The name of the vineyard where this wine is born not only indicates the great fertility of the soil, but also its warm microclimate. It is a vineyard located near the mouth of the Main River, the main tributary of the Rhine River to the east. It is a great spätburgunder (pinot noir) planted in the warmest place in Künstler’s own vineyard, seeking a slower and more optimal ripening of the grapes. In the Rheingau region, the existence of pinot noir has been recorded since 1107. Today, 12% of the Rheingau vineyard area is planted with pinot noir. White Riesling is the majority. The vines are planted in sandy loam soils, with limestone marl subsoils.
From the winery it is stated that “good vineyards can produce good wines. However, great vineyards can go much further, imbuing their fruit with an unmistakable sense of belonging to a place.” It is added that “geology, microclimate and topography shape the flavor, character and individual style of each wine.” In 2004, the Forschungsanstalt Geisenheim (Geisenheim grape growing institute) and the Deutsche Wetterdienst (German meteorological service) examined the Rheingau vineyards. Based on a decade of scientific research into almost every square meter under the vine, a classification map was established for the Rheingau, the first of its kind in the world based solely on scientific data.
Hochheim Reichestal is a Fair’n Green certified wine from sustainable viticulture. This seal covers the areas of management, environmental protection and corporate social responsibility. The analysis covers the entire supply chain, from procurement, planting and production to distribution. At Künstler they work for the comprehensive elimination of all herbicides. They are convinced that only a soil “full of life” can truly transmit its characteristic terroir. They assure that “the vineyards constitute an intact ecosystem, they are the habitat of beneficial organisms such as earthworms, as well as other animals such as rabbits, deer and even storks. “The growing flora and fauna are nature’s way of praising how we care for our vineyards.” From this family winery they affirm that “our wines are flavors and, for each one of them to be unique, we are based on a range of knowledge, craftsmanship, respect for nature, the best conditions of the terroir, a committed team and the love that we associate with winemaking.”
Künstler is part of the VDP (Deutscher Prädikatsweingüter e.V.). It is a German association of qualified wine farms, which was founded in 1910. It brings together the vast majority of the best producers in Germany. It brings together around 200 top-level wine farms from all German wine appellations. The purpose of the VDP classification is, as stated by this association, “to reaffirm the value of the best vineyards in Germany as part of a unique cultural landscape: vineyards where wines considered some of the best in the world grow.” Künstler’s Hochheim Reichestal is also a VDP Grosse Lage, a rating that distinguishes the best vineyards in Germany, which are carefully separated into plots. They are “unique wines that have extraordinary aging potential.” Only the best varieties that are suited to their respective vineyard enjoy the privilege of producing these great wines. The strictest production criteria guarantee this top of the qualitative VDP classification pyramid. Grosse Lage could be translated as a great place. And Reichestal means rich valley.
After a 2018 of constant heat and drought, as well as a winter with little rainfall, the vineyards in Rheingau began 2019 with a significant water deficit. The vintage was once again dominated by drought. The month of May was unusually cool, which led to a slowdown in the vegetative development of the strains. But in July, with its high temperatures, it pushed the plants to the limit once again. On July 25, a record 41.3 degrees Celsius was measured in Hochheim am Main. In many vineyards, grapes suffered sunburn. However, by early autumn, the affected berries dried completely and therefore did not have a negative impact on the quality of the harvest.
The harvest generally developed quickly, since the aromatic and phenolic maturity of the grapes was already optimal and the weather did not invite us to take risks. The yield, of 205,000 hectoliters, was 2% below the average of the last ten years. According to the owner of the winery, Gunter Künstler, “the 2022 vintage has not only been exciting for our pinot noir, but also for riesling. We didn’t expect it due to the drought we had with 30 and 40 degrees in July and August, but finally the wines have turned out wonderfully well. “We are more than satisfied with the 2022 vintage.”
Medium-low layer and beautiful ruby ??color. It exhibits somewhat acidic red fruit (cherries) and lactic sensation (forest fruit yogurt). All this in a bed of low forest, Cuban tobacco leaves, coffee, licorice, chocolate, smoky touches and aromatic garrigue herbs (rosemary). It is fresh, round, balsamic and fluid. With 14º alcohol and well-integrated aging in wood. It stands out for its great balance and elegance. Ideal to pair with smoked eel or trout, with smoked Pomeranian goose breast, with pork loin steak on sautéed vegetables, with kässpätzle (cheese pasta) or with a schneegestöber (a cheese served with butter, egg and onions and seasoned with paprika, pepper and chives). The owner of Künstler likes to pair it with a beef rib. Of the Künstler Hochheim Reichestal 2019, 2,100 bottles were produced, of which 420 bottles were destined for the Spanish market (which distributes First Brands).
Weingut Künstler has remained in the same family since 1648. For most of that time the family ran a property in Untertannowitz, a town in the South Moravia region of the Czech Republic, approximately 80 kilometers north of the Austrian capital. Franz Künstler’s lands were seized in the aftermath of World War II and he was eventually expelled from his family’s homeland. In 1965, he re-established Weingut Künstler, in Hochheim am Main, in the Rheingau region of Germany.
The estate’s “uncompromising quality” philosophy remained unchanged, and the wines soon garnered awards and critical recognition. Gunter, son of Franz Künstler, assumed leadership of the winery in 1992, continuing his father’s legacy alongside his wife Monika and a young and fully dedicated team. They have a total of 65 hectares of vineyards and produce around 400,000 bottles annually. They export around 20% of their production. China, Taiwan and Europe are its three main international markets. They have a wine cellar where you can taste and buy their wines throughout the year. And they also offer tastings to groups of ten or more people.
