Adams Wein

Brand new to the UK, we are delighted to introduce Adams Wein, a ten hectare estate in the lesser known Ingelheim sub-region of the Rheinhessen. Located just across the Rhine immediately south of the Rheingau, the northern part of the Mainz Basin is all weathered limestone, and this forms the basis for the Adams Wein terroir. Charlemagne is said to have brought Pinot Noir to the area 1100 years ago and it is with this grape that Dr. Simone Adams is making her name. Shooting for a hands-off winemaking style, Simone works with a high proportion of whole clusters, wild yeasts and German clones from her own massale selections. In her words, “I always want the wines to have a herbaceous nerve – it’s what makes us distinctive.” We loved what we tasted here on our first visit, and snapped them up immediately. This is authentic German Spätburgunder with present structure and a spine of tingling acidity throughout. The Ingelheim village Spätburgunder sees around 30% whole bunch and the single vineyards, which are all west facing, near 100%. Aging is carried out in a mix of oak formats for the entry level and barrique for the single vineyards, with minimal new oak. The Chardonnay, which comes from the coolest parcel the estate owns, is aged for a year in oak, 20% new, and is assembled in tank for a further four months before bottling. Enticing, characterful reds and whites made by a young team – a bright future lies ahead.

2022 Pinot Noir & 2021 Chardonnay: Preferring to give the wines extra time in bottle, we now offer the 2022 Chardonnay and 2021 Pinot Noirs, which surely rank as the most elegant, even-keeled vintage Simone has made to date. The results belie the hard work that went in to 2021; a cool year saved by a warm harvest in which selections (with tweezers!) were required to ensure only the healthiest grapes made it into the cellar. 2022 by contrast was broadly hot but otherwise easy to manage, resulting in “a vintage of texture and strength, though more sensorially than on alcohol, which remain at the same level as in 2021.” Accompanying the Lohpfad Chardonnay this year is the Auf dem Haun as a single vineyard Chardonnay for the first time – both are mineral-driven, contoured whites of great character and class. Adams is a very exciting discovery for us, producing wines in a clearly individual, high-toned style – bewitching in profile with a mineral, herb-laced drive.