Summary
Weingut Jakob Jung in Erbach is one of those Rheingau family estates that deliver consistently high quality without any grand gestures. The estate has been in family hands since 1799; today it is run by Alexander Jung, who has steered it firmly towards dry, precise Rieslings and finely drawn Spätburgunder. On around 20 hectares on the south-facing slopes between the Taunus and the Rhine, the estate makes wines that stand for the modern Rheingau: clear, mineral in character and easy to drink. It has been a member of the VDP since 1997.
History
The roots of the estate go back to 1799. Back then the business in the old centre of Erbach was a classic mixed farm on which viticulture was only one branch among several – entirely normal for the Rheingau of the 18th and 19th centuries. Over the generations the emphasis shifted further and further towards wine, until the business became a pure wine estate.
An important step was joining the VDP in 1997, which made the house's quality ambitions visible to the outside world. The decisive stylistic turn came with Alexander Jung, who has run the estate since the late 2000s. He has aimed the Rieslings clearly at dryness, precision and site character, has markedly raised the profile of Spätburgunder and has thereby given the estate a recognisable style of its own. The historic rock cellar beneath the property, around 250 years old and some 110 metres long, is still in use today.
Location & Terroir
Erbach lies directly on the northern bank of the Rhine, at one of the classic spots of the Rheingau. The slopes face south towards the river, while the Taunus shields them from cold north winds at their back. The broad river acts as a heat store and reflects light – the combination of shelter, sun and water is why Riesling became the leading variety here over the centuries.
In terms of soil, deep loess loam shapes the Erbach sites; the Siegelsberg additionally has portions of Rhine slate in the topsoil, which give the wines minerality and drive. The Hohenrain sits on deep loess loam and marl and tends to produce fuller, broad-shouldered Rieslings. These differences between two neighbouring sites are easy to follow in the range and are one of the estate's attractions.
Style & Philosophy
Alexander Jung likes to describe his aim as complexity without complication: the wines should have depth but remain drinkable. In the vineyard that means permanent cover crops, no herbicides and plant protection reduced to what is necessary; in the cellar it means restrained ageing that does not mask the origin.
The Rieslings mature mostly in stainless steel on the fine lees – this preserves freshness and fruit and lets the soil differences show through. Spätburgunder and Chardonnay, by contrast, are aged in large wooden casks and in barrique respectively, with the emphasis on finesse rather than power. The range is rounded out by noble sweet specialities, which have a long tradition in the Rheingau.
Notable Sites & Wines
The range follows the VDP pyramid from estate wine through village wine to Großes Gewächs. The estate's most important sites are:
- Erbacher Siegelsberg – VDP.Große Lage, loess loam with slate portions; the basis of one of the two Große Gewächse
- Erbacher Hohenrain – VDP.Große Lage on deep loess loam and marl; alongside the Großes Gewächs it also yields noble sweet rarities
- Erbacher Steinmorgen – VDP.Erste Lage
- Erbacher Michelmark – VDP.Erste Lage
Added to these are the estate and village wines, which make the house style accessible at a very fair price, as well as the Spätburgunder, which now count among the estate's flagships.
Awards
The leading German wine guides have listed Jakob Jung consistently in the upper field of the Rheingau for years. Gault&Millau credits the estate with steady upward development and a winning, authentic presence, while Eichelmann highlights the independent style with its juicy, polished expression and full finish. The estate also regularly collects medals at international competitions. All in all, Jakob Jung is regarded as one of the most reliable addresses for dry Riesling in Erbach – well enough known among connoisseurs, yet still an insider tip compared with the big names of the region.