The Flonheimer Estate
The winegrower's association 'Weinkeller Erbach' has long been known as a producer of fruity, spritsy wines in the Rheingau. In 2010 they took to the west, crossed the Rhein-river into Rheinhessen and started looking out for a vineyard that was able to provide high-quality Silvaner grapes. Eventually they found what they were looking for in the 'Flonheimer Adelberg'. Here, under the close cooperation and scrutiny of cellarmaster Jochen Bug a floral and aromatic Silvaner is being produced.
The Flonheimer Vineyard
The soil of the vineyard Flonheimer Adelberg consists of sandy loess and loam. Its total size is 130 hectares (325 acres). Here the annual rainfalls are low, the summers are warm and the winters mild. These are perfect conditions for growing wine. The name 'Adelberg' derives from the nobility of the quality of the wine. Literally it means 'noble hill'.
Silvaner is one of the most important grape varieties of the winegrowing region of Rheinhessen and also one of the oldest. First documented in 1659 it now comprises of almost 2,500 hectares (6250 acres) in Rheinhessen, making Rheinhessen the biggest winegrowing region of this variety not only in Germany, but also in the world. Being one of the oldest grape-varieties that is still being cultivated today, it is assumed, that the Silvaner-grape originally came from the Danube-river region of Romania. The roman writer 'Gaius Plinius Secundus' described in his book 'Naturalis Historia' a grape variety, that it has similar characteristics as the Silvaner.
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High gloss metallic paint with a forged iron big-block under the hood - our 2018 Hillstone Vineyard is a real show car. Deeply fruited with hi-tone huckleberry from a prime hillside site in Rutherford, the wine has a thick powerband with crushed stone and coffee bean, retaining polish and precision straight through the tail pipes.
Review:
Lots of pure cassis and blueberry- like fruits as well as licorice, graphite, and crushed rock-like minerality, emerge from the 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Hillstone Vineyard. It's a full-bodied, opulent, powerful Cabernet Sauvignon that doesn't pull any punches on the fruit or texture scale, yet has ripe, present tannins, a light, elegant texture, and a great finish. Give bottles an hour in a decanter if drinking any time soon, or better yet, hide bottles for 2-3 years. It's going to evolve for 15+ years in cold cellars.
-Jeb Dunnuck 95 Points
In 1992 the Hill-Smith family counted themselves amongst those fortunate enough to own a vineyard upon the famous Coonawarra terra rossa soil over limestone. Experimentation, innovation, minimalist intervention and small batch winemaking has resulted in The Menzies’ reputation as a wine of longevity, elegance and structure.
Situated in the heart of Coonawarra’s terra rossa strip, The Menzies Estate vineyard lies on a flat plain, approximately 70km from the coast. Given the terrain and influence of the cooling Bonney upwelling, Coonawarra is an ideal location to grow premium Cabernet Sauvignon. Our soil is red sandy loam over limestone, which is classic Cabernet Sauvignon country. The grapes for The Menzies 2017 are from vines planted in 1994 and 1996. Bunches are usually small with small berries, giving concentration via an ideal skin to juice ratio favouring the making of fullbodied reds.
Experimentation, innovation, minimalist intervention, and small batch winemaking has resulted in The Menzies' reputation as a wine of longevity, elegance, and structure.
Aromas of fresh rosemary, mulberry, violets and exotic spices. Take a sip and you will feel the poise and tension for which great Cabernet is renowned. A wine of great complexity with flavors of blackcurrant, bitter chocolate, and mulberries, wrapped in divine tannins and a lovely sweet, dark fruit finish. With decanting in its youth, it is enjoyable as an elegant full-bodied red wine.
Review:
The 2017 The Menzies Cabernet Sauvignon is looking good next to the 2016 tasted beside it. It is fresh and vibrant, with layers of complexing dark earth characters, with cigar box, black olive brine, cassis, bramble, milk chocolate and cracked black pepper. This is very good, and it has what I am coming to recognize as a "Yalumba red character": dried herbs, particularly oregano. The juicy splay of fruit through the finish is a highlight.
-Wine Advocate 95 Points