En L'Enfer Prestige Cuvée 2018

The complex nose of wet earth and smoke, together with savory and spicy notes, is far removed from the red-wine norm for this region. Bold and well structured on the generous palate with a solid foundation of ripe tannins, this is an impressive innovation that’s only just approaching its best drinking age.

-93 points, James Suckling

The record heat of the past few years have shown that our Cabernet Sauvignons on calcareous soils produce grapes that catapult us to other regions. In 2018, we selectively harvested our ripe Cabernet Sauvignon and Pinot Noir grapes by hand, and then fermented them spontaneously on the mash. The expansion in 225L barrique barrels over 26 months gave the wine even more breadth, depth and balance.

When the young wines were ready to go, we cuvéed En l'Enfer in Vendersheim together with sommelier friend Felix Fuchs from one-star Michelin restaurant Tulus Lotrek in Berlin.

This exciting taste experience provides great moments of pleasure in its youth and yet always shows new facets. The best time for this wine is now. 

The first vintage is limited to 700 bottles.

13.5% alcohol. Contains sulphites. Certified organic according to DE-ÖKO-039.

Grape varieties: Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir * Age of the vines: 25 to 40 years * Soil: Limestone marl, limestone * Exposure of the sites: south-west, south * Soil characteristics: deep, well-rooted * Pruning: 4 to 6 buds per square meter * Quality promotion on the vine: defoliation on one side, removal of miserly grapes and reduction in the number of shoots (green harvest) * Yield: 40 hl/ha * Harvest of the grapes on 15 October until 30 October 2018 at max. 10 degrees Celsius * Harvest: 100% hand-picked, then partially stemmed * Initial must weight: 93 to 98 Oechsle degrees * Fermentation time: 3 to 9 weeks * 100% spontaneous fermentation with its own yeast * Winemaking: classic mash fermentation, no wine treatment agents * Storage in used 225 litre barrique barrels (3rd - 5th occupancy; American and French oak) * Bottled in August 2021 * Alcohol: 13.50% * Residual sugar: 1.2 g/l * Vegan * Contains sulphites * Closure: natural cork * Burgundy bottle: 0.75 l * Bottled by: Neverland eK, Sebastian Class, Ausserhalb 2, 55578 Vendersheim, Germany * Certified organic according to DE-ÖKO-039. * Vintages depicted in the pictures may deviate from the product sold. The vintage that is mentioned in the wine description and/or the headline applies.