Bűrklin-Wolf Wine

“This estate is in a league of its own when it comes to dry riesling. No one else in the Pfalz and few if any in Germany have the sheer vineyard potential. And having gone biodynamic they now know how to make the best use of it.” ‘In this discipline [dry Riesling], this estate has essentially no rival in all of Germany. In fact, given their sheer vineyard potential--they're capable of producing seven grand crus and an equal number of premier crus in any given vintage--this may well be the best and most consistent producer of great dry Riesling in the world.’ Joel B. Payne, Vinous, January 2013. The Bűrklin-Wolf estate is based in the Mittelhaardt, the quality core of Germany’s world-renowned Pfalz, located about one hour drive to the north-east of Alsace. At the core of these magnificent vineyards are those of Jesuitengarten and Kirchenstuck which have always been among the most expensive in Germany (and indeed the world). These superbly sited vineyards located just above the tiny village of Forst have for centuries been recognised as producing some of the world’s greatest dry Rieslings. Indeed in the 1800’s prices for these wines exceeded the prices paid for 1st growth Bordeaux and Grand cru Burgundy. Since the 2001 vintage Bűrklin-Wolf have classified their wines according to the vineyard site (similar to Burgundy) rather than sugar weight (as the 1971 German wine law dictates). After exhaustive research they discovered that today’s top vineyards are exactly the same as those identified in the 1828 Bavarian Land Taxation Laws. This was a time when these vineyards produced some of the most expensive and highly regarded wines in the world. Aptly, the Pfalz Mittelhardt is the topographical and geological extension of France’s Côte d’Or and Alsace. The Mittelhardt’s best sites are similarly located within a very narrow, sheltered east-facing strip of land.