Location and Classification
The Burg Layer Johannisberg is located near Burg Layen in the municipality of Rümmelsheim in the winegrowing region of Nahe. The VDP classifies the site as VDP.ERSTE LAGE® with a classified area of 27 hectares. In the Prussian land tax assessment of 1901, the Burg Layer Johannisberg was rated highly.
Terrain and Soils
The VDP profile describes a southerly exposure, at an altitude of 190 to 290 metres, with a slope of 10 to 40 per cent. For the plots of a producer profile, a south-easterly exposure, at an altitude of 195 to 290 metres and a gradient of 16 to 33 per cent are given. The soils documented include weathered grey slate as well as stony loam, slate, quartzite and loess.
Grape Varieties and Wine Styles
Riesling is the grape variety stated in the VDP profile. Documented single-site wines also include Weißburgunder and Frühburgunder. For the Riesling, Kabinett with a finely off-dry character and Auslese with an noble sweet character are indicated. The Riesling is described as having a mineral character from weathered grey slate; the documented Weißburgunder is a dry, creamy white wine with potential for ageing.
Harvest and Maturation
For a documented Riesling, the grapes were hand-selected from the estate’s own vineyards in several passes. The Kabinett was gently pressed, fermented spontaneously with natural yeasts, and matured for several months in stainless-steel tanks. A documented Weißburgunder matured for ten months on the fine lees, partly in the traditional small wooden cask and partly in stainless-steel tanks.
