A. Christmann
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Christmann & Kauffmann
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Gimmeldingen, Pfalz (Ger.)
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Those that know me well, whether you regular readers or visitors to Le Tuffeau, well know that I can wax lyrical on all matters Riesling, especially German Riesling.
I was deep in conversation the other week with Bridget Mac (Werkstatt), a dear friend and oracle for me in the world of Riesling: I defer to her palate and thorough understanding of the effects of terroir and cellar procedures on the grape. We had been discussing the wines of Weingut A. Christmann: a producer well known to me for Rieslings (especially their Idig Riesling GG) ... but Bridget mentioned the work that winemaker Sophie Christmann was doing with Spatburgunder (Pinot Noir) and her new Sekt (German sparkling wine) project. I was immediately intrigued, and now am hopelessly smitten, by these new(ish) releases.
Sophie Christmann has brought dedication, focus, and energy to her family's vaunted estate. Her father, the President of the VDP and an instrumental figure in German wine law, leaves obviously large shoes to fill yet Sophie in a few years has already accomplished so much. The wines made under her supervision have more verve, focus, precision, and freshness - they brim with her energy. She has refocused the estate by selling off 20% of their holdings; Christmann now only farms Erste (1er) and Grosse Lage (Grand Cru) vineyards. Her dedication, seemingly, knows no bounds as she has partnered with the former Bollinger Cellarmaster to produce stratospheric Sekt that seemingly aims to re-define German sparkling along the lines of the Grower Champagne movement.
These are real discoveries; a large, famous, and established estate pushing boundaries and focusing on vines and wines that arouse passion. I certainly couldn't dream of wanting more. - David
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Sektgut Christmann & Kauffmann
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"As reported earlier, Sophie and father Steffen Christmann, president of the VDP. Die Prädikatsweingüter, and Alsatian Mathieu Kauffmann (former cellar master chez Champagne Bollinger and for a few years at Reichsrat von Buhl, Pfalz) joined forces in 2019 and established a new domaine specializing in sparkling wines from top Mittelhaardt vineyards only. The NV Cuvée 203 is based on 50% Pinot Noir (a.k.a. Spätburgunder), 25% Chardonnay and 25% Pinot Blanc (a.k.a. Weissburgunder) whose base wines were fermented in stainless steel (30%) and traditional oak vats (70%). Each tirage gets its own number. This Pinot-based assemblage proceeds the 200 series, whereas the corresponding Riesling runs as 100+X. The Cuvée 203 is only the third release of this Sekt and only the fifth release in total for this producer, of which we will hear much more in the upcoming years.
The grapes for the Cuvée No. 203 were sourced between August 24 and September 8 in Gimmeldingen, Königsbach and Mussbach from sandstone soils with limestone and loess. The grapes were hand-picked by 40 pickers and placed in eight-kilogram boxes, then they were processed immediately once they arrived at the cellar. After the gentle pressing, only the cuvée is vinified in predominantly large oak vats and some stainless steels bins, where the wines age on the gross lees until April of the following year, with the malolactic fermentation included as a natural process. Disgorged after 25 months on the second lees with zero dosage, this is a highly finessed and balanced yet straight and savory sparkling wine with remarkable noblesse." Stephan Reinhardt, Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Christmann & Kauffmann NV Sekt 'Cuvee No. 203' Brut Nature
Shelf Price: $149.00
Offer: $132.00
"The NV Brut Nature Cuvée No. 203 is the third edition of this assemblage of Chardonnay, Pinot Blanc and Pinot Noir from cooler calcareous sandstone and loess sites in Gimmeldingen and Königsbach. Picked in the last week of August 2020 after a beautifully sunny summer (with rain at the right time), vinified in oak (70%) and stainless steel (30%), bottled in April of the following year and aged sur lattes for nearly 25 months prior to the disgorgement in April this year, the wine opens with a deep, pure, fine yet also intense and charming bouquet of ripe white seed fruits, iodine, nuts and lemon juice. Pure and fruity on the palate, this is a stimulating, saline, round and fruity sparkling wine with remarkable finesse and mouthfeel. Developing a dry but textural finish, this is an excellent mix of reductive and oxidative elements, which makes Cuvée No. 203 a superb gastronomic sparkling wine to have with a meal, in particular with dishes with fresh mushrooms or scallops. 12% stated alcohol. Natural cork. Tasted in November 2023." 92pts - Stephan Reinhardt, Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
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Weingut A. Christmann
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The Whites
Christmann 2022 Pfalz Riesling Trocken 'Aus den Lagen'
Shelf Price: $72.00
Offer: $65.00
Sophie Christmann has been driving a quality increase at the Weingut she recently took over from her father, and this 'Aus den Lagen' Riesling from Pfalz sits at the forefront of the estate's offerings. Having eliminated lower level wines, and sold off fruit that would classify as merely 'estate', this wine is drawn entirely from lieu-dit sites ranked either as Gosse Lage (Grand Cru) or Erste Lage (Premier Cru) by the VDP (German Winegrowing Association). The assemblage includes such august sites as Idig, Olberg, and Vogelsang.
