“You will always get one of the world's finest red or white wines from one of the most charismatic couples on planet wine. “ - Stephan Reinhardt
 
There is one name in Switzerland which has long been familiar to wine collectors – Gantenbein. The winery was founded by Martha and Daniel Gantenbein in which they started to plant vines from the land of Martha’s father in 1980. And nowadays, they still manage everything by themselves. There are only a tiny 6 hectares of vineyards, located in the village of Fläsch in the Bündner Herrschaft which is 500 meters above sea level on the slopes. Martha and Daniel started with only two grapes – Pinot Noir and Chardonnay and later also started to plant and produce Riesling. Production is extremely low; most of these are consumed in Switzerland or distributed to restaurants and distributors. That makes Gantenbein a familiar name across the world but also one of the most difficult wines to source.
 
Arriving next week, we have four selections from Weingut Gantenbein. With massive scores from Wine Advocate's Stephan Reinhardt, all comes highly recommended

Weingut Gantenbein Chardonnay 2021
HK$2,380 per bottle, 12 bottles available
96pts Stephan Reinhardt
The 2021 Chardonnay is deep, pure, clear and fresh on the nose that is as slatey as chalky as well as floral and reveals a fine concentration of ripe fruits. Full-bodied, intense and elegant on the palate, this is a pure yet rich, concentrated, enormously saline and finely tannic Chardonnay with a long, intense and complex finish. A great wine that already drinks with great pleasure but can also hold for about two decades. 13.5% stated alcohol. Natural cork. 

Weingut Gantenbein Chardonnay 2020
HK$2,380 per bottle, 6 bottles available
96+pts Stephan Reinhardt
Bottled in early March this year, the 2020 Chardonnay is pure and fresh on the stony, very intense and concentrated nose. Still very young, fruity and aromatic, the 2020 intermingles lemon and mirabelle aromas with sur lie and vanilla notes. Silky, enormously salty and pure on the palate yet also with body and intensity, this is a rich and tightly structured, not massive but enormously complex and promising Chardonnay that might tun out as one of the finest. 

Weingut Gantenbein Pinot Noir 2020
HK$1,980 per bottle, 6 bottles available
96+pts Stephan Reinhardt

Bottled in early March, the 2020 Pinot Noir is pure, precise and intense on the more classic, coolish and noble nose that shows a spellbinding purity, intensity and balance. Absolutely marvelous. Full-bodied, round and intense on the palate, this is a generously juicy, ripe yet fine and concentrated, also refreshingly salty and crystalline Pinot with a tight, sustainable structure and an enormously long and intense finish. This is a highlight of the Gantenbein Saga. 

Weingut Gantenbein Pinot Noir 2019
HK$1,980 per bottle, 6 bottles available
95+pts Stephan Reinhardt
Pure, fresh and reductive on the nose, with red berry and fresh lemon aromas intertwined with flinty and spicy notes, the 2019 Pinot Noir is a full-boded, pure, refined and intense, generously juicy and sustainable Pinot with very fine tannins and very delicate mineral acidity. The finish is very intense, sweet and sustainably salty. This vintage pairs the generosity of 2018 or 2012 with the tensioned, crystalline purity and finesse of 2016 and 2014. Impressive, especially in this context (2012–2020). 

Subject to final confirmation. ETA 1 week.