Ina's wine tip of the week: 2014 Gutswein Silvaner dry, Weingut Rudolf May

In collaboration with vinoa.de, the new wine search engine, we regularly present delicious, uncomplicated wines on Idee für mich. The selection is made by vinoa wine expert Ina Finn, author of the book "Weinwissen - In zwei Tagen zum Weinkenner". She has been an independent sommelier and wine consultant for over 15 years. With her company Ina Finn Weinkonzepte and her own event space, Villa Verde, she regularly gives courses for wine beginners and connoisseurs in Hamburg.

via Jessica

05/03/2016, 12:00

Wine tip of the week: 2014 Gutswein Silvaner dry, Weingut Rudolf May

Silvaner is one of the oldest varieties in Germany. It has been cultivated in this country for more than 350 years. Franconia is one of the most important regions for this grape variety. It makes up more than 20 percent of the total vineyard area there. I really appreciate this grape variety. For me, Silvaner means diversity. It is a grape variety that comes in many facets and is worth discovering. Whether as a light and uncomplicated estate wine like this one, or as an extract- and finesse-rich single-vineyard Silvaner. When a "doer" and "grape variety expert" like Rudolf May brings the wine to the bottle, nothing stands in the way of fine enjoyment.Silvaner is and remains a perfect accompaniment to asparagus dishes. It is best served with asparagus "nature", without hollandaise sauce, but only with butter or olive oil and tasty potatoes!

Profile

Wine:2014 Silvaner dry
Winemaker: Rudolf May Winery
Grape variety: 100% Silvaner
Vintage: 2014
Region: Franconia
Soil: Shell limestone with limestone marl
Ideal drinking temperature: 8 degrees Celsius
Price: from 7,00€ /bottle

The wine

What is an estate wine? Following the French model, the wine qualities and vineyard sites are classified according to a kind of hierarchy. The estate wines are to be understood as the flagship of a winery. It is the entry-level quality that is intended to promote the estate's wines. The wines are above all typical of the grape variety and give a first impression of the origin, but do not yet have any special vineyard character. This Silvaner is pleasantly light and fresh and has a digestible acidity. Pleasant ripe, yellow fruit aromas with a touch of exoticism make you want to try Rudolf May's delicate Silvaner.

Many people may still think that Silvaner from Franconia is dry as dust and a particularly meagre wine. But the image has changed dramatically. Franconia is not one of the best regions of origin for this grape variety for nothing. It is true that Silvaner appears less opulent in the glass at first. But if you give it a little time to develop in the glass, it will reveal its delicate aromas with subtle magic.

The winemaker and the region

Rudolf May founded the winery with his wife in 1999. It is located in the Eberstal valley near Retzstadt. The winery has 13 hectares of vineyards. This part of Franconia has a very special terroir - shell limestone - which produces particularly delicate and mineral wines.

The Mays have an excellent vineyard site in the Eberstal with the best exposure to the sun and a steep slope in places, which they cultivate with little use of machinery. The result of their painstaking manual work is particularly fine wines with a corresponding ageing potential, even in the entry-level qualities.

They have been a member of the Association of German Prädikat Wine Estates (VDP) since 2014.

Perfect with

Asparagus dishes, spicy cheese, various salads, quiche and tarte flambée or as an aperitif wine.

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