We all know that Germany can make fantastic dessert wines. But Ellermann Spiegel's approach is enchanting and overwhelming. The grapes grow on the finest slopes the Palatinate has to offer. You can taste the winemaker's attention with just a single sip.
Ellermann Spiegel's fifty hectare vineyard
The company is located in the southernmost tip of the Palatinate, where the area benefits from a unique microclimate, allowing the grapes to ripen optimally. In 2007, Frank Spiegel took over the approximately 48 hectares of vineyard from his stepfather, Harald Ellermann. Until then, he had been selling the wine in barrels to cooperatives. In a short time, Frank transformed the company from a bulk supplier to a quality house with its own bottlings. They have been successfully marketing Ellermann-Spiegel wines on the Dutch market for three years.
Palatinate is Germany's second-largest agricultural area, bordering Rheinhessen to the north and Alsace to the south. Thanks to the Atlantic Ocean, the climate is mild with relatively little rain. The wind blows from the west. Summers are usually warm and sunny. In winter, the Haardt Mountains protect the grapes from cold easterly winds, while in summer, these mountains retain the heat. These are ideal conditions for grapes. And we see this reflected in the wines of Ellermann Spiegel.
How does the Ellermann Spiegel Rieslaner Auslese taste?
The grapes are harvested late in the season, so they can be affected by the botyris fungus. This fungus ensures that the grapes, after pressing, produce their characteristic concentrated, sugary juice. After harvest, a portion is dried in the sun, using a technique that Ellermann Spiegel has mastered with exceptional skill. So much attention, so much quality, it's almost a shame that the bottles are so small. You'll want more and more of this fantastic juice! The aroma and flavor are perfectly balanced. Lychee, passion fruit, and tropical fruits, as well as apricots, figs, and honey. A wonderful bottle of wine to end the evening!