I liked the wines very much, and I rated them with 91 to 94 bonvinitas points. Red dots mean category 2, dry over 12% alcohol, green category 1, dry up to a maximum of 12% - here is the rating system. Timo Erlenwein is an up-and-coming winemaker with his Erlenwein winery in the Southern Palatinate, Germany, located in the middle of the vines between the wine villages Ilbesheim and Leinsweiler. Well defined, elegant – 91 bonvinitas Punkte:
2023 Riesling dry from Buntsandstein (mottled sandstone), Qualitätswein Pfalz, 12.5% alcohol, Estate Erlenwein: Typical Riesling scent with notes of lemon juice to lemon jelly, kiwi as well as a hint of walnut and a small hint from the large wooden barrel; on the palate a very elegant, firmly built wine with mineral notes; culminates fine racy, to chew on, subtly peppery underlayed. Goes well with seafood, fish blue or stewed or veal in gravy.
Creamy, flattering – 91 bonvinitas points:
2023 Pinot Blanc dry from shell limestone, quality wine Palatinate, 13%, Estate Erlenwein: Very fine nose with notes of lime, woodruff, peeled almonds with a slightly smoky background; fine creamy body with melting; full-bodied mineral finish that takes leave wonderfully flattering. Nice with salad dishes, cream cheese, vegetable rice or grilled chicken.
Juicy mouth-filling – 93 bonvinitas points:
2023 Leinsweiler Chardonnay dry, quality wine Palatinate, 13%, Estate Erlenwein: Ripe scent of autumn apples, apricot jam with a hint of hazelnut in the background; juicy, mouth-filling, subtly salty on the palate; emphatically mineral, in the finish with another flash of fruit slightly peppery underpinned. Nice with mushroom dishes, grilled steaks or roast veal.
Top balanced, very smooth – 94 bonvinitas points:
2023 Leinsweiler Sauvignon Blanc dry, with a pleasant 12%, quality wine Pfalz, Estate Erlenwein: Pleasantly round scent with nice floral notes such as lemon balm, juniper, sage, a hint of cassis; round supple body accompanied by the floral notes; spicy finish with nice temperament. Goes well with smoked fish, roast veal or pork loin.
view to Leinsweiler. photo credit: Suedliche Weinstrasse, Stephan Mahlow
view from the Kalmit to Ilbesheim. photo credit: Schwitzke - adobestock
Estate Erlenwein
The relocated 18-hectare estate owns, among others, vines in the first-class Leinsweiler Sonnenberg with shell limestone soils, as well as vines at the Ilbesheimer Kalmit, both are among the best sites in the Palatinate. Other vines are - very good for Riesling - on red sandstone and loess clay soils. https://www.weingut-erlenwein.de/home.html
The points represent my personal opinion, parallel to the bonvinitas blind wine awards by neutral examiners.
Dieter Simon, publisher and editor-in-chief of bonvinitas. Photos: PR unless otherwise stated
