Situated in the heart of the Mosel's finest vineyards, the Max Ferdinand Richter estate has been in the family for over 300 years. The family owns 48 acres of priceless vines on the magnificent stretch of the river between Erden and Brauenberg including all the best sites: Graacher Himmelreich, Wehlener Sonnenuhr and Brauenberger Juffer and Richter's monopole Veldenzer Eilsenberg. This is quite literally an embarrassment of riches.

 

The wines in today's offer come from two of the Mosel's most famous sites - Brauenberger Juffer-Sonnenuhr and Wehlener Sonnenuhr.

The Juffer-Sonnenuhr is a single vineyard situated in the heart of Brauneburg (Brown Mountain) Vineyard. Considered a 'Grand Cu' the vines here are almost impossibly steep with a grade of nearly 80% in some places. The soils here are Devonian 'blue' slate with ferrous clays. Famous since the Romans planted vines, it was known as "dulcis mons" Latin for "Sweet Mountain. This vineyard was also noted as Thomas Jefferson's favorite site on a visit to the Mosel in the 1780s. Southern exposure, steep slopes and mineral soils create ideal growing conditions for elegant and long lived Rieslings.

Wehlener Sonnenuhr the 'sundial' vineyard is framed by rugged slate rocks and is another incredibly steep site. The soil here is dominated by Devonian slate which acts as a heat sink storing and reflecting the sun's heat. The vines here are over 100 years old. When one considers the marginal climate, vine age and intense manual labour required to farm on such steep slope it is quite remarkable that the beautiful wines produced here can be had for such a reasonable price!

Richter's vines are sustainably farmed; all grapes are handpicked, fermented and matured in neutral oak casks. The wines tend to deliver toward the rich end of the spectrum, often seeming a Pradikat higher than the stated level on the bottle. This richness is balanced with remarkable freshness and minerality. Aromatic, juicy, and stony when young these wines are capable of significant cellaring (3 decades or more)!