Founded in 1680 as a wine export company, today the estate of Max Ferdinand Richter is owned by the same family that first purchased vineyards in Brauneberg in 1643. The Richter Estate mansion and its Frenchbaroque garden were built in 1774, and the winery buildings, built in 1880, boast one of the largest fuder oak barrel wine cellars in the Mosel area. Max Ferdinand Richter is managed and operated by Dr. Dirk Max Ferd. Richter, the ninth generation of his family to do so. The tenth generation, Constantin Max Ferd. Richter, also works at the estate, continuing this strong family tradition.
Vineyards
In the Middle Ages, the Roman Catholic Church was by far the largest vineyard owner in Mosel. To this day, vineyard names there reflect that history. The Graacher Dompropst (Dean of the Cathedral) vineyard is located in the center of the former Catholic holdings; its name refers to the fact that tax income from this land went to the highest ranking official of the Trier diocese. The vineyard is surrounded by the Himmelreich (Kingdom of Heaven) vineyard, a reference to conditions that produce truly heavenly wine. In Burgundian terms, the Himmelreich can be seen as a “premier cru” vineyard, while the Dompropst would be a “grand cru” site.
With excellent southwestern exposure, the vineyards of Graach directly neighbor those of Wehlen. However, due to millions of years of alluvial deposits from the Mosel River, the Graach mountainside has a much richer, more fertile terroir, with an excellent watersupply. The wines of Graach are thusly vigorous, juicy, mouth-filling and with broadshoulders, with lots of citrus, floral and dried herbal notes as well as a luscious complexity of minerals, slate and flint.
Vinification
Vinification starts with gentle pressing and slow temperature controlled fermentation in traditional old oak barrels (fuders). This careful, deliberate process preserves the vineyard-grown quality of the grapes, develops the unique character of the single-vineyard cuvees, and to gives Richter wines exceptional longevity.
When possible, they utilize natural yeasts and eschew chemical fining agents.
Tasting Notes
Ripe grapefruit and white currant, creamy and clean fruit structure, racy fruit acid, very elegant and long lasting finish.
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