Weingut Vollenweider
Country: Germany
Region: Mosel
One of the new guard of Mosel producers, Daniel Vollenweider crafts his superb Riesling from 12.4 acres of vines mostly on extremely steep slopes with high percentage of old and ungrafted Riesling vines.
History
in 1999, swiss born Vollenweider devoted himself to a dream: to run his own estate and grow riesling wines that are crystal-clear, no-nonsense, yet sensual and lush all at once.
After working in vineyards both in Germany and abroad, Daniel started with 1.3 hectares in the Wolfer Goldgrube: an ideal vineyard in the sense that it boasts a fine pedigree, yet had fallen out of use (and the spotlight) in recent decades. He now owns just over four hectares on Goldgrube as well as parcels in Kröver Steffensberg and Trabener Würzgarten (Schimbock), and is a member of der klitzekleine ring, a group of winemakers that revive derelict, steep old-vine vineyard sites in the Mosel.
Daniel is dedicated to the uniquely grueling lifestyle of winemakers in the Mosel who choose to responsibly farm these harrowing sites by hand and without using pesticides and herbicides, knowing the hard work is beneficial to both the vines and ultimately the wine.
Vineyards and Viticulture
The Goldgrube is a steep amphitheater rising above a bend in the Mosel river, south to southwest-facing, with predominately Devonian gray slate (certain parcels variegated with iron-rich red slate). Old vines here are ungrafted and some are over 80 years in age. The estate is 100% Riesling and 100% steep, slate sites. Everything must be done by hand in the vineyard.
Winemaking
The winemaking philosophy is as simple as it gets: work hard. Daniel works alone, with no short cuts and no compromises. Vinification happens in the multi-level cellar located under his house in Trarbach, a town (along with its sister-city Traben across the river) that was an invaluable wine shipping hub during the last half of the nineteenth century and into the early 1900s. Taking a minimalist approach, Daniel uses stainless steel tanks and prefers spontaneous fermentation for all wines except for those affected by Botrytis. In more recent vintages Daniel has expanded into making dry and dry-tasting wines, which are also outstanding and full of verve.
Domaine Chanson Clos des Mouches Blanc Beaune Premier Cru 2017
$290.00Gold colour. Subtle floral fragrances mixed with pretty and fresh aromas of pale fleshed fruit mixed with citrus fruit aromas on a hint of minerality. Fleshy and ample on a sappy and tight texture. Deep and long finish with mineral tinges.Chanson is one of the major owners of Clos des Mouches with a vineyard of 4.5 hectares. A sunny terroir which benefits from an ideal location on the hill at the southern end of the vineyards of Beaune on a spur pointing toward Pommard . A plot of 2 hectares on the upper side of the hill is planted with Chardonnay on a limestone subsoil covered with sand.
Maison Langlois-Chateau Chateau de Thauvenay Sancerre 2018
$55.00The Chateau sits on a 18 hectare vineyard surrounding one of the rare castles in Sancerre, in Thauvenay (south east of the Appellation).Facing the Loire, the vineyard on chalky soil. With aromas of apple, mango and grapefruit this wine develops strength and character while in the glass. Go all out and enjoy with lobster.
Domaine Marcel Deiss Burg 2015
$129.00Burg is one of Deiss’ most prized terroirs, with its south-facing aspect and multi-coloured Keuper marls and rare limestone insertions. Mainly planted with Riesling, Pinot Gris, Pinot Blanc, Muscat and Gerwürztraminer, Burg is a robust wine, complex and structured, with great ageing potential. The fruit is fermented in barrels using indigenous yeasts, and the wine is then matured in oak barrels on fine lees for 12 months. Each of these highly aromatic varieties gives the wine its extraordinary complexity and spiced notes with a hint of citrus peel. It makes an exquisite pairing with exotic, spiced dishes.
Domaine Marcel Deiss Burg 2012
$120.00Burg is one of Deiss’ most prized terroirs, with its south-facing aspect and multi-coloured Keuper marls and rare limestone insertions. Mainly planted with Riesling, Pinot Gris, Pinot Blanc, Muscat and Gerwürztraminer, Burg is a robust wine, complex and structured, with great ageing potential. The fruit is fermented in barrels using indigenous yeasts, and the wine is then matured in oak barrels on fine lees for 12 months. Each of these highly aromatic varieties gives the wine its extraordinary complexity and spiced notes with a hint of citrus peel. It makes an exquisite pairing with exotic, spiced dishes.
