What I Learned

Sasbachwalden is a small town in the Ortenau wine district of the Baden wine region of southwest Germany. It is bounded by the Black Forest heights to its east, and the river plain of the Rhine to the west. The town has approximately 266 hectares of vineyard, and along with active tourism, is a mainstay of the local economy.

Alde Gott is the name of a specific vineyard area in and around the towns of Sasbachwalden, Sasbach, Lauf and Achern. The soils are of granite and gneiss. The terrain itself is quite hilly, with several natural bowl-like formations. The steep-sided slopes ensure good drainage in this otherwise wet area. They can get up to 1500 millimeters of rain a year. To ensure maximum sun exposure, the vine-bearing slopes face primarily south and west.

Alde Gott is also the name of a local winery. It was founded in 1948. Over time, the quality of the wines produced in this winery has improved. Everyday wines, the Einblick line, come in red, rose and white. Next up the quality scale are the Ausblick wines, which are dry wines aged in large oak casks. The sweet wines are found in the Suesse Aussicht line, and the Weitblick wines, at the top of the scale, are dry white, rose and red wines aged in barriques.

Several varietals, both red and white, grow in these vineyards. Blauer Spaetburgunder (Pinot Noir) is the single most planted varietal. For all intents and purposes, it is the only red varietal here. The principal white varietals are Riesling, Mueller-Thurgau, Grauburgunder (Pinot Gris), Gerwuerztraminer, and Scheurebe. This listing largely reflects the percentage of harvest, in descending order.

 

What I Tasted

2016 Riesling, Kabinett, Trocken, Alde Gott Winzer (Sasbachwalden): A dry white wine with medium minus gold color; strong peach nose and flavors, with a hint of vanilla, mild plus acidity.

2016 Spaetburgunder Weissherbst, Kabinett, Lieblich, Alde Gott Winzer (Sasbachwalden): A dry rose wine with light salmon color; floral and perfectly ripe red raspberry and strawberry nose, with flavors of the same; very mild tannins, very interesting overall.

2015 Riesling, Qualitaetswein, Trocken, Alde Gott Winzer (Sasbachwalden): A dry white wine with medium minus gold color; a vanilla and green apple nose, and vanilla, citrus flavors with a hint of resin; tart finish with medium plus acidity.

2015 Spaetburgunder, Kabinett, Trocken, Alde Gott Winzer (Sasbachwalden): A dry red wine with medium ruby red color; nose of cherry, with vanilla and dried cherry flavors, with a hint of smoke; medium tannins.

2015 Riesling, Kabinett, Trocken, Alde Gott Winzer (Sasbachwalden): A dry white wine with medium gold color; a peach nose, with flavors of peach, vanilla, and a hint of smoke; medium minus acidity. (This is an unusual Riesling in that it is kept in oak barrels for a period of time.)