Thanisch Feinherb Riesling

Thanisch Feinherb Riesling is extremely well structured with a deep golden colour and powerful but also elegant characteristics: Minerals, peach, pear, cumquat, watermelon, currant, grapefruit, with a hint of gooseberry and raspberry. The finish is off dry with floral notes.

Established in 1636, this historic estate owns 16 hectares of the finest vineyards in Bernkastel in the heart of Middle Mosel, where vines have been grown since Roman times, including a third of the legendary Berncasteler Doctor vineyard.

They believe in sustainable and ecological-oriented viticulture with no use of pesticides, herbicides (special herbs are planted to kill weeds), insecticides (use of pheromones instead), no chemical fertilizers (only mulch from pips, stems and skins of grapes) or heavy machinery which compacts the slaty soils with nearly all work done by hand.

Environmentally-friendly practices extend to the cellar where there is no use of artificial enzymes, sorbic acid (commonly used to stabilize wine), industrial cleaners and only minimal use of sulphur dioxide.

Max Ferger, one of Germany’s brightest young winemakers, was appointed winemaker in 2009 and makes just over 8,000 cases in a ‘normal’ year.

Quality and sustainability are key at every stage of production, starting with minimal treatments in the vines (which was critical to success in 2014, due to a warm damp harvest anyone using fertilisers was unable to harvest much fruit at all), hand-picking and relying on the naturally occurring yeasts.

The whites are macerated for between two and four hours, gently pressed, fermented slowly in stainless steel and then aged in 1,000 litre traditional Mosel barrels to maximise aromatics and complexity. This is authentic Riesling.

The legend says that in the 14th century the Kurfürst (electoral prince) Boemund II of Trier fell very ill with a fever during his stay at the Landshut castle.

No medicine and none of his famous doctors were able to cure him. A local grower gave him a small barrel of his finest wine, explaining that this was the best medicine.

After drinking it, the Kurfürst recovered completely. He summoned the grower to thank him and gave him the vineyard and as an award of honour, the name was the "Berncasteler Doctor", as this was the only "real" doctor.

The legendary Berncasteler Doctor vineyard is located behind the village Bernkastel and is one of the most famous vineyards in Germany. http://www.grapesandgrainsnyc.com/2010/09/19/the-bernkasteler-doctor-the-greatest-vineyard-in-germany/

This very steep site with a South-South-West orientation consists of medium deep, stony, loamy weathered argillaceous schist.

Planted with up to 80 year old wines, full-bodied, spicy wines are grown here. The South-South-West orientation of the vineyard guarantees optimal sunshine throughout most of the day.

Thanisch Feinherb Riesling - Hay Wines