Altenberg Riesling Auslese
⏳ wine.drinking_window
Typically best enjoyed 15 to 40 years from vintage release.
🍽️ wine.food_pairings
Blue cheese, foie gras, apricot tart
✨ wine.spec_sheet
The Kanzemer Altenberg is one of the most legendary steep-slope vineyards of the Saar, boasting a dizzying gradient of up to 90% and iron-rich red Devonian slate soils. Historically, wines from this grand cru site were among the most expensive in the world during the late 19th and early 20th centuries, highly prized in royal courts. Van Volxem's Altenberg Riesling Auslese is crafted from extremely low-yielding, ancient vines. The grapes are meticulously hand-harvested at peak ripeness, often with a precise selection of botrytised berries. Spontaneous fermentation with indigenous yeasts and aging in traditional large oak fuder casks preserve the site's intense, smoky minerality, exotic fruit character, and the Saar's signature electric acidity. This combination creates a luscious, highly complex sweet wine with incredible tension and longevity.
🍾 wine.about_producer
Located in the historic viticultural commune of Wiltingen along the Saar River, Van Volxem traces its heritage back to a Roman estate and later a Jesuit monastery before being acquired and revitalized by Roman Niewodniczanski in 1999. Under his stewardship, the estate has reclaimed its status as a premier producer, focusing on historic, steep-slope grand cru vineyards such as Scharzhofberger, Wiltinger Gottesfuss, and Kanzemer Altenberg. The winery is dedicated to traditional, artisanal practices, utilizing extremely low yields from ancient, often ungrafted vines, spontaneous fermentation with indigenous yeasts, and aging in traditional large oak fuder casks. This meticulous, terroir-centric philosophy yields highly expressive, mineral-driven Rieslings that beautifully balance rich textures with the Saar's signature vibrant acidity.