Which wines connoisseurs and collectors should have on the slip this year is stated in the new Vinum Wine Guide 2022. An overview of the “coronation of German wine culture”.
Sebastian Fürst can pop the corks extensively this year. The Rudolf Fürst winery not only produces some of the best wines Vinum Wine Guide Fürst is also named winemaker of the year. In doing so, he is following in his father’s footsteps. With the phrase “like father, like son”, this choice can be described, but not, according to the guide. Fürst has incredible knowledge, is extremely hardworking and thus continues on the path of his father.
The winner of the year is the Prinz winery, which proves that the conversion to biodynamic cultivation is possible – “despite frequent weather problems”. The Bicking & Bicking winery owned by the brothers Achim and Lukas Bicking in the Nahe wine-growing region is the discovery of the year. The brothers have reorganized an existing winery and are redesigning it. Slowly and steadily. And the best wine list? You can get them from the Berlin gastro avant-garde from Nobelhart & Schmutzig. The restaurant was recently voted one of the “World’s 50 Best Restaurants” and, according to Vinum, this is also due to the “unusual wine list”. A bottle of wine is available there from 35 euros, the most expensive one costs 1400 euros.
Germany’s top wines: The winners of the year
According to Vinum, the wines that made it into the best lists of the Wine Guide 2022 are “the culmination of German wine culture”. An overview of the winners in the most important categories.
Category: Winzersekt Brut
German sparkling wine has long been much more than a niche drink – it is all about character, individuality and quality.
1st place: 2008 Blanc de Noirs Grande Reserve Brut
Raumland (Rheinhessen), 95 points, 69 euros
2nd place: 2012 Blanc de Blancs Reserve Brut
Raumland (Rheinhessen), 94 points, 27 euros
3rd place: 2016 Riesling Brut 50
Frank John (Pfalz), 94 points, 40 euros
Category: Pinot Noir
If someone has really cleared it up, it is Sebastian Fürst. His Pinots are represented three times among the top ten Pinot Noirs. Fürst already got the most points in this category last year.
1st place: 2019 Bürgstädter Hundsrück GG
Fürst (Franconia), 98 points, price on request
2nd place: 2019 Melandor
Metzger (Pfalz), 97 points, 48 euros
3rd place: 2019 Bürgstadter Centgrafenberg GG
Fürst (Franconia), 97 points, price on request
Category: “Other” red wines
Is the Syrah moulting into the new top grape variety? In the “other” red wines category, at least, the Syrah has the lead, as it did last year.
1st place: 2019 Syrah Reserve
Rings (Pfalz), 96 points, 50 euros
2nd place: 2018 Syrah Reserve
Knipser (Pfalz), 95 points, 62 euros
3rd place: 2019 Herbolzheimer Kaiserberg Cabernet Franc
Fritz Waßmer (Baden), 94 points, 78 euros
Category: Silvaner
When it comes to top Silvaner, Paul Weltner is still the measure of the thing. Hansi Ruck caused a surprise.
1st place: 2020 Rödelseer Hoheleite GG
Paul Weltner (Franconia), 94 points, 38 euros
2nd place: 2020 Sulzfelder Zusammenarbeit GG
Zehnthof Luckert (Franconia), 94 points, 45 euros
3rd place: 2019 Iphöfer Julius-Echter-Berg GG
Johann Ruck (Francs), 93 points, 26 euros
Category: White Burgundies
The people of the Palatinate know something about the white Burgundy variety – especially Franz Wehrheim. According to Vinum, this could have set a new benchmark.
1st place: 2020 Birkweiler Mandelberg Pinot Blanc GG
Wehrheim (Palatinate), 96 points, 39 euros
2nd place: 2019 Chardonnay R
Fürst (Franconia), 96 points, price on request
3rd place: 2020 Chardonnay R
Ökonomierat Rebholz (Palatinate), 95 points, 39.50 euros
Category: Riesling
Philipp Kuhn is the leader in Riesling, but the gap to the competition is minimal.
1st place: Kallstadter Saumagen GG
Philipp Kuhn (Palatinate), 98 points, 36 euros
2nd place: 2020 Westhofener Brunnenhäuschen GG
Wittmann (Rheinhessen), 98 points, 60.50 euros
3rd place: 2020 Laumersheimer Steinbuckel GG
Knipser (Pfalz), 98 points, 35 euros
Category: Riesling Kabinett and Feinherb 2020
For the first time, these two wines can be found in a joint rating. Because the borders, writes Vinum, are increasingly disappearing. The best of them? Once again one from Falkenstein.
1st place: Niedermenniger Herrenberg Spätlese fine dry – 11 –
Falkenstein (Mosel), 96 points, 19 euros
2nd place: Graacher Domprobst Cabinet – 1-
Willi Schaefer (Mosel), 96 points, auction
3rd place: Krettnacher Euchariusberg Cabinet Old Vines – 8 –
Falkenstein (Mosel), 96 points, 35 euros
Category: Riesling Spätlese 2020
The best late harvest that grows on the Moselle – still. But a Rheingau can keep up.
1st place: Wehlener sundial
Lieser Castle (Moselle), 97 points, 18.50 euros
2nd place: Berncasteler Doctor – 8 –
Thanisch-Erben Thanisch (Mosel), 96 points, auction
3rd place: Neumagen rose garden
Ansgar Clüsserath (Mosel), 96 points, 15.90 euros
Category: Riesling Auslese 2020
The old master of Riesling is back. “Congratulations to Katharina Prüm for these amazing wines,” writes Vinum. The front runner got an incredible 99 points!
1st place: Wehlener sundial gold capsule – 23 –
Joh. Jos. Prüm (Mosel), 99 points, price on request
2nd place: Rosalack
Johannisberg Castle (Rheingau), 98 points, 35 euros
3rd place: Wehlener sundial auction
Joh. Jos. Prüm (Mosel), 98 points, auction
Category: Riesling noble sweet
In this category the Moselaner have to admit defeat to the Rheingau – they cannot be topped this year.
1st place: 2020 Oestricher Lenchen EiserbergTrockenbeerenauslese gold capsule
Spreitzer (Rheingau), 99 points, auction
2nd place: 2020 Oestricher Doosberg Trockenbeerenauslese
Corvers-Kauter (Rheingau), 99 points, 230 euros / 0.375 liters
3rd place: 2019 Brauneberger Juffer-Sonnenuhr Trockenbeerenauslese
Fritz Haag (Mosel), 98 points, auction
The new Vinum Wine Guide 2022 will be published on November 4, 2021 by the Swiss publisher Intervinum AG, 1000 pages. It costs 25 euros for subscribers to the magazine, everyone else pays 35 euros.
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