Bischel Pinot Noir Reserve 2017

Brothers Christian and Matthias are the third generation of winegrowers at the Bischel family estate in Appenheim, a small village near Mainz in the northern Rheinhessen wine region. During the 60s and 70s grapes were grown to sell to bigger wineries but by the 1980s, Christian and Matthias's father Hartmut was bottling the wines under the family label.

The brothers took over from their father in 2006, changing a lot in the vineyards and cellar — reducing yields, working more organically, and critically moving to purer and drier wines in line with the modern market both domestically and abroad.

The focus is on Riesling and Pinot-varieties (Pinot Blanc, Gris and Noir), as well as possessing a big passion for Chardonnay. On 20 hectares they grow vines in four villages, the terroir dominated by limestone, quartzite and slate, or volcanic soils — "great conditions to do what we like to drink" according to the boys.

Wines are sorted by origin and classified according to quality. It starts with the VDP Gutswein, entry-level wines from different sides of Appenheim and Gau-Algesheim, the fruit mostly from younger vineyards. The village wines are VDP Ortswein, from selected vineyards that showcase the typical terroir of each village. VDP Erste Lage are from Premier Cru classificated plots, and finally VDP Grosse Lage for the Grand Cru vineyards, old vines which supply the best fruit each year.