Ceretto Aziende Vitivinicole Dolcetto d’Alba DOC Rossana 2018
$49.00Rossana is a splendid plot on the outskirts of Alba, historically recognised as one of the toponyms of excellence for Dolcetto. The wine spends nine months in stainless steel, keeping it fresh and vibrant. Aromas of red cherries mingle with notes of lavender, violets, and a touch of sweet almonds. On the palate, black cherries and sweet spices lead to a soft and lingering finish.
Chateau de Campuget 1753 Rosé 2018
$32.00A very pale rose with grapefruit and exotic fruits on the nose and a delicate freshness on the palate with hints of roses and red fruits. Winemaking is traditional with a focus on preserving freshness and aromatic purity. A great aperitif.
Chateau de Campuget 1753 Syrah 2016
$32.00The right bank of the Rhone (the Gard department) is known for its Syrah. This is a fine example, packing plenty of plum and garrigue into a full-bodied, well-structured wine. Dried herbs, cocoa powder and espresso mingle on the still firm finish.
Bodegas Tradicion Oloroso NV
$195.00This is the traditional Jerez wine par excellence. Oloroso Tradición VORS, in addition to being our longest and most full-bodied wine, is also the smoothest and most elegant. Its age, which is approximately an average of 45 years, and its oxidative ageing process (with no flor and in total contact with the oxygen) have given it very particular properties. Our Oloroso is the result of combining soleras from the 18th and 19th centuries.
This pure breed Oloroso style is a powerful but extraordinarily gentle wine, mouth filling, rich, unctuous.
Château Pierre-Bise Quarts de Chaume 2016
$105.00The top cuvée. One for the purist terroirists rather than the hedonists. The finished blend is almost 100% botrytised fruit and has residual sugar of 175 g/l. The nose is admirably high-toned and full of toasted-honeyed nuts, with a bed of grilled and dried berry fruits. The palate shows great substance and polish, with a velvety, creamed-fruit texture, polished and weighty, cut through by a fresh acid bite. This is imposing, textural, majestic even, with tangible weight and an impressive length. It remains fresh throughout, though, and it retains a sense of purity. An excellent cuvée and an absolute must for the cellar.
La Côte Etoilée Côte de Brouilly 2017
$40.0040-year-old vines are handpicked followed by a 14-day whole cluster semi-carbonic maceration in concrete and steel tanks. A floral scent with hints of cherries and plums. Juicy and fresh fruit with long with marked acidity and fresh tannins that add some gentle grip to the tenacious finish.
Weingut Vollenweider Goldgrube Grand Cru Riesling 2017
$100.00Goldgrube Grand Cru comes from the best plots and oldest vines (up to 100 years old!) of the Wolfer Goldgrube vineyard and is the quintessential wine of this slope. It boasts a rich spectrum of flavours that include tropical hints; it is complex, deep and focused. It has a remarkable mineral backbone and a great ageing potential.
Weingut Vollenweider Felsenfest Riesling 2017
$38.00Felsen means ‘rock’ and Fest means ’festival’ in German, and refers to the rocky (slate) soil in which the vines grow. The fruit is sourced from all three of Daniel’s vineyards, so despite being an entry-level, or estate wine as they are referred to in Germany, it’s essentially a declassified Grand Cru, which is incredible for this price. The wine was fermented to a dry level, in stainless steel to retain freshness. The nose offers delicate aromas of pear, quince, star fruit, herbs and fine spices, yet the palate is very dry with incredible stony minerality.
