quality, even on a small scale, make this traditional Pfälzer family operation truly special. They strive to cultivate their 15 hectares (37 acres) of vines to yield unique wines that are rich in minerals and fruit. Pfeffingen has numbered among the best wine estates of Germany for years. Sense of family is given pride of place at Pfeffingen. Four generations of the Eymael and Fuhrmann families live and work together at the attractive estate situated on the Deutsche Weinstrasse (German Wine Road). Both families can look back on a long viticultural tradition. Their coat of arms to this day, with its mythical unicorn, was conferred in 1622 by Emperor Ferdinand II.
The Eymael and Fuhrmann families tend their vines and grapes with great care. Various vineyard procedures require manual labor. In all, vineyard maintenance is as ecologically friendly as possible and low yields are a matter of course. The grapes are harvested by hand, by experienced pickers. The vineyards and growing conditions at Pfeffingen are optimal for the “king of white wine varietals” – Riesling. The chalky soils also provide excellent conditions for Weissburgunder (Pinot Blanc) and Spätburgunder (Pinot Noir). The specialty of the house is the aromatic varietal Scheurebe (shoy´ray beh), named after the grape breeder Georg Scheu, who crossed Riesling and an unkown wild grape in 1916 to produce this delicious grape variety – which has yielded wines of remarkable quality for decades at Pfeffingen.
Riesling possesses a remarkable ability to reflect the character of wherever it is grown while still maintaining its identity. A regal variety of incredible purity and precision, this versatile grape can be just as enjoyable dry or sweet, young or old, still or sparkling and can age longer than nearly any other white variety. Somm Secret—Given how difficult it is to discern the level of sweetness in a Riesling from the label, here are some clues to find the dry ones. First, look for the world “trocken.” (“Halbtrocken” or “feinherb” mean off-dry.) Also a higher abv usually indicates a drier Riesling.
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.