Immich-Batterieberg works four vineyards on extremely steep slopes, all of which were included in the highest class in the Prussian Vineyard Classification of 1868 (based on Napoleon's Classification des Vines from 1804). Ellergrub, Zweppwigert, and Batterieberg are to be found in a particularly quartzite-rich slate formation, the so-called "Starkenburg Slope", located between Trarbach and Enkirch. More iron-rich is Steffensberg, which possesses one of the oldest kinds of vineyard demarcation - a pure south-facing slope behind the village of Enkirch itself.
Just as important to us as the inherent quality of the vineyards is the available grape material. We are delighted to have a very large portion of old, ungrafted vines, from which, because of their genetic diversity and their naturally low yields, the highly differentiated, deep, and site-typical Rieslings that we want can come into being
'From 80-year-old, ungrafted vines on gray slate with quartzite soils in the upper terraces of the cru, the 2017 Enkircher Batterieberg Riesling offers a super clear, fine, elegant, crystalline and deep bouquet with the open heart of a Condrieu. The nose is fabulously aromatic, intense, seamless and textured! Lush and round on the highly refined and elegant palate, the wine offers very fine tannins, lingering mineral freshness and crunchy salinity. This is a beautiful Riesling that did not ferment fully dry, stopping at 10.7 grams per liter of residual sugar. Gernot Kollmann wishes the wine would have fermented to fully dry, but as always, he didn't force it. However, the wine is beautifully ripe, lush and also balanced and will integrate its charming sweetness over the years. The sugar doesn't take anything away from the precision and terroir expression and will help the wine to age beautifully over at least a decade. I very much recommend this beauty. Tasted in March 2019.'