2004 Balthasar Ress Assmannshäuser Pinot Noir QbA trocken / dry exposé

The producer is the renowned VDP wine estate Balthasar Ress. Founded in 1870 by the Rheingau hotelier Balthasar Ress, the wine estate numbers among the large, family-operated enterprises in the Rheingau today. Consistently high standards of per-formance and reliability have been hallmarks of the estate since its founding. Today the estate is run by Stefan and Christian Ress, who represent the fourth and fifth generations of the founding family.

Compared with the exceptional 2003 vintage, 2004 is a typical Rheingau-Riesling vintage, with a crisp acidity, high extracts, and pronounced aromas of exotic fruits. Several cold fronts interrupted the very dry and warm weather of spring, followed by a summer with (finally!) sufficient rainfall to compensate for water depletions, which, coupled with warm temperatures, helped ensure a good-sized crop. A beautiful Indian summer enabled growers to delay the start of harvesting and thus, to achieve higher must weights/greater ripeness levels than originally anticipated.

Thanks to their microclimate and soil composition, the Assmannshausen sites are particularly well-suited for the cultivation of Spätburgunder in the Rheingau. The grape variety has continuously proved its value there for a millennium.

The grapes are selectively harvested by hand and gently transported to the cellar in containers that can be emptied over the wine press.

Fermentation takes place in red wine fermentation tanks after the grapes are destemmed. Juice extrac-tion prior to this ensures additional concentration. After a gentle pressing, the wine matures 8-24 months in stainless steel tanks and barrique casks. Malolactic fermentation also takes place in the same tanks or casks.

100 % Spätburgunder

Black currants with a light touch of vanilla. Well-structured body with harmonious tannins. Helge Hagen, (Sommelier, Kronenschlösschen/Hattenheim)

Sautéed calves’ liver with a purée of glazed apples, potato, and celleriac, served with shallot flavored natural juices.

Helge Hagen, (Sommelier, Kronenschlösschen/Hattenheim)

The wine should develop well until 2009-2010. Helge Hagen, (Sommelier, Kronenschlösschen/Hattenheim)