St Urbans-Hof Ockfener Bockstein Riesling Kabinett 2007
Very mineral and just smoky. All natural yeast. Very fresh in comparison with Willi Haag’s version. Drink 20080-09 16.5/20 Jancis Robinson
Closed, yet bursting with brooding aromas: honey, lime juice, flint, flowers all of which come over stronger on the palate. 8.5% (RH) Drink 2009-19, 16/20 Richard Hemming, www.jancisrobinson.com
Ockfen is an old wine-growing village situated in a side valley of the River Saar, which is a tributary of the Mosel. It is renowned for its outstanding vineyard site - "Ockfener Bockstein" - which is a steep slope with an unobstructed southern exposure. The soil consists of hard slate stones, which leave a greyish-blue powder on one´s fingers. This is indicative of the solubility of all nutrients contained in the soil, which allows the vines to absorb minerals quickly and easily during the growing season. As a result, the wines of "Okfener Bockstein" are especially lively and mineral in character. The forest at the top of the slope retains much-needed moisture. During dry periods, water on the forest floor is released into the sub-soils of the vineyards below, preventing vine-stress during periods of drought.
Quality driven producer with 35 hectares of vineyard in the Mosel and Saar valleys. Riesling is the only variety grown by St Urbans-Hof. Organic fertilizers are used. Yields are low and all fruit is hand picked. St Urbans-Hof was named Mosel producer of the year in 2003.
St. Urbans-Hof maintains the traditional methods of wine growing and winemaking which have been used in the Saar and Mosel River Valleys over the past 2000 years, having been initially introduced by the Romans who first recognized in the microclimate of the region the potential for producing classic grape varieties and fine wines. Riesling is the only grape variety grown and the terroir of the site is emphasized by intense cultivation of the slate soil and traditional single post trellising system, unique for the Mosel. Low crop, intensive soil work, leaf thinning, accurate trellising, late harvesting and hand picking are elementary steps to take to ensure that the wine reflects the original character of the land on which it is grown. All St. Urbans-Hof wines are fermented, the wine matures for about four months in traditional 1000 liter "Fuder" barrels to give them their perfect harmony.
St. Urbans-Hof’s 5 ha are situated in the middle of the vineyard. This is the best part of the "Ockfener Bockstein" and the wines are very mineral in character with a slightly spicy note. Particularly wines with natural residual sugar are distinguished by their excellent fruit. The Estate St. Urbans-Hof, founded in 1947 by Nicolaus Weis the grandfather of the current manager Nik Weis is one of the biggest and most important private owned wine estates in the Mosel region. Nicolaus received the prestigious title "Oekonomierat" (Chancellor of Agriculture) in 1969 after 20 years of dedication to the wine traditions of the country. Due to his great achievements his name and title have become part of the winery name. Hermann, Nik´s father, carried on the traditions established by Nicolaus increasing the winery’s acreage further. He married his wife and Nik´s mother Ida which origins from the Saar Region. Together they bought top vineyard sites in the Mosel as well as in the Saar valley to its current 35 hectares (87 acres) under cultivation.
Today Nikolaus (Nik) manages the winery in the third generation of his family and signs responsible for operations and sales of this second largest privately owned family winery in the Mosel-Saar-Ruwer area. Nik grew up in the winery and has been involved in all aspects of St. Urbans-Hof from breeding vines at the nursery operated by the winery, to cultivating vineyards and making wine. After obtaining a degree in viticulture and enology at Geisenheim, one of the world’s leading schools for winemakers in Germany, Nik broadened his experience by working and studying in the Champagne region of France, California, Canada’s Niagara Peninsula and the Nahe region in Germany. As president of the Young Winemakers Association of Leiwen, Nik has been in the forefront of the movement by a new winemaking generation to preserve the traditions of German winemaking and restore German Estate wines to prominence and has established St. Urbans-Hof as a clear leader in innovation and quality.
St. Urbans-Hof maintains the traditional methods of wine growing and winemaking which have been used in the Saar and Mosel River Valleys over the past 2000 years, having been initially introduced by the Romans who first recognized in the microclimate of the region the potential for producing classic grape varieties and fine wines. Riesling is the only grape variety grown and the terroir of the site is emphasized by intense cultivation of the slate soil and traditional single post trellising system, unique for the Mosel. Low crop, intensive soil work, leaf thinning, accurate trellising, late harvesting and hand picking are elementary steps to take to ensure that the wine reflects the original character of the land on which it is grown. All St. Urbans-Hof wines are fermented, the wine matures for about four months in traditional 1000 liter "Fuder" barrels to give them their perfect harmony.
