A 1989 Silvaner Eiswein from the Casteller Schlossberg, the top vineyard of the Fürstlich Castell'sches Domänenamt in Franken. Silvaner Eiswein is a rare thing, and this one comes from the very slope where Germany's first recorded Silvaner was planted.
About This Wine
The Schlossberg climbs the old castle hill above the village at about 340 metres, facing south to south-west on a slope of close to 50 percent, sheltered by forest to the north and east. Its clay-rich gypsum-keuper soils with seams of alabaster give firm, mineral wines. It is classified today as a VDP Grosse Lage. Eiswein is made from grapes left on the vine until a hard frost, then picked and pressed while frozen, so only concentrated juice runs off. The result keeps sharp acidity alongside its sweetness. The #60 on the label identifies the individual cask or lot.
Tasting Profile
- Nose: Candied pear, honey, dried apricot and a nutty, herbal note.
- Palate: Sweet and taut, with baked orchard fruit and caramel over bright, clean acidity.
- Finish: Long, with honey, quince and a fresh mineral finish.
Serving & Food
Eiswein likes to be a little colder than most sweet wines, so chill it to 8 to 10°C. Stand it upright beforehand and use small white wine glasses. Its acidity will carry it well beyond today. Pear tart, crème brûlée or a slice of aged mountain cheese make good company.
How to Enjoy
Drinkers who enjoy mature sweet wine with real freshness, and fans of Franken Silvaner looking for something unusual.
Product Details
Producer: Fürstlich Castell'sches Domänenamt
Wine: Casteller Schlossberg Silvaner Eiswein #60
Country: Germany
Region: Franken
Vineyard: Casteller Schlossberg
Grape Variety: Silvaner
Style: Eiswein
Vintage: 1989
Volume: 375mL
About the Estate
Castell sits on the edge of the Steigerwald in Franken, and its wine estate, the Fürstlich Castell'sches Domänenamt, belongs to the princely Castell-Castell family. Vineyards on the Schlossberg appear in documents from 1266, and in 1659 the family planted Silvaner there, the first recorded in Germany.
Silvaner still takes the largest share of the estate's roughly 70 hectares. The soils are gypsum marl, which makes the wines slow to open and long-lived. The estate has been a VDP member since 1955, and its top-classified sites, the Schlossberg among them, are monopoles.
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