Dr. Leimbrock has been family-owned for more than 250 years and looks back on a long tradition of producing fine wines. The main focus of our wines are the dry and semi-dry Rieslings. Only when nature allows – which in recent years has increasingly only been possible through the selective picking of the grapes – resulting in the delicate and aromatic Spätlese and Auslese wines. The excellent Leimbrock wines have received both national and international awards. Our wines are only harvested from our own vineyards, only fermented in our own cellars and bottled at our own winery Date Founded: 1750
Owner: Ulrike Oeffling (Leimbrock) Winery Philosophy: Tradition meets Care The Dr. Leimbrock – C. Schmidt winery has been family-owned for more than 250 years and looks back on a long tradition of producing fine wines. The current vineyard of Dr. Leimbrock – C. Schmidt was founded in 1967 by Friedhelm Leimbrock and Lore Leimbrock nee Schmidt from the companies of their forefathers Friedrich Herrmann, Dr. Wilhelm Leimbrock and Conrad Schmidt. Winery/Vineyards Winery Acreage: 22 acres Winery Production: 7,500 cases / 9L cases Varietals Produced: Riesling, Weißer Burgunder, Kerner Winemaker: Dr. Friedhelm Leimbrock We cultivate our Riesling on 8.5 hectares in the best locations in Veldenz, Mülheim, Brauneberg, Bernkastel and Graach.
The soils of our vineyards originate from the ‘Devon’ soil and are composed of weathered slate. 60% of the hills of our vineyard are aptly named – their slopes are 30-80% steep! Ideal locations for Riesling where each area possesses an unmistakable character. Whether Mülheimer Sonnenlay, Veldenzer Bitsch, Brauneberger Juffer, Brauneberger Juffer-Sonnenuhr, Graacher Himmelreich, or the Bernkasteler Badstube, we have some of the best locations on the Mosel. The vineyard is led by Mrs. Ulrike Oeffling. The vines are cultivated in a natural way. We follow guidelines for fertilization, planting and soil protection that are the best for the environment.
The grapes are carefully pressed, the must is fermented in a naturally cooled cellar and the wine is finished in traditional style. Love of the vines, the soil and the wine as well as the certitude of living in one of the most beautiful wine regions is our passion. It is our belief that we can improve our lifestyle through moderate enjoyment of wine. – Lore Leimbrock nee Schmidt, Ulrike Oeffling nee Leimbrock, Rolf-Bernd Leimbrock and Dr. Friedhelm Leimbrock. Acreage per vineyard: Graacher Himmelreich (0,3 ha), Bernkasteler Bratenhöfchen/Badstube (0,4 ha), Brauneberger Juffer-Sonnenuhr (0,6 ha), Brauneberger Juffer (0,9 ha), Mülheimer Sonnenlay (2,8 ha), Other (4 ha)
Dr. Leimbrock Brauneberger Juffer Sonnenuhr Riesling Auslese is made from 100% Riesling
Aged 6 months in classic large oak barrel.
ABV 8%Grapes come from Juffer-Sonnenuhr - one of the most prestigious vineyards in the Mosel winegrowing region. The vineyard faces south and provides the best conditions for growing Riesling.
delicious with exotic and candied fruit, flavors of date, honey and caramel, full-bodied Auslese with very concentrated aromas of apricot and dried fruits.
Vines were planted in 1990.
Wine was slightly filtered before bottling
Pair with dessert, cheese or dried fruits.
A late harvest Riesling with fruity sweetness and great aging potential, aromatic bouquet of honey, melon, ripe fruits. Grapes come from Brauneberger Juffer and Juffer-Sonnenuhr - one of the most prestigious vineyards in the Mosel winegrowing region. The vineyard faces south and provides the best conditions for growing Riesling.
Pairs well with pâté, Asian cuisine.
Dr. Leimbrock Mulheimer Sonnenlay Riesling Spatlese is made from 100 percent Riesling.
A classic in the residual sweet range that impresses with filigree fruit and mineral spiciness.
The circulating mountain "Mülheimer Sonnenlay" represents a geographical feature of the Moselle. Due to the strong meandering of the Moselle, the mountain was surrounded by the course of the river in geological development in such a way that a so-called circulating mountain arose from it. Located in the northeast-southwest direction, vines are cultivated on both sides of the mountain. The site name "Sonne" and "Lay" (Mosel Franconian for slate) combines the most important prerequisites for the cultivation of Riesling vines. Soils are skeletal-rich, weathered clay-ish shale enriched with sand, stones, and clay. At the beginning of the 1930s, the Mülheim winegrowers proudly pointed out that the local wine was served in the elegant restaurant of the airship "Graf Zeppelin" on its world trips and was obviously very popular.
