Reicholzheimer Schwarzriesling, Ehrlenbach, Franken. Surprising red organic wine from Schwarzriesling , known in France as Pinot Meunier or Meunier (Champagne). This Reicholzheimer Schwarzriesling is a beautiful bright red with aromas of cherries, berries and blackberries plus earthy tones and some graphite (pencil shavings).
In the mouth full and powerful with freshness, forest mushrooms, mineral and a hint of coffee and pepper. Soft tannins. Delicious wine to discover. Is somewhat reminiscent of a beautiful Beaujolais. Only 12% alcohol. The wine matures for 12 months in barriques.
- Serve; 14 °C
- Drink: now until 2027
Schwarzriesling aka Pinot Meunier, discover this grape!
Florian Ehrlenbach is a super talent . He worked at top companies Horst Sauer in Franken and at Manincor in Alto Adige. Since 2017 he also works as vineyard manager at Paul Fürst in Franken, for decades in the top 3 of best German Spätburgunder makers. And now also at his own winery. Florian is assisted by his brother Philipp. The leading wine guide Eichelmann immediately gave 2 stars:
The level is high - and the style is high, they are set with fresh and fruity, the wine is moderate in alcohol, comfortable with their taste, clean and comfortable.
Weingut Ehrlenbach is a tiny estate with 2.5 hectares of vineyards. The young winemakers Florian and Philipp Ehrlenbach took over the company from their parents. Since 2019, the brothers have been marketing their wines themselves. Before that, the grapes went to the local cooperative. But the total production is small: only 5,000 bottles annually. Since 2022, the winery has been officially organic .
The vineyards are located in the idyllic Taubertal where the narrow Tauber river meanders for 130 kilometers. This river runs through 3 different wine regions and the vineyards of Florian and Philipp are located in Baden and Franken, southeast of Frankfurt.
Ideal soil of clay and limestone
The soil contains clay and limestone full of fossils. Ideal for Spätburgunder, or Pinot Noir. But here also grows Schwarzriesling, aka Pinot Meunier, which also flourishes there. The vineyards are relatively high (300 meters) and directly facing south. Together, perfect conditions to make beautiful wines from both grape varieties. There is enough sun for ripe grapes and enough cooling at night for beautiful acids.
The harvest is done by hand. This makes a strict selection possible. The motto for vinification is: ' Finger weg! ' So as little intervention as possible, no additives, only a few milligrams of sulphite after fermentation, far below the permitted EU standard. The wine is bottled unfiltered.
