German Spätburgunder (Pinot Noir) has become better and better in recent years and is an alternative to Burgundy in terms of quality and price anyway. But the German white wines from Burgundy varieties (Pinot Blanc = Weissburgunder, Pinot Gris = Grauburgunder, Chardonnay) are now also fantastic.
Salwey is one of the best German wineries for these Burgundy varieties. We were delighted to be able to buy a collection box (this also contains a Grauburgunder rated at 100 points) and enriched the tasting with “Sieben Winter” and 2016 Eichberg Spätburgunder.
As always, all wines are tasted blind. Afterwards there are two pirates, also blind.
The Salwey 2016 Sieben Winter is a cuvée of 80% Grauburgunder and 20% Chardonnay, matured for 7 years in large barrels on the lees, bottled in 04/2023. The wine has vanilla, blossoms, spicy notes, some nutmeg, full body, balance and is almost long and mineral. 17.8/20 points.
The Salwey 2020 Steingrubenberg Chardonnay Grosses Gewächs is actually still too young, but has a lot of potential. The wine has Granny Smith, apple tart, mint, medium body, balance, a medium-long to long finish and is restrained and fresh. Now 17.3/20 points.
The Salwey 2018 Steingrubenberg Weissburgunder Grosses Gewächs is fine, elegant and very polished. The wine has butter, blossoms, pear, nutmeg, full body and is long and mineral. 18.5/20 points with potential for more.
The Salwey 2021 Oberrotweiler Henkenberg Grauburgunder Grosses Gewächs is very modern, with lots of dark toasted wood, iodine, tar, flowers, full body, balance and is light-footed despite density and power, mineral, complex and long. 19/20 points.
The Salwey 2016 Oberrotweiler Eichberg Spätburgunder Grosses Gewächs has cherry, strawberry, dark toast, full body, balance, structure and beautiful tannin. Here we disagree: 16.5-17.3/20 points.
The Salwey 2016 Oberrotweiler Kirchberg Spätburgunder Grosses Gewächs has cool fruit, strawberry, blossoms, full body, balance, long finish, structure, density and great tannin. 18.5/20 points.
The Salwey 2013 Oberrotweiler Eichberg Spätburgunder Grosses Gewächs seems almost youthful. It's amazing how this wine stands up with amarena, herbs, full body, polished tannin, medium length, balance and density. 18.3/20 points.
The Salwey 2020 Oberrotweiler Henkenberg Spätburgunder Grosses Gewächs is the clear winner of the Pinot Noirs. The wine has cherry, dark toast, blossoms, sweetish, some amarena, some grape sugar notes, full body, structure, nice tannin, potential and is long, dense and powerful. 19/20 points.
This wine gets better and better with every tasting, we were amazed when it was revealed: The Reinhold & Cornelia Schneider 2017 Pinot Noir *** costs € 16 from the winery, making it a great bargain. The wine has raspberry, blackberry, herbs, full body, density, perfect tannin, dark toast, perfect balance and is long. 19/20 points.
The Bernhard Huber 2018 Hecklinger Schlossberg Spätburgunder Grosses Gewächs has strawberry, sweetish notes, herbs, coffee, full body and is fine, balanced, dense, long and complex. The wine needs a lot of air and still has plenty of potential. Now 19/20 points, with more maturity also more points.