Pair with spicy dishes, soft cheese, cakes.
Morlet Family Vineyards Mon Chevalier Cabernet Sauvignon is made from 94% Cabernet Sauvignon, 4% Cabernet Franc, 1% Malbec and 1% Petit Verdot .
Located on the hillsides of Knights Valley, near Calistoga, this vineyard benefits from its proximity to Mount St. Helena, whose warm and windy climate is ideal for the long ripening of the Bordeaux red varietals. Handcrafted by using classical winemaking techniques, this special wine is dedicated to our son, Paul Morlet.
Dark red with a hue of purple. Intense and complex bouquet of red, black and blue berries intermixed with notes of blueberries, minerals (graphite, wet river rocks) licorice, fresh blond tobacco and a hint of lavender. Full bodied, the palate is reminiscent of the nose, with a richly tannic yet round frame and a great intensity. The hillside tannins and the classical aromatic complexity create a harmonious ensemble, leading to a very long and elegant finish. Built to age for decades, this collectible wine opens up after a few years of cellaring and is particularly representative of this special vineyard from the hillside of Knights Valley. Mon Chevalier features the interaction of the loamy, well drained and rocky volcanic soil, the typical sunny mountain climate and the low-interventionistic Morlet winemaking approach.
Propietary Name Mon Chevalier
Name Meaning My Knight Named after our son, Paul Morlet
Type of wine Vineyard designated
Appellation Knights Valley
Vineyard singularity Morlet Family Estate Hillside 1100-1200 feet elevation Rhyolitic, loam & volcanic ash
Typical harvest date End of October
Picking Manual, small lugs, refer truck
Sorting Cluster by cluster, berry per berry
Fermentation Through native yeast Tank and Puncheons
Upbringing 16 months French oak from artisan coopers
Bottling Unfiltered
Cellaring time Decades
Serving Room temperature
Decanting recommended
Review:
The estate-grown 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon Mon Chevalier is a blend of 94% Cabernet Sauvignon, 4% Cabernet Franc, 1% Malbec and 1% Petit Verdot. Very deep purple-black in color, it charges forth with intense notes of crushed black cherries, black berry preserves and cassis scents with touches of spearmint, Indian spices, espresso and dried lavender plus a waft of roses. Full-bodied, the palate reveals incredible restraint, slowly revealing earth and black fruit layers framed by firm, grainy tannins and just enough freshness, finishing very long and spicy.
-Wine Advocate 96+ Points
Moving to the top releases, the 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon Mon Chevalier comes from Knights Valley and was brought up in puncheons. A gorgeous bouquet of sandalwood, violets, loamy earth, and incense as well as some iron-laced black and blue fruits flow to a rounded, supple, incredibly textured Cabernet that has sweet tannins, a stacked mid-palate, and a great finish. It’s already terrific yet will keep for 20-25 years or more.
-Jeb Dunnuck 96 Points
M. Chapoutier Hermitage Monier de la Sizeranne is made from 100 percent Shiraz.
In Hermitage, Syrah achieves its noblest expression and La Sizeranne has become a benchmark wine for the region. M. Chapoutier's roots in the Rhône date back to 1808, when the family first settled in Tain l'Hermitage. The family purchased a winery owned by Comte Monier de la Sizeranne and over time, acquired a number of excellent vineyards, including some of the oldest in France. M. Chapoutier was the first winery to put Braille on a wine label in 1996. Maurice Monier de la Sizeranne was the owner of the plot of the Hermitage, la Sizeranne until he was blinded in a hunting accident and unable to take care of the land, choosing instead to sell to the Chapoutier family. Following his accident, Maurice became the inventor of the first version of abbreviated Braille, and Chapoutier included Braille on the wine labels as a tribute to his work.
he grapes ferment in open wooden vats after total destemming. Two daily treadings ensure a good extraction of the tannins. Maturation takes place in oak casks, of which one third is new. Several rackings permit a slow and natural clarification process. The wine is unfiltered and unfined.
Review:
I was blown away by the 2019 Hermitage Monier De La Sizeranne, and if there’s a best buy out there in 2019 Hermitage, this might be it. Blackberries, black raspberries, spice box, new leather, and bouquet garni all dominate the bouquet, and it’s full-bodied, with a round, layered mouthfeel, beautiful tannins, and a rare mix of richness and elegance. It’s a stunning wine that’s guaranteed to put a smile on your face over the coming 2+ decades. Hats off to the team at Chapoutier!
-Jeb Dunnuck 97 Points