VINOUS, ANNE KREBIEHL MW

"Two lucky escapes characterize 2023 at Battenfeld-Spanier. Carolin Spanier reports that the dryness of the early part of the summer barely affected the deep-rooting vines in the Red Slope. Rain started in July and was frequent in August, but the estate’s policy of de-leafing before flowering afforded thicker grape skins that are more resilient. A second deleafing took place in July, and Spanier says: “Our grapes stood so loosely that the rain could not damage them.” However, hail struck in a 1am storm in the night from August 25 to 26, doing much damage in Hohen-Sülzen but not in the Grosse Lagen. Harvest started on September 10, and although hail usually never hits the same site twice, on September 12, large grains pounded Hohen-Sülzen again–thankfully where the fruit had already been mostly picked. From the Hohen-Sülzen damaged fruit, Spanier decided to make a Rosè instead of a village Pinot Noir. For Riesling, any hail damage was sorted out with much effort. Spanier also notes that all the wines–both for Battenfeld-Spanier and Kühling-Gillot (the wines of both estates are made at the Battenfeld-Spanier winery in Hohen-Sülzen)–were fermented dry by the first week of January. The 2023 Rieslings set a new paradigm of precision and site expression, contrasting the two estates’ core characteristics of Red Slope savoriness and lemony limestone coolness. The 2022 Pinot Noir GGs are of exquisite elegance."

2019 CO Steinlinden Liquid Earth 99 Points

2023 Kreuzberg VDP.Grosses Gewächs 98 Points

2023 Rothenberg wurzelecht VDP.Grosses Gewächs 98 Points