| The Wines of Germany The Pinnacle of Riesling Spätlese, Auslese, Beerenauslese, Trockenbeerenauslese, Eiswein |
Rüdesheimer Apostelwein 1727
This label likely dates from the 1950-60's, which is when these
particular bottles would have been drawn off.
Click on the images to see enlarged versions.
Please email us for pricing and ordering details.
This label likely dates from the 1950-60's, which is when these
particular bottles would have been drawn off.
Click on the images to see enlarged versions.
Please email us for pricing and ordering details.
The story of this wine is briefly as follows: The city of Bremen owns the famous Ratskeller or town hall,
underneath which is a legendary cellar known as the Schatzkammer (treasury cellar). In here are 12 very large
elaborately carved casks of wine dating from the 17th and 18th century, named after the 12 Apostles. The oldest
dates from 1653, but the wine is no longer drinkable. The most famous is the Judas cask, containing Rudesheim
wine of the 1727 vintage, by repute the greatest vintage of the 18th century. Wine from this cask has never been
sold, but periodically very small quantities have been bottled as civic gifts from the Bremen municipality to
important dignitaries, visiting heads of state, royalty etc. When any wine has been drawn off like this, the cask
(about 3000 litres + in capacity) has been topped up with young Rudesheim wine of the finest quality. In this way
the barrel has been refreshed, as the old wine feeds on the sugars in the younger one. But only a handful of half
bottles have ever been drawn off at one time, and so this top-up wine only constitutes a tiny percentage of the
overall volume, the vast bulk of which is still the original 1727.
This is, quite simply, the oldest drinkable wine in existence.
Here are Michael Broadbent's notes on this wine:
This wine comes from a large cask in the famous ’12 apostles’ cellar beneath the Town Hall or Ratskeller in
Bremen. The first time this appeared in a Christie’s wine catalogue was in 1829 when it sold for 5 pounds per
dozen, a high price at the time. An occasional half bottle has appeared at auction since that date, mainly over the
past 30 years. The wine is drawn from the mother cask which is then topped up with a young Rudesheimer of
appropriate quality. In this way the large volume of the old wine is kept refreshed. I first tasted the 1727 at Schloss
Vollrads in 1973 at a tasting of wines of the world to celebrate Count Matushka’s 80th birthday. Another
memorable occasion took place at a dinner in Sydney on the evening of my first visit to Australia in February
1977. By way of welcome, my host, the irrepressible Len Evans had invited the Prime Minister and a group of the
best ‘palates’. Among other fine and rare wines was this 250 year old Hock. Just as it was about to be served,
there was a shattering crash followed by an agonized Australian voice ‘Gee Len, sorry we’ll just have to have the
1928’! (The ‘waiter’ Anders Ousbach, who had dropped a handful of spoons, was a wine expert and opera singer
known for his practical jokes).
On my second visit to Bremen in 1981, I was able to taste the wine from the cask. It had an amber straw colour,
the smell of old apples and a nutty appley taste. Dry, good length. High acidity. More recently, from a half bottle
‘Réserve du Bremer Ratskeller’: it was paler than I had previously noted, Secial Madeira-like colour, bouquet also
reminded me of an old Madeira, then more like a raya sherry. After 2 hours in the glass a smell of rich old stables
and an hour after that, an amazing pungency lingered in the empty glass. On the palate medium-dry, lightish
weight, a soft, gentler, slightly toasted old straw flavor, tolerable acidity,and clean finish. *****
underneath which is a legendary cellar known as the Schatzkammer (treasury cellar). In here are 12 very large
elaborately carved casks of wine dating from the 17th and 18th century, named after the 12 Apostles. The oldest
dates from 1653, but the wine is no longer drinkable. The most famous is the Judas cask, containing Rudesheim
wine of the 1727 vintage, by repute the greatest vintage of the 18th century. Wine from this cask has never been
sold, but periodically very small quantities have been bottled as civic gifts from the Bremen municipality to
important dignitaries, visiting heads of state, royalty etc. When any wine has been drawn off like this, the cask
(about 3000 litres + in capacity) has been topped up with young Rudesheim wine of the finest quality. In this way
the barrel has been refreshed, as the old wine feeds on the sugars in the younger one. But only a handful of half
bottles have ever been drawn off at one time, and so this top-up wine only constitutes a tiny percentage of the
overall volume, the vast bulk of which is still the original 1727.
This is, quite simply, the oldest drinkable wine in existence.
Here are Michael Broadbent's notes on this wine:
This wine comes from a large cask in the famous ’12 apostles’ cellar beneath the Town Hall or Ratskeller in
Bremen. The first time this appeared in a Christie’s wine catalogue was in 1829 when it sold for 5 pounds per
dozen, a high price at the time. An occasional half bottle has appeared at auction since that date, mainly over the
past 30 years. The wine is drawn from the mother cask which is then topped up with a young Rudesheimer of
appropriate quality. In this way the large volume of the old wine is kept refreshed. I first tasted the 1727 at Schloss
Vollrads in 1973 at a tasting of wines of the world to celebrate Count Matushka’s 80th birthday. Another
memorable occasion took place at a dinner in Sydney on the evening of my first visit to Australia in February
1977. By way of welcome, my host, the irrepressible Len Evans had invited the Prime Minister and a group of the
best ‘palates’. Among other fine and rare wines was this 250 year old Hock. Just as it was about to be served,
there was a shattering crash followed by an agonized Australian voice ‘Gee Len, sorry we’ll just have to have the
1928’! (The ‘waiter’ Anders Ousbach, who had dropped a handful of spoons, was a wine expert and opera singer
known for his practical jokes).
On my second visit to Bremen in 1981, I was able to taste the wine from the cask. It had an amber straw colour,
the smell of old apples and a nutty appley taste. Dry, good length. High acidity. More recently, from a half bottle
‘Réserve du Bremer Ratskeller’: it was paler than I had previously noted, Secial Madeira-like colour, bouquet also
reminded me of an old Madeira, then more like a raya sherry. After 2 hours in the glass a smell of rich old stables
and an hour after that, an amazing pungency lingered in the empty glass. On the palate medium-dry, lightish
weight, a soft, gentler, slightly toasted old straw flavor, tolerable acidity,and clean finish. *****
Rüdesheimer Apostelwein 1727
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Kiedricher Gräfenberg Riesling
Trockenbeerenauslese 1959
Excellent levels. One of the
vintages of the century.
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enlarged version.
If you're interested in
purchasing this or other fine
early German wines, please
email us for pricing and
ordering details.
Trockenbeerenauslese 1959
Excellent levels. One of the
vintages of the century.
Click on the image to see an
enlarged version.
If you're interested in
purchasing this or other fine
early German wines, please
email us for pricing and
ordering details.
Schloss Schonburg Erbacher Marcobrunn Riesling Trockenbeerenauslese 1976
Some corrosion on capsules, but superb levels. Great vintage.
If you're interested in purchasing this or other fine early German wines, please email us for details.
Some corrosion on capsules, but superb levels. Great vintage.
If you're interested in purchasing this or other fine early German wines, please email us for details.
| Niersteiner Heiligenbaum TBA 1937 Click on the image to see enlarged versions. To purchase this or other fine early German wines, please email us for pricing details. |