Jean-Louis Trapet Gevrey Chambertin 1er cru Aléa 2016
$450.00A blend of all of Trapet’s Gevrey 1er cru sites — Clos Prieur, Petite Chapelle, Combottes, Corbeaux and Ergot — the Alea is only produced in vintages with extremely small quantities. A more elegant and more floral-suffused nose reflects notes of both earth and dark berries with a hint of the sauvage lurking in the background. There is similarly good volume and mid-palate density to the delicious round and relatively supple medium weight flavours that contrast markedly with the very firm powerful finale
Domaine Trapet Chapelle 1441 Pinot Noir d’ Alsace 2015
$86.00Andrée Trapet, wife of the well-known winegrower of Burgundy Jean-Louis Trapet, runs the Domaine Trapet family winery in Alsace. Member of the Renaissance des Appellations association whose members can only apply certified and biodynamic organic practices to their vineyards, their wines are characterised by being precise, pure and mineral. Pinot Noir Chapelle 1441 is a selection of the best terroirs: Rosacker and Froehn. Red wine with a floral and spicy expression, balance and energy.
Distilleria Quaglia Vermouth Superiore Rosso di Torino
$72.00With a shining dark amber colour, this Vermouth reveals the characteristic hints of wormwood, gracefully matched with balsamic aromas, wood and resin. Founded in the late 1800’s, four generations of the Quaglia family have guided Distilleria Quaglia through more than a century of artisan production, modernising it where needed whilst cherishing the older, traditional methods of distilling. The distillery was established just after the Unification of Italy in 1871 between Monferrato and the hills towards Turin.
Chateau de Campuget 1753 Viognier 2019
$32.00The 1753 Viognier Cuvée exhibits a terrific bouquet of honeysuckle, orange marmalade, peaches, and tropical fruits Medium-bodied and filled with fruit yet structured, with good underlying acidity to provide freshness and focus.
Chateau de Campuget 1753 Grenache 2016
$32.00This wine is of a beautiful complexity. The colour is deep ruby. The nose offers red fruit (cherry) mixed with spicy notes. In the mouth, the tannins are tender and supple, marked by finesse and elegance.
Tunkalilla Vineyard Riesling 2011
$32.002011 Tunkalilla Vineyards Riesling is from the latest harvest yet and matches the exceptionally cool 2010 vintage as the two coldest vintages of the Oregon wine industry’s history. The very high natural acid of the 2011 Riesling is balanced by the higher sugar level of 39.5g/l. The fruit aromatics are delicately poised between citrus blossom and subtle tropical fruit, typical of the Riesling variety grown in a highly suited cool terroir.
Suavia Soave Classico 2019
$40.00Grown in high altitude Volcanic vineyards, This is a blend of two regions in central Soave and is 100% Garganega. The wine is fermented in steel tank on lees for 14 days keeping the wine super fresh. With aromas of fresh apple and pear this wine tastes smooth and creamy, it offers almond and minerality brightened by crisp acidity.
Domaine Mas Jullien Pays d’Hérault Blanc 2016
$110.00A blend of 40% Chenin Blanc and 60% Carignan Blanc from the old vines of Pays d’Herault. Fermented and aged on lees in demi-muids for one year to produce a wine of delicacy backed by solid minerality and depth. Each variety from each terroir is fermented separately with no malolactic fermentation except for the Carignan Blanc, producing complex and vibrant wines that will keep you at your seat’s edge with every sip.
Domaine Mas Jullien Autour de Jonquieres 2015 MAGNUM
$220.00A blend of 20% Syrah, 40% Mourvèdre, and 40% Carignan planted on limestone soils. The fruit is fermented primarily in 40hl concrete tanks. Jullien ferments the destemmed fruit for up to three weeks before ageing in demi-muids and foudre. It is unfiltered and unfined. Notes of red and black fruits, spice and distinct minerality, this full-bodied effort has stunning purity of fruit and building structure, with nicely integrated acidity and tannin. Classically styled, with the hallmark purity, tension and focus a Mas Jullien cuvee.
Domaine Chanson Volnay 2015
$130.00This vineyard, planted on marl and limestone is located on the commune of Volnay, famous for its great red wines among the best in the Côte de Beaune.
Well-balanced with a fine texture. Very pure fruit. Bright ruby colour. Intense Aromas of raspberry mixed with liquorice and spices.
