Schäfer-Fröhlich – Stromberg Pinot Gris, dry, 1998

Schäfer-Fröhlich – Stromberg Pinot Gris dry 1998

The 1998 Stromberg Pinot Gris (dry) from the Schäfer-Fröhlich winery is a remarkable testament to the Nahe wine-growing tradition and a wine that bears the hallmark of one of Germany’s most exciting winemakers. The winery in Bockenau looks back on a family tradition spanning over 200 years, but its true success story began in 1995, when Tim Fröhlich took over the reins at the age of just 22 and led the business to the very top of the world rankings in record time. As early as 2001, the estate became a member of the prestigious VDP, and Tim Fröhlich established himself as one of Germany’s most distinguished winemakers – a perfectionist renowned for his uncompromisingly authentic, world-class wines.

The Bockenauer Strombergvineyard is one of the estate’s six VDP.GROSSE LAGEN and is considered its steepest and rockiest site. The vineyards face south with gradients of up to 45 per cent, where the vines root deep into mineral-rich porphyry and volcanic rock soils. These extreme conditions yield only small harvests, but the juice is all the more concentrated – a terroir that lends the wine an unmistakable, dark minerality and smoky notes. The Stromberg is a monopole vineyard and is exclusively owned by the Schäfer-Fröhlich family.

Pinot Gris – also known asGrauburgunder – accounts for around 15 per cent of the vineyard area and, alongside Riesling, Pinot Blanc and Pinot Noir, plays an important role in the portfolio. The wines undergo spontaneous fermentation in stainless steel tanks and are matured in a manner typical of the vineyard. The Grauburgunder ‘S’ is a selection of perfectly ripened and healthy grapes and is aged for over six months in stainless steel and barrique.

The 1998 vintage was characterised by changeable conditions in the Nahe region. Whilst other winemakers in the region excelled that year, particularly with noble sweet Prädikat wines, the Stromberg Pinot Gris dry displays characteristics all of its own. After more than two decades of ageing, the wine has developed into a complex, multi-layered delight. The bouquet is likely to reveal notes of ripe stone fruit, citrus fruits and a pronounced slate-like minerality, underpinned by the tertiary notes characteristic of mature Nahe wines. On the palate, it presents itself with lively, well-integrated acidity and a long, mineral finish.

For lovers of great German white wines, this 1998 Stromberg Pinot Gris offers a rare opportunity to experience a wine from a pivotal phase in Tim Fröhlich’s early career as a winemaker – an authentic piece of Nahe wine history at the peak of its maturity.