"I want to focus here on Chardonnay from Germany. I’ve had some bottles over the last couple of years that have been so good that I’ve become a believer."
- Eric Asimov, New York Times, February 27th, 2025
It's certainly possible, after Asimov's glowing article on German Chardonnay just a few days ago, that the German Chardonnay revolution won't be so quiet?
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The truth is that the last five years have seen the stunning development of a more delicate Chardonnay that speaks to the cool-climate reality of Germany.
As Asimov wrote about his recent tasting: "The wines were not merely good, they were distinctive."
Today we offer an unquestionably distinctive German Chardonnay; a single-vineyard, Grand Cru Chardonnay from one of the coolest sites in the Rheinhessen, the Steingrube.
To give you some sense of the quality of this vineyard, we should note that this upcoming year, we will see the release of one other Chardonnay from the Steingrube vineyard... from Keller.
Seehof's version will likely be a bit less expensive and a bit more available. At as low as $31.95, Seehof's 2023 Chardonnay Steingrube "R" not only showcases the mineral-laden vigor of German Chardonnay, but it is unquestionably one of the greatest values in the category.
The magic in the best German Chardonnays, like Seehof's, is the balance.
Even from cooler sites like the limestone-riddled Steingrube, in warmer vintages like 2023, ripeness is possible. The wines can have a textural fullness, and a satiny amplitude, yet the energy and a polished yet forceful acidity pulls the wines into a leaner, tauter form.
It's the acidity that makes the Seehof Steingrube "R" feel finer, more nimble, more cooling, and refreshing. In other words, more German? Florian Fauth, the humble yet determined winemaker at Seehof, makes wines that rarely shout or beg for attention: They simply deliver.
For the white Burgundy fanatic, the Chardonnay lover, taste for yourself.
The biggest problem will likely be the very high quality and the very low pricing. Normally these sorts of offers don't last long.
To order, email offers@crushwineco.com or call the store at (212) 980-9463.
Joe Salamone
Wine Buyer
Crush Wine & Spirits
