Weingut Keller - Sylvaner vom Austernfels 'Alte Reben' dry dry 2021

Weingut Keller - Sylvaner vom Austernfels 'Alte Reben' dry 2021

There is hardly a better-known name in German viticulture than Klaus Peter Keller. The Keller winery in Flörsheim-Dalsheim, Rheinhessen, has long been recognised by connoisseurs as one of the largest wineries in the country. The winery is particularly famous for its Rieslings, which are celebrated worldwide. However, there is another wine in the Keller portfolio that is considered a legend among connoisseurs, namely the Sylvaner "vom Austernfels". In the special case of the 2021 vintage, this name hides an absolute rarity that offers a unique insight into the potential of Keller's Silvaner artistry and the magic of an extraordinary terroir.

👑 Myth & rarity

The Sylvaner vom Austernfels is not a wine that you can simply buy, it is a true unicorn wine. The available sources unanimously confirm that it is an extremely exclusive rarity, from a parcel in the Neu-Bamberger Schlossberg.

• Vintage: 2021.

• Vineyard: The grapes come from almost 60-year-old Sylvaner vines growing on a parcel of shell limestone over volcanic rock in Neu-Bamberger Schlossberg. The vines are therefore ungrafted and deeply rooted. At an auction on Catawiki, the 2022 vintage was rated 97/100 by Stuart Pigott.

• Vine: 100% Sylvaner.

🌱 Terroir & vinification

The special minerality of the Sylvaner vom Austernfels originates from the geology of the vineyard. The soil consists of shell limestone interspersed with volcanic rock and contains many oyster fossils. This rock composition gives the wine a characteristic salty minerality.

The vinification process is also geared towards precision and richness of extract. The traditional basket pressis used, followed by long ageing in used wooden barrels for 22 months on the lees. Bottling takes place without filtration and fining.

🍷 Tasting & assessment

A tasting reveals an incredibly deep and complex wine that is radically different from fruit-orientated white wines. The olfactory perception reveals hints of smoky herbs, floral notes, subtle reduction and a hint of cinnamon. The flavour is dominated by an intense, salty minerality with a crisp acidity that gives the wine a taut, elegant structure. The few fruit flavours present are rather restrained. The wine is awarded 94.2 pointsby its users on CellarTracker , which confirms its high quality.

⚖️ Technical data & flavour

• Alcohol content: 13% vol.

• Drinking age: Now until 2028, with potential beyond.

• Serving temperature: 9-10 °C.

• Food pairing: Goes excellently with sophisticated fish dishes, grilled sole or monkfish and also harmonises with mature cheese.