Domaine Chanson Pernand-Vergelesses Les Caradeux 1er Cru 2017
$129.00Pale colour. Refreshing aromas of grapefruit mixed with pale fleshed fruit on a hint of minerality true to the appellation. Bright attack with salty tinges. Complex with a tight texture. Long and precise aftertaste. This vineyard of 1.90 hectares is ideally located on the mid-slope close to the hill of Corton-Charlemagne. Same soil structure and height as its famous neighbour on marly limestone with silt and clay. The only difference is the East exposure of the “Caradeux” which makes this plot an exceptional “terroir” providing unique mineral characteristics. Pale golden colour. Very delicate floral fragrances mixed with citrus fruit and fresh honey. Well balanced and well-structured. Voluminous with a well-shaped minerality. Very precise and tense.
Domaine Chanson Meursault Perrières 1er Cru 2017
$325.00“Les Perrières” is situated on a mid-slope on the hill south of Meursault on clay and limestone covered with stones. This Premier Cru Vineyard is considered to be the ultimate area in Meursault, combining richness and minerality.
Domaine de Terrebrune Blanc 2015
$79.00Bandol Blanc is a rarity, making only 5% of the wine produced in the appellation. The Terrebrune Blanc is a blend of 50% Clairette, 20% Ugni Blanc, 20% Bourboulenc, 5% Rolle and 5% Marsanne. Fermentation lasts for 15 to 20 days, and the wine spends half a year in stainless steel tanks afterwards. The resulting wine is a pure, stony style, with jasmine, blanched almond, quinine and mineral notes backed by light honeysuckle and wet pebble hints. Elegant finish.
Domaine Trapet Riquewihr Riesling 2015
$45.00Hand-harvested from biodynamically farmed vineyards, the fruit is fermented in tank and aged 10-12 months in neutral French oak barrels and concrete eggs. Andree Trapet, the wife to Jean-Louis Trapet of Gevrey-Chambertin, makes dry, racy and a leaner style of Alsatian Riesling. The 2015 Riquewihr has floral and stony aromas with citrus notes and a long, mineral finish.
Domaine du Clos de Tart La Forge de Tart 2014
$450.00The second wine of the Clos de Tart estate, this is a Grand Cru wine, under a 1er Cru label. The winery was founded in 1141 by the Tart Abbey Bernardine sisters, a branch of the nearby Cistercian congregation. Since then it has changed owners 4 times. The Forge de Tart is made from vines under 20 years old, and sees no whole bunches in the winemaking. This is a great insight into a historic winery.
Domaine du Clos de Tart Clos de Tart Grand Cru 2014
$900.00Clos de Tart is the largest Monopole to be classified as Grand Cru not to be broken up since its inception in 1141 by the Tart Abbey Bernardine sisters. Since then is has only changed hands 4 times with the current guardian, François Pinault taking over in 2017. This is wine sees whole bunches and is made from the older vines averaging 60 years old. This is a lifetime wine, that deserves to be cellared to see its full potential.
Thanks to the quality of its soil and its situation, the Clos de Tart Grand Cru combines the strength of Chambertin and the elegance of a Musigny.
“It can please both the hedonists who are looking for immediate pleasure and for aesthetes who are immediately aware of its refined texture and delicate tannins” Michael Bettane.
Maison Langlois-Chateau Saumur Blanc 2018
$32.00Great value Chenin Blanc from the white soils of Saumur. Screwcap.
Domaine Chanson Chablis 2017
$56.00The village of Chablis, located in the northernmost district of Burgundy, is known for producing steely, crisp wines with intense green-apple acidity and a firm, mineral backbone. Domaine Chanson makes a plot-based selection on hills ideally mostly located in the south of the village.
Maison Langlois-Chateau Chateau de Fontaine-Audon Sancerre 2018
$55.00This 15 hectares vineyard surrounds one of the rare castles in Sancerre, in St Gemme (north west of the Appellation).
A terroir of flint brings this wine a mineral flavour. Very expressive nose, perfectly typical of the grape varietal, with citrusy and exotic fruit notes. On the palate, very good balance and freshness. Ideal with goat’s cheese, fish and shellfish.
