WEINHOF SCHEU (Schweigen, Pfalz, Germany)

Klaus Scheu took control of Weinhof Scheu from his father, Günter who retired in 1994. Theirs is a weinhof without borders, as it sits so close to Alsace in France that the vines nearly cross back and forth. Klaus, like his father, maps this not by geographic boundary, but by micro-climate and by the soil’s complexity, creating a unique home for each varietal and clone. His philosophy: the more precise the designation of origin, the higher the quality of wine. In all, there are yellow and blue clays, limestone, silica, sandstone, chalk, and slate decorating the soils, each positioned to various exposures. From this springs the voice of individual terroir. To preserve this individuality, Klaus does not craft the wines based on the specific ripeness levels, like his northern German neighbors in Mosel. Older vines and meticulous vineyard work keep yields excessively low, which adds to the concentration of his wines. The cellar, too, allows for what the parcel and vintage have presented. There are both steel and oak vessels, and fermentations are allowed to occur at their own pace. This all drives to an output of high-density flavors and full concentration of fruits in the wine. Klaus claims that no other wine can be replicated like his, as he is making wine for his parcels, and they reflect that even in the poor vintages.

Grauer Burgunder, Trocken, Pfalz, 2011
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100% Grauer Burgunder (Pinot Gris).
Grapes are handpicked in October from parcels which all share the same sandy-clay and limestone soils. Fermentation is temperature controlled and lasts through winter, after which the wine is lightly filtered and bottled.

Pinot Noir, Trocken, Pfalz, 2008
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100% Pinot Noir.
Grapes are harvested in mid-October for maximum ripeness from sandstone soils in southern Pfalz. Fermentation lasts 10 to 14 days, after which the wine is aged in a combination of 2000 liter old oak barrels, used barriques, and stainless steel tanks. The wine is bottled unfiltered.

Weissburgunder, Trocken, Pfalz, 2011
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100% Weissburgunder (Pinot Blanc).
Grapes are handpicked in early October from only 500 meters from the French Alsace border from the Schweigen-Rechtenbach and Schweigen-Sonnenberg vineyards. Vines here reside in sandy, clay soils with limestone. The grapes are pressed and moved to a steel tank for fermentation. The wine is lightly filtered before it is bottled.
Yields: 70hL/ha