G. H. Mumm'sches Weingut - Johannisberger Hansenberg Riesling Auslse-Eiswein 1969

G. H. Mumm'sches Weingut - Johannisberger Hansenberg Riesling Auslese ice wine 1969

Introduction

The 1969 Johannisberger Hansenberg Riesling Eiswein-Auslese from G. H. Mumm'schen Weingut is an exceptional testimony to the art of winegrowing in the Rheingau. This wine combines the centuries-old tradition of one of Germany's most renowned wine estates with the rarity of a vintage worthy of ice wine. The designation "Auslese-Eiswein" is of particular historical significance: unlike modern wines, the predicate designation "Auslese" was merely a descriptive indication of a particularly high-quality selection before the German Wine Act of 1971. This wine was therefore created at a time when innovative winegrowers such as the Mumm family still had great freedom in marketing their top-quality noble sweet wines and is now one of the most sought-after collector's rarities from the Rheingau.

1. The winery: G. H. Mumm'sches Weingut - Champagne tradition meets Rheingau Riesling

G. H. Mumm'sche Weingut in Johannisberg looks back on over 200 years of history and is still one of the most traditional wineries in the Rheingau. It has been a member of the Association of German Prädikat Wine Estates (VDP) since 2012.

The origins of the winery are closely linked to the history of the G. H. Mumm champagne house. After the wine merchant Gottlieb Mumm acquired the entire grape harvest from Schloss Johannisberg in 1811, he invested the proceeds in vineyards on the Johannisberg. in 1822, the family finally acquired the vineyards and had a stately manor house built. in 1852, the estate was renamed "G. H. Mumm" after Gottlieb Mumm's son Georg Hermann Mumm.

Today, the estate comprises around 60 hectares of vineyards, which extend across renowned sites such as Johannisberger Schwarzenstein, Hölle and Mittelhölle, Rüdesheimer Berg Rottland and Assmannshäuser Höllenberg. Since the 1980s, the estate has been managed jointly with VDP founding member Schloss Johannisberg by JWG Johannisberger Weinvertrieb KG. Managing Director Christian Witte still runs the G. H. von Mumm winery today.

2. The vineyard site: Johannisberger Hansenberg - a terroir with history

The Johannisberger Hansenberg is a vineyard with remarkable historical depth. Wine has been cultivated on the Johannisberg since the time of Charlemagne, and the region is considered the birthplace of the late and noble harvest. The vineyards of the Hansenberg benefit from a microclimate typical of the Rheingau with ideal conditions for growing Riesling. The soil is composed of multi-layered weathered rock with loess, clay and sand components.

Today, the Hansenberg is home to the renowned Schloss Hansenberg, which is used as a boarding school, surrounded by the estate's vineyards. The site is one of the most exclusive on the estate.

3. The 1969 vintage - the tension between tradition and modernity

The 1969 vintage in the Rheingau was characterised by a warm, but not extremely hot summer, which favoured a slow and even ripening of the grapes. The icy temperatures in December 1969 were decisive for the development of this wine. According to modern legislation, an ice wine would have to be harvested at a minimum of -7 degrees Celsius - a requirement that the 1969 vintage fulfilled.

The wine was harvested on 5 December 1969 in severe frost, as documented on the label. The low temperatures concentrated the sugar, acidity and aromas in the berries and made it possible to produce this rare ice wine.

For collectors, the 1969 vintage is also interesting for another reason: it was produced before the German wine law of 1971 came into force. At that time, the designation "Auslese" was not yet legally bound to the later Oechsle scale, but served as an indication of the producer's quality. A 1969 "Auslese" ice wine like this therefore represents an era of greater freedom in German viticulture, in which winegrowers like the Mumm family awarded their best wines individual honours.

4. The wine: Riesling Auslese ice wine - a historic predicate combination

The combination of the terms "Auslese" and "Eiswein" on one label is unusual by today's standards and emphasises the special nature of this wine. In the modern German wine system, Auslese and Eiswein stand side by side as predicates of equal rank. In the 1960s, however, producers chose the term "Auslese-Eiswein" to emphasise both the high quality of the selection (Auslese) and the special production method (Eiswein). The wine was made exclusively from Riesling grapes, the king grape of the Rheingau.

5. Flavour profile and ageing potential

After more than five decades of ageing in the bottle, the 1969 Eiswein-Auslese is at the zenith of its potential.

• Appearance: The wine presents itself in the glass in a bright golden yellow with amber-coloured reflections - an unmistakable sign of long, successful ageing in the bottle.

• Nose: The bouquet is characterised by a complex bouquet of ripe fruit, honey and fine spices. Typical aromas are dried apricots, exotic fruits and a subtle mineral note. Comparable 1969 Auslese wines from the Rheingau also show a surprising freshness and notes of yellow peaches.

• Palate: On the palate, the wine is very sweet and full-bodied, with a pleasant, integrated acidity that lends structure to the lush sweetness. The texture is oily and creamy, the finish is extremely long-lasting and accompanied by a fine spiciness. The acidity is less present after such a long time, but is perfectly embedded in the sweetness.

• Ageing potential:A wine of this concentration and sweetness has enormous ageing potential. The 1969 Auslese ice wine is now at the peak of its maturity, but due to its high residual sugar content, it will be able to remain at this levelfor many years - probably beyond 2040.Comparable 1969 Auslese wines from the Rheingau are described by connoisseurs as already at their peak.

6. Current market presence and pricing

The 1969 Johannisberger Hansenberg Riesling Eiswein-Auslese is an absolute rarity. Bottles in good condition only very rarely appear on the market and fetch correspondingly high prices.

*Note: The prices for this wine are stable at a high level due to its great rarity. The unusual 0.7 litre format (instead of the usual 0.75 litre bottle) is a further indication of the age of the wine and the bottling practices of the time*

Conclusion

The G. H. Mumm'sche Weingut - Johannisberger Hansenberg Riesling Auslese-Eiswein 1969 is a fascinating testimony to Rheingau wine culture from a time of transition. It combines the 200-year tradition of one of Germany's most renowned wine estates with the unique terroir of the Johannisberger Hansenberg and the fortunate circumstances of a year worthy of ice wine.

Its golden yellow colour, complex bouquet of ripe fruit and honey, full-bodied sweetness and perfectly integrated acidity make this wine an unforgettable experience. For collectors and lovers of great German Rieslings, the 1969 Eiswein-Auslese from Mumm is an absolute rarity - a bottle that bears the craftsmanship and innovative spirit of a bygone wine era. Those who have the privilege of tasting this wine can expect a rare piece of German wine culture.