Weingut Wagner Stempel Siefersheim Porphyr Pinot Blanc 2018
-
Enthusiast
Wine
Product Details
Your Rating
Somm Note
Winemaker Notes
Clear, pale yellow color with a light green tinges. Intense aromas of ripe apples, pears and quinces.
Dry, fresh and invigorating acidity, high extract and minerality, medium body, very well balanced.
Professional Ratings
-
Wine Enthusiast
Porphyr refers to large-grained crystals of igneous rock that penetrate the subsoil of the Grand Cru vineyards Höllberg and Heerkretz from where this stately wine originates. It's an intensely mineral wine that balances zesty lime and grapefruit flavors against a smouldering backdrop of earth. Voluminous on the palate and dry in style, it's an elegant, piercing white that should drink beautifully through at least 2030.
The idyllic delightful inner courtyard with its imposing chestnut tree was expanded in the early 90’s to include a painstakingly and lovingly restored guest house. At the same time Daniel Wagner decided to build on the tradition of classic wine production and restore the previously famed vineyard sites Höllberg and Heerkretz (ripens two week later) to their former glory. Restoring is an understatement. More meticulous and well-groomed vineyards can seldom be found! They are planted 50% to Riesling but there are also significant plantings to Pinot Blanc and Silvaner and 14% to red varietals such as Pinot Noir and St. Laurent.
The Siefersheim sites are carved out of volcanic hills; the soil is poor in nutrients and consists of volcanic stone also known as porphyr or the more modern expression ryolith, actually quite similar to the Schlossböckelheim sites in the Nahe. 95% of the production is dry. The wines bring amazing mineral drive to the palate!
Approachable, aromatic and pleasantly plush on the palate, Pinot Blanc is a white grape variety most associated with the Alsace region of France. Although its heritage is Burgundian, today it is rarely found there and instead thrives throughout central Europe, namely Germany and Austria, where it is known as Weissburgunder and Alto Adige where it is called Pinot Bianco. Interestingly, Pinot Blanc was born out of a mutation of the pink-skinned Pinot Gris. Somm Secret—Chardonnay fans looking to try something new would benefit from giving Pinot Blanc a try.