Domaine Mas Jullien Autour de Jonquieres 2015
$110.00A blend of 20% Syrah, 40% Mourvèdre, and 40% Carignan planted on limestone soils. The fruit is fermented primarily in 40hl concrete tanks. Jullien ferments the destemmed fruit for up to three weeks before ageing in demi-muids and foudre. It is unfiltered and unfined. Notes of red and black fruits, spice and distinct minerality, this full-bodied effort has stunning purity of fruit and building structure, with nicely integrated acidity and tannin. Classically styled, with the hallmark purity, tension and focus of a Mas Jullien cuvee.
Domaine Marcel Deiss Schoenenbourg Grand Cru 2012
$235.00Schoenenbourg, reputed since the Middle Ages, is the gem of all the Riquewihr vineyards. Facing south with co-planted old vines with mostly Riesling, on gypsum marl. The wines display an undeniable aptitude for ageing, richness and amazing body. On the palate, it’s a wine with overwhelming tension, with a vinous acidity, impressive length, immodest form, dominating, a predator. Schoenenbourg is one of the most exceptional wines made in the Alsatian terroirs.
Domaine Marcel Deiss Rotenberg 2010
$92.00A great terroir of oolitic limestone, inclined toward the East and standing erect like a sentinel facing south. Rotenberg is the earliest ripening terroir in Bergheim. The red soil, marked by iron and limestone, and the solar climate unite Riesling and Pinot Gris, resulting in a wine with brilliant citrus. Great, fruit-focused wine with beautiful balance, powerful smoky nose with dry extract and magnificent notes of mandarin and lemon.
Domaine Marcel Deiss Grasberg 2012
$120.00Planted with Riesling, Pinot Gris and Gewurztraminer, Grasberg is located at the summit of the Grand Cru Altenberg in Bergheim, at 340m altitude and facing northeast. The soil here is very shallow, which forces the roots to dig deep into the subsoil in search of water and nourishment. A complex wine from Jurassic limestone terroir. The coolness of the site elevates the citrus acidity of limestone to a superlative, mouth-watering tang; restrains the botrytis from sweet to savoury-sweet and sour; infuses the wine with freshness; takes the sedimentary minerality to a more crystalline place.
Domaine Marcel Deiss Burg 2010
$105.00Burg is one of Deiss’ most prized terroirs, with its south-facing aspect and multi-coloured Keuper marls and rare limestone insertions. Mainly planted with Riesling, Pinot Gris, Pinot Blanc, Muscat and Gerwürztraminer, Burg is a robust wine, complex and structured, with great ageing potential. The fruit is fermented in barrels using indigenous yeasts, and the wine is then matured in oak barrels on fine lees for 12 months. Each of these highly aromatic varieties gives the wine its extraordinary complexity and spiced notes with a hint of citrus peel. It makes an exquisite pairing with exotic, spiced dishes.
Domaine Chanson Viré-Clessé 2018
$35.50Soil
Clay and limestone
Site
In the heart of the Macon winegrowing region, South of Burgundy. The two villages Vire and Clesse form a unique “terroir” on slopes facing South-East. This is one of the best white wines of the region combining suppleness and minerality.
Domaine Chanson Puligny Montrachet Les Folatières 1er Cru 2017
$325.00This vineyard is ideally located nearby the famous Montrachet and Chevalier Montrachet. It has a southeast exposure. The high proportion of clay gives the wine a specific minerality. Pale gold colour. Floral fragrances mixed with exotic fruit and ripe pear aromas with spices. Complex and well-balanced. Taut and tight. Very pure. Elegant texture. Long finish.
Domaine Chanson Le Bourgogne Pinot Noir 2019
$40.00The grapes for Domaine Chanson’s Bourgogne Rouge are sourced exclusively from select estate-owned vineyards in the Côte de Nuits, as well as several terroirs located in the southern part of the Côte de Beaune. Dark ruby colour with purple nuances. Intense aromas of ripe blackberries mixed with spices and liquorice. Crunchy and generous. Complex and deep texture. Well-crafted tannins. Long and fruity aftertaste.
