Weingut Dr Hermann: Mosel Riesling tradition and quality

The Dr Hermann winery: a beacon of Riesling on the steep slopes of Erden on the Moselle

In the heart of the Middle Moselle, where the river makes its most spectacular bends and steep slate slopes characterise the landscape, lies the picturesque village of Erden. Here, in one of the most famous wine-growing communities in the world, the Dr Hermann winery has become synonymous with exceptional Riesling wines of profound minerality, delicate elegance and great longevity. The estate represents the tradition, the terroir and the unmistakable signature of one of Germany's most important wine-growing regions like no other.

1 Roots in the Moselle tradition: history and development

• The beginnings (1958):The winery was founded in 1958 by Prof. Dr Ewald Hermann, a chemist with a doctorate who not only brought a scientific approach to viticulture, but also a deep love of the Moselle and its wines. His aim was to bottle the unique quality of the Erden vineyards.

• Structure and focus:From the very beginning, the estate concentrated on the best steep slopes around Erden. Dr Hermann laid the foundations for today's success by acquiring high-quality plots and consistently focusing on quality rather than quantity.

• The next generation (from 1996):His son, Christian Hermann, followed in his father's footsteps after studying viticulture and oenology in Geisenheim. Christian Hermann brought in new impulses, but at the same time deepened the understanding of the terroir and tradition. Today, he is the driving force behind the winery and enjoys a high reputation in the wine world.

2 The terroir: Erden and its Grand Cru sites

The true treasure of the Dr Hermann winery lies in its excellent vineyard sites, which are among the best in the entire Moselle region:

• Erdener Prälat:This world-famous single vineyard is a steep slope par excellence, with a south-south-west orientation, extremely steep slopes (up to 80%) and deep, Devonian blue slate characterising the wine here. The Prälat produces Rieslings of immense density, complexity and mineral depth with a characteristic salty note and enormous ageing potential. Dr Hermann owns a significant share of the best parcels.

• Erdener Treppchen:Located directly below the Prälat, also very steep and south-facing. The slate soils are somewhat shallower. The wines from the Treppchen are often more accessible than the Prälat, showing wonderful fruit (peach, apricot), a refined minerality and an elegant acidity structure.

• Ürziger Würzgarten:Although located in the neighbouring village of Ürzig, Dr. Hermann also cultivates first-class parcels here in the legendary Würzgarten vineyard. The red (iron-rich) slate gives the Rieslings an unmistakable spiciness (cloves, nutmeg), intense fruit and a powerful yet delicate structure.

• Old vines:Special attention is paid to the old, ungrafted Riesling vines (some of which are over 100 years old), which are deeply rooted in the slate and produce wines of exceptional concentration and complexity. These are often vinified separately as "Alte Reben" (old vines) or with the site and predicate name.

3 The philosophy: work in the vineyard and cellar

Dr Hermann's credo is: quality is created in the vineyard. Accordingly, the work here is characterised by the utmost care:

• Sustainability & manual labour:Viticulture is carried out sustainably with great consideration for the ecosystem. The extremely steep slopes require extensive manual labour in all work steps - from pruning and foliage work to harvesting. The use of machines is impossible here.

• Selective harvesting:The grapes are harvested by hand in several passes (selections) in order to pick only the healthiest and ripest berries. This allows for a wide range of Prädikat wines, from Kabinett to Trockenbeerenauslese (TBA), with Spätlese and Auslese wines standing out in particular.

• Minimal intervention in the cellar:Christian Hermann sees himself as a companion to the wine. After gentle pressing, the musts are fermented spontaneously with natural yeasts in traditional large Mosel vats (1000-litre wooden barrels) and modern stainless steel tanks. The ageing process is always geared towards the transparency of the terroir and the grape variety, with long fine lees contact giving the wines additional complexity and texture. The wines are bottled late to give them sufficient time to mature.

4. the wines: An expression of slate, fruit and elegance

The Rieslings from Dr. Hermann are characterised by:

• Deep minerality: The blue and red slate characterises the wines unmistakably, often as a salty, smoky or pebbly note.

• Precise fruit:From crisp green apples and citrus in Kabinett wines to ripe peaches and apricots in Spätlese wines and exotic and tropical nuances in higher predicate wines.

• Lively acidity:The striking but perfectly integrated acidity gives the wines freshness, tension and enormous ageing potential. It is the backbone of Mosel Rieslings.

