Koehler-Ruprecht
This historic estate, long managed by the legendary and larger-than-life Bernd Philippi, was purchased in 2009 and since 2011 has been in the dedicated hands of Dominik Sona. He and his cellar master Franziska Schmitt are intensely hard-working and strictly honor the arch-traditional style of this beautiful, centuries-old cellar.
Koehler-Ruprecht is known for broad, rich and minerally Rieslings, Pinots and Chardonnays sourced from two locations in Kallstadt: the Steinacker (sandstone and lœss) and Saumagen (lœss, marl, and limestone) vineyards. The wines are spontaneously fermented on their own yeasts and aged entirely in large, neutral stück (1200L oval casks) and halbstück (600L). No chaptalization, no enzymes, and no manipulations of any kind are practiced here.
These are extremely old-school wines from an estate making trocken (dry) wines before it was trendy. In fact, the estate cleaves to the old labeling practice of putting both the pradikät and the trocken designation on each wine (e.g., Auslese Trocken), which the VDP no longer allows; it was one reason they left the consortium after 80 years of membership! Koehler-Ruprecht’s wines are released conspicuously late and are best enjoyed with bottle age, particularly the “R” reserve wines. It is safe to say there are no other wines like these made in Germany—or anywhere.
For more information, click here.
There is also an excellent promotional video here with beautiful footage of harvest in Kallstadt as well as some comments from winemaker Dominik Sona and cellarmaster Johannes Lochner.
Image | PRODUCT | Description | Country / Region | Region | Materials |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
![]() DB8410-16 Organic |
Weißburgunder (Pinot Blanc) Kabinett Trocken 2016 |
Pinot Blanc 100% Pinot Blanc vinified bone dry but very ripe. A late-harvest selection of older vines (40-50 years old) planted in limestone soils... Read More |
Germany | Pfalz | |
![]() DB1151-15 |
Pinot Noir Kabinett Trocken 2015 |
Pinot Noir Sourced primarily from a site in Bad Dürkheim, planted to Pinot Noir in 2008; the soils here are light and sandy. The grapes were... Read More |
Germany | Pfalz | |
![]() DB3102-15 |
Riesling Auslese Trocken Kallstadter Saumagen 2015 |
Riesling | Germany | Pfalz | |
![]() DB8652-15 |
Riesling Auslese Kallstadter Saumagen 2015 |
Riesling | Germany | Pfalz | |
![]() DB0955-15 |
Chardonnay Spatlese Trocken Annaberg 2015 |
Chardonnay The Annaberg is known to hardcore German wine fans as the birthplace of Scheurebe, but its south-facing slope of rich, dark soils inflected... Read More |
Germany | Pfalz | |
![]() DB8412-16 Organic |
Riesling Kabinett Steinacker 2016 |
Riesling One of the very few wines with sweetness produced at Koehler-Ruprecht, and a predictably fine one! Steinacker translates to the "stony acre... Read More |
Germany | Pfalz | |
![]() DB1122-08 94 WA |
Riesling Auslese Trocken Saumagen "R" 2008 |
Riesling 6/750 One of the best bottlings from K-R: everything in its place, everything showing but still evolving, grace wedded to strength... Read More |
Germany | Pfalz | |
DB4110-17 Sustainable |
Pinot Noir Rosé Kabinett Trocken 2017 |
Pinot Noir SOLD OUT. 100% Pinot Noir grown organically in limestone, 100% press juice vinified in 2500L double stuck casks with a short soak... Read More |
Germany | Pfalz | |
![]() DB1151-14 |
Pinot Noir Kabinett Trocken 2014 |
Pinot Noir The hard facts from the winery: "The grapes are mainly from our Spätburgunder vineyard in Bad Dürkheim (but also from Steinacker... Read More |
Germany | Pfalz | |
![]() DB1038-15 |
Riesling Spätlese Trocken Saumagen 2015 |
Riesling Magnificent wine, one of the top dry Spatlesen of 2015. Not necessarily bigger than the Kabinett from that year, but clearly firmer, more... Read More |
Germany | Pfalz | |
![]() DB8414-16 |
Riesling Kabinett Trocken Saumagen 2016 |
Riesling The Saumagen is the estate’s crown jewel: 4 hectares of chalky marl and limestone in the shape of a saumagen, the specialty... Read More |
Germany | Pfalz |