Summary
Weingut Franzen in Bremm is inseparable from the Bremmer Calmont – a slate slope on the Mosel that is considered one of the steepest vineyards in Europe. On around 10 hectares, Kilian and Angelina Franzen grow mainly Riesling, complemented by Elbling, Pinot Blanc and Frühburgunder. What began as the life's work of Kilian's father Ulrich, who reclaimed abandoned steep-slope plots, is today one of the most exciting estates on the terraced Mosel.
History
The Franzen family has grown vines in Bremm for generations. The key figure behind today's profile was Ulrich Franzen, who from 1999 began buying up abandoned plots in the Calmont, restoring the old terraces and replanting them – work that, in such terrain, takes enormous effort.
In 2010 Ulrich Franzen died in an accident. His son Kilian Franzen took over the estate at a very young age together with Angelina, now his wife, and consistently carried on his father's work. The two expanded their Calmont holdings piece by piece and sharpened the profile of the wines. In 2018 Falstaff named them Newcomers of the Year.
Location & Terroir
Bremm lies on the terraced Mosel, the lower stretch of the region between Zell and Koblenz, where the river makes a striking loop. Above the village rises the Calmont: a south-facing steep slope of slate, where the vines stand on narrow terraces held up by dry-stone walls.
The steepness has consequences: machines can hardly be used, and almost every task is done by hand. In return, the dark slate stores heat, the sun strikes the slopes at a steep angle, and the vines root deep in the barren rock. The result is Rieslings with ripeness, power and a pronounced spicy-mineral character. A well-known via ferrata also crosses the Calmont, letting visitors experience this extreme site first-hand.
Style & Philosophy
Kilian and Angelina Franzen focus on working as gently as possible in vineyard and cellar. Grapes are picked by hand; the cellar uses stainless steel and traditional wooden casks, and many wines are allowed to mature on their lees for a long time. At the centre is dry Riesling from the Calmont, alongside off-dry and fruity-sweet wines in the classic Mosel style.
Notable is their care for Elbling, an old Mosel variety that yields fresh, lively wines here. Pinot Blanc and Frühburgunder round out the range and show that the terraced Mosel can do more than Riesling.
Notable Sites & Wines
- Bremmer Calmont Riesling trocken – the estate's flagship, powerful and mineral
- Calmont Rieslings in fruity-sweet Prädikat levels
- Elbling – fresh and uncomplicated, a piece of Mosel tradition
- Pinot Blanc and Frühburgunder as a complement to Riesling
Awards
Besides being named Falstaff Newcomers of the Year 2018, the estate regularly receives good ratings in German wine guides such as Eichelmann. Internationally, the Calmont Riesling made headlines too: in blind tastings by the US magazine Wine & Spirits, the 2019 Calmont Riesling earned the top score of the Mosel tasting.