• Elegance and finesse:Despite their intensity and depth, the wines are rarely heavy, but are characterised by their delicate structure, clarity and length.

• Longevity:Thanks to their acidity, minerality and sugar/residual sweetness (in the case of the Prädikat wines), Dr Hermann's wines have outstanding ageing potential over decades.

In addition to the great Prädikat wines and the dry GG (Großes Gewächs) from Prälat and Treppchen, the "classic" dry and off-dry QbA wines and the often impressively dense and mineral Kabinett-Trocken wines are also of great quality.

5 Current and future: Christian Hermann and the present

Under Christian Hermann, the estate has continued to gain an international reputation. He is a precise winemaker who continues his father's legacy with modern expertise and clear quality standards. The focus remains clearly on top-quality Rieslings from the Grand Cru sites of Erden and Ürzig. The winery is a sought-after supplier for wine connoisseurs and top gastronomy worldwide.

Conclusion: A jewel of the Moselle

The Dr Hermann winery embodies the best of the Moselle: the combination of breathtaking terroir (especially the Erdener Prälat), centuries-old winemaking tradition, perfect craftsmanship and a modern, terroir-focussed philosophy. The Rieslings are not loud wines, but wines of depth, finesse and mineral authenticity. They speak a clear language of their origin - the blue slate of Erden. For lovers of great, long-lasting and distinctive Rieslings, Weingut Dr Hermann is an indispensable address and a true beacon of German viticulture.

Here is a tasting note for the Dr Hermann Erdener Prälat Riesling Trockenbeerenauslese 2020 - one of the most monumental and rarest wines of the 2020 Moselle vintage:

Dr Hermann Erdener Prälat Riesling Trockenbeerenauslese 2020

(Moselle, Germany)

Appearance:

Deep, bright gold with amber-coloured reflections. Viscous "tears" (glycerine) on the glass wall indicate the concentrated sweetness.

Nose:

An explosion of complex, exotic and dried aromas:

• Ripe dried fruit: apricot jam, candied pineapple, mango, dates and sultanas.

• Floral nuances: honey blossom, acacia blossom and orange blossom water.

• Mineral depth: Smoky slate, flinty stones and a characteristic salty pinch, typical of the Erdener Prälat.

• Noble sweetness & botrytis:Caramelised almonds, saffron, beeswax and an elegant, honey-like noble rot (botrytis) that adds spice and complexity.

Palate:

A symphonic balance between extreme concentration and floating elegance:

• Opulent fruit: thickened flavours of pineapple in syrup, overripe peaches, quince paste and candied lemon peel.

• Mineral structure:The mineral power of the blue Devonian slate permeates the sweetness - salty-smoky accents and pebbly freshness give the wine a backbone.

• Acidity: Lively, incisive and perfectly integrated. Despite the extreme residual sugar concentration, the acidity does not dominate, but supports the wine like an invisible scaffold. It prevents any heaviness and lends sheer endless length.

• Texture:Silky-dense, almost oily mouth flow, carried by noble residual sweetness. The tannins from the noble rot are noticeable but velvety.

Finish:

Monumental and everlasting(60+ seconds). Leaves impressions of liquid honey, roasted almonds, freshly beaten flint and a salty minerality. The acidity continues to vibrate for minutes - a sign of decades of development potential.

Vintage 2020:
A warm, dry vintage with perfect noble rot development in late autumn. The combination of ripeness, acidity structure and botrytis concentration makes 2020 an ideal TBA vintage.

Technique & maturity:

• Selection of hand-picked, noble rotten single berries (dried berries).

• Spontaneous fermentation with natural yeasts, long maturation on the fine lees.

• Residual sweetness: Extremely high (approx. 200+ g/L), but perfectly balanced by acidity and minerality.

• Alcohol: Approx. 7-8% vol.

• Potential: At least 2050+, with optimum ageing 100+ years. Develops from exotic fruit to even more complex, tertiary flavours (tea, truffle, petrol).

Serving recommendation:
10-12°C (not too cool!) in large Burgundy or Riesling glasses. Goes well with foie gras, blue cheese (Roquefort) or on its own as a meditation - one bottle is enough for 8-10 people.

Conclusion:

The Dr Hermann Erdener Prälat TBA 2020 is a wine of the centuryand the ultimate essence of the legendary Schieferterroir. It combines typical Moselle elegance with brute concentration, carried by a salty minerality and lively acidity. A wine that not only drinks, but also embodies a landscape, a season and dedication to craftsmanship - a gift for future generations.