Thörle Kalk & Kreide

Christoph and his brother Johannes have worked together since 2006 when they left their jobs to take over the family domaine in Saulheim, a little village inland from Oppenheim and the mighty Rhine. The vineyards lie on a mixture of light clay, limestone red sandy loam and in places flint and schist. All vineyard management is now undertaken organically with a move to biodynamic imminent, a brave step given that a lot of producers still believe this to be akin to witchcraft. In the cellar, the work from the vineyard is continued by allowing natural ferments and minimal handling.

The KALK & KREIDE cuvée combines 55% Chardonnay and 45% Pinot Blanc grapes from the best vineyard plots in Saulheim, with the idea here being to bottle a natural white Burgundy-style cuvée with long yeast maturation and minimal sulfur addition.

Gentle pressing of grapes followed by 6 hours cool maceration and then lees aged in a combination of 500L old oak tonneau and 30 % new oak 225L barrels with monthly lees-stirring to intensify the creamy textures and flavours

Tasting notes: Smoke and bread on the nose leading to a palate of opulent and ripe yellow fruits, underpinned by salty minerality and a fine wood spice. Long finish with more of the complex interplay between fruit, minerality and freshly baked bread notes.