The estate is located in the town of Duttweiler in the Pfalz wine-growing region in Germany. Its origins date back to 977, when Benedictine monks founded the St. Lamprecht abbey and farm. When the abbey was dissolved in the 16th century, the property was deeded to the university of Heidelberg, which administered the property for the next 200 years. The property was sold to the founder of the wine estate in its present form, Jakob Bergdolt, in 1754. The vineyard area was expanded considerably under Johannes Bergdolt (1801-1871). Friedrich Bergdolt (1876 – 1962), who is counted among the pioneers of quality wine production in the Pfalz region, was the first to bottle the wines under the estate’s own label. Today and since 1982, the estate is run by the eighth generation of the family, Rainer and Günther Berdolt. The vineyard area totals 22 hectares, and holdings are located in the communes of Duttweiler (Mandelberg, Kalkberg, Kreuzberg), Deidesheim (Maushöhle), Kirrweiler and Ruppertsberg (Nussbien, Reiterpfad). The area is planted mainly with Pinot Blanc (7,5 ha) and Riesling (6,9 ha), the remainder is planted with the varieties Auxerrois, Cabernet Dorsa, Chardonnay, Dornfelder, Gewürztraminer, Merlot, Scheurebe, Pinot Noir and St. Laurent. The estate initially built its reputation on its white wines made from Pinot Blanc, Chardonnay and Riesling, but today its red wines are also counted among the best in the Pfalz region. Sparkling wine is also produced, as well as – in suitable vintages – botrytis dessert wines.
The vintage 2007
Following on a couple of years with somewhat variable results, the Bergdolt family has presented a magnificent range of wines this year. The basic Riesling wines are already most enjoyable, and the Chardonnay is is as good as we have seen in the best vintages of the past - one of the few representatives of this variety in this country to regularly deliver first-class results. The series of Pinot Blanc wines once again shows why this estate is regularly mentioned when one is acked to name the leading producers of this vairety. Quite simply, one wine is better than the next, even the basic quality wines provide a lot of drinking pleasure, and the dry Spätlese wines all show great class. Once again, the Großes Gewächs, or Grand Cru, stands head and shoulders above the others, its power, complexity and at the same time elegance are among the best that can be achieved with this variety. We were also very pleased with the results seen among the sweet Pinot Blancs: this is a category in which outstanding wines are found even more rarely than among the dry examples. Congratulations on this achievement!
Pfalz
Chardonnay, White wine, late harvest (Spaetlese), dry, 11.00 €
regrettably, the difficult autumn of 2006 has also left its traces in the range of wines produced by the Bergdolt family. Generally speaking, the wines are lighter in body than in the best vintages, and in a few cases there are some slightly obtrusive tannins to report. Nevertheless, many of the wines have their own polished style, the signature of the producer. We simply hope that, with a view to the classification of the winery in the Wein-Plus wine guide for Germany, next year sees a return to form.
Pfalz
Chardonnay, White wine, late harvest (Spaetlese), dry, 11.00 €
Following on the 2004 vintage, 2005 has once again been a fairly difficult vintage in the Pfalz region. In the case of the Bergdolt estate, this is particularly evident in the Kabinett wines, which are mostly good, but simply are not in the same class as the best vintages. On the other hand, the dry Spätlese wines made from Riesling and Pinot Blanc can be recommended across the board, and the Grand Crus (Große Gewächs) are without a doubt excellent, although they, too, can not quite match the best vintages. Not for the first time, the Chardonnay is in a class of its own.
Even the Bergdolt estate shows how difficult the vintage was, but at what a high level. As a result of hard work, this vintage has once again produced a number of really high-class wines. Worth mentioning is the homogenous high standard of the Pinot Blanc wines, not really surprising, but all the more satisfactory. Bergdolt shows exceptional continuity in this, his favourite field, although the Riesling wines too, are mostly very classy. As so often in the past, the estate has put in a superb performance.
The 2003 vintage is one of the great vintages in the history of this estate. The wines are simply bursting with fruit, full-bodied, with high alcohol contents, and just as well balanced as ever. Nevertheless, lovers of the traditionally more elegant style will have to take care when buying, as even the Kabinett wines are quite substantial, and do not really reflect the original idea associated with this designation. And that, really, is my only point of criticism: was it really necessary to label these wines as Kabinett?
Pfalz
Chardonnay, White wine, late harvest (Spaetlese), dry
The majority of the 2002 vintage wines at the Bergdolt estate is characterised by a cool style. By and large, they are very firmly structured, showing tension and body even at relatively low alcohol levels. At the top of the quality pyramid, these characteristics are combined in wines with tremendous depth and a beguiling radiance that puts them once again among the best wines in Germany. While there is lot of competition when it comes to Riesling wines, there is hardly anybody in sight who is producing Pinot Blanc at the level of quality shown here.
This vintage joins seamlessly to the 1999 range, and the Pinot Blanc, Chardonnay and Riesling wines are particularly exciting, and of top quality. Especially the Grand Cru wines, and the dry Pinot Blanc Auslese are of truly exceptional quality, though I would definitely recommend against opening any of them before 2003. The dry Spätleses are also all first-class, right across the board, all topped by a wonderful barrique-matured Chardonnay at the pinnacle. A huge compliment on this range!
Pfalz
Chardonnay, White wine, late harvest (Spaetlese), dry, 10.00 €
Considering the vagaries of the 2000 vintage, the range of wines is unusually consistent in quality. All the wines submitted fairly shine with clean, typical varietal fruit and an elegantly proportioned style. Yet again, a remarkable achievement!
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