Horst Sauer

Total 37 acres, there are two plots with the name of Escherndorfer Lump and Escherndorfer Furstenberg of shell limestone soil. Escherndorfer Lump has steep slopes opening to the south like a parabolic reflector, collecting every sunbeam all year long and protecting the vines from the cold northern and eastern winds of winter.

A range of grape varieties are planted, including Silvaner, Muller-Thurgau, Riesling, Bacchus, Scheurebe, Spatburgunder, Domina, Weiburgunder. Annual production is about 140,000 bottles. Different quality levels are also produced, including Kabinett from Bacchus and Domina, which are fruity and aromatic. Grosse Lage, which are the German system distinguishing the best vineyards, with the dry wines labelled as GG, Grosses Gewachs.

Erste Lage are labelled as Qualitatswein “S”, of powerful, complex with compact range of aromas where only the first class sites with their own unique characters of consistently high quality could receive the accolade.

Gutswein which are “good from the ground up” form the basis of Pradikatwein is the hierarchy of the terroir, with the wines originating from the estate’s own holdings and meeting stringent standards prescribed by VDP. Sehnsucht is the special “yearning” of their perfect wine, which is of extreme complexity and balance, which is for special moment and long cellaring.

I have recently tasted the 2012 Escherndorfer Lump Silvaner Beerenauslese and below is my tasting note:

Appearance

Bright and clear, it has medium gold color, with watery rims and legs.

Nose

Clean, with pronounced intensity of citrus fruit of lemon, green fruit of pear, maturity notes of beeswax and honey, dairy notes of cream, some herbaceous notes of grass, floral notes of linden. The wine is developing.

Palate

Sweet with high acidity, the wine has low alcohol and full body, demonstrating pronounced intensity flavors of citrus fruit of lemon, tropical fruit of pineapple, maturity notes of beeswax and honey, floral notes of linden. The wine has a long finish.

Conclusion

Very good quality German Silvaner BA showing a very intense nose of decent complexity for the varietal, on the palate it has a strong acidity to balance the sweetness to make it refreshing and not cloying, with strong concentration and a long finish. Ready to drink now though the wine can further develop for another 8-10 years.