Domaine Chanson Clos des Mouches Rouge Beaune Premier Cru 2017
$240.00Chanson is one of the major owners of Clos des Mouches with a vineyard of 4.5 hectares. Ideal location on the hill at the southern end of the vineyards of Beaune on a spur pointing toward Pommard. A plot of 2.5 hectares is planted with Pinot Noir on a limestone subsoil covered with clay. Dark ruby colour. Intense aromas of red berries mixed with an array of spices. Complex with vibrant energy. Well-balanced. Beautiful texture. Harmonious oak note and fine-grained tannins. Long and elegant aftertaste.
Château Pierre-Bise Cabernet d’Anjou 2014
$28.00A slightly sweeter style of rosé made from Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon. Despite the high residual sugar, the wine remains balanced due to the tannins from the Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc.
Château Pierre-Bise Rouannieres Anjou Villages sur Spilite 2014
$46.00Les Rouannières is a vineyard planted in soils of schist and an oceanic volcanic basalt known as spilite. This wine kicks off with aromas of dark, glossy and perfumed fruit, with notes of sooty plum. The palate feels very fresh and pure, with a tense and bright structure, plus lots of grippy tannins, ripe and fine-grained, with vibrant acidity. All in all, a very appealing style with plenty of grip.
Ceretto Aziende Vitivinicole Moscato d’Asti DOCG 2016 375ml
$28.00Ceretto Moscato d’Asti is fermented exclusively in stainless steel autoclaves so that the fruity aromas of the grape are preserved. It is an intensely aromatic, fruity and persistent wine. Its aromas of peach and floral touches stand out. On the palate, its sweetness is balanced by the low alcohol content, a very fine bubble, and the relatively low acidity gives it a pleasant freshness.
Ceretto Aziende Vitivinicole Blange – Langhe Arneis DOC 2018
$56.00The Blange vineyard, located on the hillsides of Vezza d’Alba, was purchased in 1985 with the sole purpose of planting it with the Arneis grape.
Bright and refreshing, this opens with scents of honeysuckle, jasmine, pear and yellow stone fruit. The round but lively palate offers peach, green apple and a hint of white almond. Its fragrance and flavour are also enhanced by the small amount of CO2 maintained from the fermentation, which also helps to make up for the varietal’s typically low acidity.
Ceretto Aziende Vitivinicole Barolo DOCG Prapo 2011
$200.00VINIFICATION
Fermentation with a floating cap, alternating traditional pumping over of the must with delestages for around 10 days. Maceration for one week with a submerged cap is then followed by ageing in small 300-liter barrels for 30 months.
WINE
This Barolo reflects the most typical style of the wine’s virtuosity and aristocracy. Ethereal nose and aromas of withered roses fail to suppress a slight fragrance of underbrush, which makes it extremely well-balanced and rounded. With its excellent acidity and tannicity, it can have a very lengthy cellar life: 15-25 years.
Ceretto Aziende Vitivinicole Barolo DOCG 2015
$165.00The Barolo DOCG is made from younger and lower vines from Brunate in La Morra and Prapo in Seralunga and spends 34 months in French oak. The Tortonian soils in Brunate provide elegance and finesse whilst the ferrous clay in Prapo provide power and strength. This is a classic Barolo – light garnet in colour with Barolo’s quintessential aromas of roses, tart cherries, and hints of truffles. Ceretto’s Barolo DOCG is extraordinarily approachable now, but it will continue to reward the patient wine drinker as it evolves over the course of several years.
Bodegas Tradicion Palo Cortado NV
$195.00Palo Cortado is a very special wine, both elegant and unique, which comes from certain Jerez wines which are particular for their fermentation and ageing in oak barrels where their atypical characteristics were developed: elegant in the nose and full in the mouth. One of the classic Palo Cortado from that time is that which we find in our Palo Cortado Tradiciн_n VORS; a subtle, delicate wine, which, after losing the flor, has finished its ageing process in contact with the oxygen. With an average of 32 years of age, it is the subtlest and youngest of our dry wines.
Bodegas Tradicion Fino NV
$79.00This is a wine in full maturity, the result of lengthy ageing under “flor” – a veil of yeasts, in American oak barrels using the solera and criaderas system.
Very dry, it denotes a salinity, complexity, intensity and length that is hard to compare, offering a long persistence on the palate. This is a rare breed of fino that is pure, serious and traditional.