The estate is located in the commune of Westhofen (Wonnegau area) in the Rheinhessen wine-growing in Germany. Documents show the family has been involved in wine production since 1663. Son Philipp has been responsible fort he cellar for a few years now, while father Günter Wittmann continues to tend the vineyards, and his wife Elisabeth attends to sales. The vineyards were converted to organic farming as long ago as 1990, and since 2004 the even stricter rules of bio-dynamic viticulture have been applied. This includes no use of herbicides, chemical-synthetic fungicides, insecticides and easily soluble mineral fertilisers. The vineyard area totals 25 hectares, with holdings in the Aulerde, Kirchspiel and Morstein sites, all in Westhofen. Around half of the area is planted with the main variety Riesling (12,5 ha), as well as with the varieties Silvaner (2,5 ha), Pinot Blanc (2,5 ha), Pinot Gris (2,5 ha), Chardonnay (2,5 ha) and Albalonga. Work in the vineyards involves low yields and selective hand-picking, while extremely slow fermentation takes place in the cellar, this often lasts into the new year. Most of the wines are still matured in traditional large oak barrels, some are matured in stainless steel tanks, and a few barriques are also available for the best red wines. Most of the wines are bottled in the spring following the vintage, but the best wines of a vintage are usually only bottled later. Annual production is around 150.000 bottles of wine. The estate is a member of the VDP (Verband deutscher Prädikats- und Qualitäts-Weingüter) and of the Naturland organic producers associations.
The vintage 2007
Rheinhessen: Westhofen
Aulerde, Riesling, White wine, QbA, dry, Großes Gewächs, 22.50 €
The gripping Albalonga Beerenauslese is the crowning glory in one of the most complete ranges of this vintage in Germany. While it is true that the more basic wines are a little more light-bodied, and perhaps a little more acidic than usual, they too generally present a crystal clear, elegantly juicy fruit and good structure. The list of fry wines is headed by a trio of outstanding „Grosse Gewächse“ (Grand Crus), of which the Aulerde is the most attractive at this stage. However, both the Morstein and Kirchspiel are also very impressive, and are sure to improve with a little maturation. Another excellent wine, although not with the same depth and concentration of the previous vintage, are the oak-matured Chardonnay and Weissburgunder (Pinot Blanc) wines of the "S"-class.
The Wittmann family produces some really brilliant efforts in this vintage. One wine is better than the next. In the dry section, the Burgundian varieties have turned out best in this year. Even the „simple“ quality wines are quite delightful, while the „S“-class is just about unbeatable, and I am not certain whether these wines will not deserve even higher ratings given a few months to mature. The pinnacle among the botrytis wines is the wonderful Riesling Auslese „S“, which even manages to steal the show, at this stage, from the Beerenauslese, which has a somewhat monolithic structure at this early phase in its life. Given the high level of quality across the range, the prices charged are still very attractive.
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