First dry German Riesling launches on La Place de Bordeaux

For the first time in the history of Bordeaux‘s négociants, a dry Riesling from a German wine growing estate will be sold by la Place de Bordeaux.

German wine estate Weingut Battenfeld Spanier has released its “rising star” Riesling on La Place through négociant Maison Ginestet. The wine will be available worldwide from 26 September launching with its 2017 vintage.

The ‘C.O Liquid Earth’ Riesling hails from “the craggiest section of the Zellertal”, between Frauenberg GC and Schwarzer Herrgott GC, and is harvested only as the last of the other fruit is coming in, says the producer.

Sourced from a selection of the oldest vines and finest parcels, the C.O Liquid Earth Riesling does not fall under the standard site classification as the estate’s most important plots are owned solely by the winery and were therefore not classified in 1998.

According to H.O Spanier, “there is no fruitiness in the calcareous and rocky subsoil, but plenty of salinity, stone, limestone, and mineral spice — like a monolith that time itself has carved into a sculpture. The effect is one of drinking pure stone.”

It is for this reason that the wine was named “Liquid Earth”.

Franck Lederer, general manager of Maison Ginestet which will distribute the Riesling said: “German white wine, and in particular the biodynamically cultivated terroir wines of H.O. Spanier, has earned its place in the finest restaurants and collections of passionate wine connoisseurs the world over. We are happy and proud to do our part in bringing this wine to the most famous table of the world.”

“There’s not a partner in the world from our point of view with a better understanding of our fine, uncompromising Rieslings and with better commercial connections worldwide,” said H.O Spanier, speaking of Maison Ginestet.

Maison Ginestet will distribute Battenfeld Spanier C.O Liquid Earth worldwide, except in Germany and Austria, where longstanding partners of the Spanier-Gillot family will retain their exclusive distribution rights.

To read our Bordeaux correspondent Colin Hay’s interview with Lederer and his assessment of the wine, click here: