Margrave of Baden – Meersburger Chorherrenhalde Riesling GG Grosses Gewächs dry VDP.GROSSE LAGE 2015 MAGNUM 1500ml

Margrave of Baden – Meersburger Chorherrenhalde Riesling Grosses Gewächs dry VDP.GROßE LAGE 2015

1. The Winery: Markgraf von Baden

The Markgraf von Baden winery is one of the most traditional wineries in Germany. It is run by the family of the former ruling house of Baden and is a member of the VDP (Association of German Prädikat Wine Estates) – the association of Germany’s finest wine estates. The vineyards on Lake Constance cover around 110 hectares across several individual sites, including the Chorherrenhalde near Meersburg. The estate is renowned for its single-varietal, terroir-driven wines with excellent ageing potential.

2. The vineyard: Meersburg’s Chorherrenhalde – VDP.GROßE LAGE

The Meersburg Chorherrenhalde is one of the most renowned and historically significant vineyard sites in the Baden wine-growing region (Lake Constance area). The name recalls its historical ownership by the canons of the Augustinian Canons’ Abbey of Meersburg.

Terroir characteristics:

• Location: Steep south-facing slope directly on the shores of Lake Constance

• Soil: Poor, calcareous subsoil consisting of molasse rock and calcareous marl

• Microclimate: Lake Constance acts as a heat reservoir and light reflector, creating an exceptionally mild microclimate that promotes grape ripening

The VDP.GROßE LAGE®classification sits at the very top of the quality pyramid in the Baden region around Lake Constance. Wines from this vineyard are produced according to the strictest VDP criteria: significantly reduced yields, selective hand-harvesting and ageing to produce long-lived ‘Große Gewächse’ (GG).

3. The 2015 vintage

The 2015 wine-growing year was an exceptional onein Baden . A “wonderful summer and a golden autumn” provided the winegrowers with ideal conditions for producing exceptional wines. Estate manager Volker Faust described the vintage as follows:

“The 2015 vintage captivates with its fruitiness; it has not only body but also elegance. This applies to the entire region.”

Internationally, too, the 2015 vintage is rated very highly for Germany – with ‘good concentration, excellent purity and a fine acid structure’.

4. Tasting notes and ratings

4.1. User reviews (Vivino)

On Vivino, users describe the wine as follows:

“Low acidity for a Riesling. Dried yellow and tropical fruits. Distinct aniseed on the nose. A real pastis aroma. This is accompanied by a hint of petrol.”

The wine is described as “delicious and elegant”, with “a light yellow-green colour, refreshing acidity, high minerality and medium body”.

4.2. Further tasting impressions

An independent taster described the wine as:

“An incredibly beautiful, dense, warm and sweet fruit nose. It is delicate yet intoxicating with its warm, velvety texture. On the palate, it really comes into its own, with high intensity … delicate tea notes, citrus, a hint of mango and passion fruit, and orange zest.”

4.3. Assessment by Jancis Robinson

The renowned wine critic Jancis Robinson tasted the wine (the 2016 vintage) and described it as follows : “Strongly herbal nose. Bone dry and rather uncompromising”.

5. Technical details

6. Conclusion

The Margrave of Baden – Meersburg ‘Chorherrenhalde’ Riesling Grosses Gewächs dry 2015 is a characterful, terroir-driven Riesling from one of the finest vineyards on Lake Constance. The exceptional 2015 vintage lends the wine dense fruit, body and elegance. With its chalk-driven minerality, lively acidity and dry, uncompromising style, it is a classic Großes Gewächs with excellent ageing potential.