In a region most recently known for high-yielding, innocuous varieties like Sylvaner and Müller-Thurgau that have tainted the reputation of German wine as a whole, Walter Strub and his son Sebastian are crafting transparent, pure expressions of Riesling on slopes along the Rhine River in Nierstein. The Strub family has been making wine in Germany's Rheinhessen region since 1710, Walter Strub is the 11th generation of his family to produce fine Riesling of international repute from the family vineyards. In Nierstein, production of quality, vineyard-designate wines sits at less than 20%. The best vineyards in Nierstein, and arguably all of the Rheinhessen, lie on a steep south and southeast facing slope along the Rhine River called the Roter Hang (Red Slope), whose Rotliegenden soil produces some of the most terroir specific wines in all of Germany. Rotliegenden soils here are a composition of Permian red sandstone & slate, dating back some 280 million years. A unique set of Grand Cru vineyards here include the Oelberg, Orbel, and Pettenthal, along with a limestone rich vineyard called Brückchen located across the village from the steep red slope. The Strubs generally vinify fruit from the red slope dry, due to the pronounced minerality; while more often producing wines from the Paterberg and Brückchen in a fruity style due to the limestone soils and higher levels of acidity. Sebastian Strub, fresh from graduating Geisenheim and an apprenticeship at Dönnhoff, has begun making his mark on the winery, bringing the wines into sleek focus. Sebastian has introduced a small filtration to control oxidation, eliminated süssreserve (balance, he believes, is best achieved through blending), and accelerated fermentations, preferring a faster, warmer 'cleaning' of the must. Additionally, Sebastian has placed more focus on the family's vineyard work, including the use of straw coverings between rows to prevent erosion and aid in water retention – a technique he learned while working at Dönnhoff. Vineyard area: 15 hectaresAnnual production: 7,500 casesVineyard holdings:Nierstein – Orbel, Ölberg (red slate and sandstone)Hipping, Pettenthal (red slate and sandstone)Rosenberg (red slate and sandstone)Paterberg (clay and limestone)Brückchen (clay and limestone)
60cGermany » Rheinhessen
Vinous Media 89 "This year’s “Soil to Soul” cuvée offers fragrant and juicy white peach, honeydew melon, mirabelle and Meyer lemon backed by overt but well-judged
Tasting Notes "“This wine has now assumed its adult form, a savory wine with moderate RS, impregnated by red-soil elements. There’s nothing in this portfolio that’s
At times this wine has seemed impressive yet its acid poke has made it hard to drink deeply. That has changed. This 2016's is weighty,
Wine Spectator 91 "Rich and well-crafted, with apple pastry and green peach flavors that are wrapped in effusive savory notes. The airy finish is filled with
"At times this wine has seemed impressive yet its acid poke has made it hard to drink deeply. That has changed. This `12 is weighty,
"At times this wine has seemed impressive yet its acid poke has made it hard to drink deeply. That has changed. This `12 is weighty,
Wine Advocate 89 "Strub’s 2011 Riesling Soil to Soul follows the pattern of recent vintages for this cuvee from highly complimentary Bruckchen and Paterberg in offering
Wine Advocate 91 "While marginally higher in residual sugar on paper than this year’s “Soil to Soul” cuvee, the Strubs’ 2011 Niersteiner Bruckchen Riesling Kabinett tastes
Wine Advocate 90 "Speaking as I was (see under this year’s “Soil to Soul” coverage) of potentially long-lived residually sweet Stub wines, his 2010 Niersteiner Bruckchen
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