Deeply stony, with a degree of reduction masking some fruit at first pour, this Riesling carries crushed lime leaf, heirloom apples, and stone fruit above a nose of crushed tuff-rock and seaspray. The palate is dense yet creamy, with a mineral inflected finish; very Pfalz. Bramble apples, tart peach, and some lemon pith jostle followed by a salt streaked rocks and hints of wax. - David
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Christmann 2022 Neustadter Vogelsang Riesling GG
Shelf Price: $255.00
Offer: $229.00
"From shell limestone (Muschelkalk) soils and, at night, a seriously coolish terroir next to the forest, the Neustadt 2022 Riesling Vogelsang VDP.Grosse Lage® opens with a pure, fresh and mineral bouquet with very elegant Riesling aromas intertwined with mushroom notes. Bottled in July this year, this is a dense, very elegant, lush, saline and balanced Riesling with great precision and a purity and sharpness that is pretty unique in the Mittelhaardt region. The 2022 reveals a long, savory and salivating finish with persistent salinity and mineral tension. It's very long and seriously complex. 12% stated alcohol. Diam cork. Tasted at the domaine in December 2023." 95pts - Stephan Reinhardt, Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
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The Reds
Christmann 2020 Pfalz Spatburgunder Trocken 'Aus den Lagen'
Shelf Price: $98.00
Offer: $87.00
Drawn, much like its Riesling counterpart, entirely from Erste and Grosse Lage sites, the 2020 'Aus den Lagen' Spatburgunder is immediately alluring from first pour: aromas of dark cherries, loamy soal, broken rock, and campfire ash waft from the glass. There is a inkling of yet-to-be-absorbed toasty oak here but time will see this 'complete' as the new entry-level offering from Sophie Christmann. The palate has fine, succulent fruit presence and apt freshness from keen acidity and salinity; tannins are fine and never firm; and there is an impression of satiny texture to caress the senses. Red and black fruits, including some blood plum, mingle with wet & mossy stones, cocoa nibs, and brown spices. The finish is salty and refreshingly vital. Pellucid and fine! - David
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Christmann 2020 Konigsbacher Olberg Spatburgunder Trocken
Shelf Price: $179.00
Offer: $159.00
"Christmann's 2020 Königsbacher Ölberg Spätburgunder Erste Lage is pure, intense and toasty on the darker-toned and chocolate-scented nose compared to the Schlössel. Ripe and lush on the palate, this is a tight, pure and fresh Pinot with a great mix of salinity and fine, refreshing tannins. Good and cleansing finish. Natural cork. Tasted at the domaine in November 2022." 92pts - Stephan Reinhardt, Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
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Autumn Leaves Reds 6-Pack
RRP: $345.00
Offer: $295.00
(1 each of the below wines)
Joshua Cooper 2024 Central and Western Victoria Claret
Salomon Estate 2020 Cabernet Sauvignon 'Braeside Vineyard'
Alessandro Stefani 2020 Yarra Valley Cabernet Franc 'Franc'
Chateau Blanzac 2018 Castillon Cotes de Bordeaux
Chateau des Laurets 2018 Puisseguin-Saint-Emilion
Chateau Senejac 2020 Haut Medoc
Riesling Mixed Pack
RRP: $414.00
Offer: $275.00
(1 each of the below wines)
Worlds Apart 2023 Eden Valley Riesling 'In the Flowers'
Werkstatt 2024 Mount Gambier Riesling
Frankland Estate 2022 Frankland River Riesling 'Alter Weg'
Donnhoff 2022 Nahe Riesling Trocken
Georg Breuer 2021 Rudesheim Riesling 'Estate'
Christmann 2022 Pfalz Riesling Trocken 'Aus den Lagen'
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Easy Drinking Mixed Pack
RRP: $292.00
Offer: $250.00
(1 each of the below wines)
Domaine Pichot 2022 Vouvray Sec 'Clos Cartaud'
Dappled 2022 Yarra Valley Chardonnay 'Single Vineyard - Les Vergers'
Oria-Riff 2023 Barossa Valley Semillon 'Old Vines'
Vajra 2022 Langhe Nebbiolo 'JC Clare'
Alessandro Stefani 2022 Yarra Valley Sangiovese 'La Vignola'
Joshua Cooper 2023 Claret Blend
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Premium Mixed Pack
RRP: $459.00
Offer: $400.00
(1 each of the below wines)
Domaine Gilbert Picq 2022 Chablis
Wagner-Stempel 2021 Rheinhessen Riesling 'Porphyr'
Domaine Naturaliste 2022 Margaret River Chardonnay 'Artus'
Holyman 2023 lutruwita Pinot Noir
Domaine Collotte 2022 Marsannay 'Cuvee Vieille Vignes'
Domaine Charvin 2021 Cotes-du-Rhone
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Delivery
Melbourne Metro - $20.00 flat (ie.: $20 for 6 bottles, $20 for 36 bottles)
NSW, SA, Brisbane - $25.00 flat
Other parts of Australia - contact us for a quote
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If you would like any of the above, would like to come by for a private appointment, or just have some questions please let us know.