Location and classification
Letten is an officially registered single vineyard in the municipality and cadastral district of Hainfeld in the Palatinate. It belongs to the South Wine Route area and the Großlage Ordensgut. The wine-growing register lists it under number 810607 with 50.4 hectares of planted vineyard area.
Topography and soils
The site lies on the north-western edge of Hainfeld and borders the cadastral districts of Rhodt and Weyher. Letten is described as a gently rising south-facing slope. Documented soils include clay marl and Letten soil with a shell limestone overlay, as well as high proportions of loam and clay, calcareous marl and clay marl. The clay- and loam-rich soil has a high water storage capacity that is available to plants.
Grape varieties
Among other varieties, Grauburgunder, Gewürztraminer, Scheurebe, Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Silvaner, Weißburgunder and Spätburgunder are cultivated in Letten.
Wines and maturation
Documented are dry Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, or respectively Spätburgunder, as well as dry or semi-dry Silvaner. A Hainfeld Letten Spätburgunder was cold macerated for three to four days, fermented openly with 20% whole berries and matured for around 15 months predominantly in new wooden barrels. Chardonnay from the site was matured in wooden barrels, or as a Réserve in barriques.
