Rarity tasting in Castell: The world´s best Silvaner wines

A document from the year 816, which mentioned the place Castell for the first time and which is being kept at the library of the royal family Castell, is as old as the 26 tasted Silvaner wines all together. The rare Silvaner wines has been assembled by the Italian wine author Professor Gian Luca Mazella, who had gathered these wines from the treasure rooms of the best winemakers in Franconia, Palatinate, Rheinhesse, Alsac and South Tyrol.

"For me, it is a dream now coming true," said Count Castell excited. Together with the German Prädikat Wine Estates VDP Franconia and the Castell'schen Domänenamt, Count Castell invited to a historical and a very special wine tasting in Castell within the scope of the 350. birthday of the Silvaner.

"This historical Silvaner tasting is also a highlight of this year's celebrations," said Count Castell an added: "The first Silvaner grapes were planted by my ancestors in 1659, not far from the castle at the Schlossberg in the Reitsteig vineyard. For us, this is an occasion for an extraordinary Silvaner year." (we repeatedly reported)

"It is amazing how the Silvaner can still show greatness at age," reckons the popular American David Schildknecht of the team around wine pope Robert Parker, and Jancis Robinson, the well-known British wine author, added: These aged Silvaner wines show an unexpected vitality. This tasting is fascinating and has a historical dimension."

These judgments, amongst others, also referred to rare Silvaner wines from Franconia, such as the 1915 Silvaner from the Graf Schönborn wine estate in Hallburg, the 1951 Schlossberg Silvaner from the Fürstlich Castell'schen Domänenamt in Castell, the 1969 Trockenbeerauslese from the Wirsching wine estate in Iphofen and the last bottle of the 1959 Trockenbeerauslese from the Bürgerspital zum Heiligen Geist in Würzburg.

The invited experts were pleased and grateful that they could be a part of this historical tasting. "Such a wine tasting, as it was presented to us here in Castell, is a rare opportunity for experts like us as well," reckons Gian Luca Mazella. Professor Mazzella, Jancis Robinson and David Schildtknecht have conjointly judged: "The Silvaner deserves a top position and does no longer need to be overshadowed by the Riesling. This grape variety has to be developed further and existing winegrowing areas need to be preserved and cultivated." (aw.yoopress)