1900 Scharzhofberger C.F. Eccardt Kreuznach Rheinland Riesling
Unique Bottle
Kreuznach Rhineland is a town and region in western Germany and C F Eccardt is the founder of a monastic winery in that town, dating back to the 19th century.
I found mention of this winery being the largest US exporters in a 1901 Congressional Consular Report on “Commerce, Manufacturers, etc“, which suggested that Americans go visit this winery as well as others in the Kreuznach section of the Rhineland in Germany. I also found mention of an 1886 wine from this winemaker on the September 22, 1892 menu from the Union Square Hotel in NYC, under “Rhine Wines“ and included their own notation of “WARRANTED VERY FINE“. The Union Square Hotel, now the W Hotel NYC, sported quite a fine restaurant with a very varied and extensive menu and wine list. It was a hot spot of Old NYC.
Scharzhofberger refers to the Vineyard of Scharzhofberg, the most famous vineyard of the Saar and is an Ortsteil, meaning it is referred to solely by the vineyard name, without appending the name of the village where it is located. Thus wines from this site are labeled simply Scharzhofberg, rather than Wiltingen Scharzhofberg, in much the same style as Grand Cru Burgundy.
This region is famous for Riesling grapes and exceptional sweet wines. The exact designation of this particular Riesling wine, such as trockenbeerenauslese, remains unknown.
Other listings on the label are:
“Hoflieferant” meaning “purveyor”
“gesetzlich geschützt” meaning “proprietary and protected by law“.
On the left side of the label, it reads “Dieser Wein ist abgefüllt and abgelagert auf Flaschen in der Kloster-Kellerei Kreuznach”, which translates as “This wine is bottled and deposited on bottles in the monastery cellars, Kreuznach.” (which is on the right side of the label, though it reads “Kloster-Kellerei Kreuznach instead of monastery cellars, Kreuznach).
To my knowledge and exhaustive research, this is a unique bottle—the only surviving specimen of this fine wine. It is a very valuable antique to say the least and could be a unique and treasured drinking experience as well to those that can afford the finest and rarest pleasures. 1900 Ch. D’Yquem’s typically sell for $5000-$6000 plus the vig at public auction with similar mid shoulder fill levels, and numerous examples of those exist.
I acquired it many years back via Ebay (back when they allowed wine to be sold by private individuals) from a private collection that was inherited. It was stored impeccably, as it has continued to be. I fancied opening it at one of my daughter’s weddings.
I found mention of this winery being the largest US exporters in a 1901 Congressional Consular Report on “Commerce, Manufacturers, etc“, which suggested that Americans go visit this winery as well as others in the Kreuznach section of the Rhineland in Germany. I also found mention of an 1886 wine from this winemaker on the September 22, 1892 menu from the Union Square Hotel in NYC, under “Rhine Wines“ and included their own notation of “WARRANTED VERY FINE“. The Union Square Hotel, now the W Hotel NYC, sported quite a fine restaurant with a very varied and extensive menu and wine list. It was a hot spot of Old NYC.
Scharzhofberger refers to the Vineyard of Scharzhofberg, the most famous vineyard of the Saar and is an Ortsteil, meaning it is referred to solely by the vineyard name, without appending the name of the village where it is located. Thus wines from this site are labeled simply Scharzhofberg, rather than Wiltingen Scharzhofberg, in much the same style as Grand Cru Burgundy.
This region is famous for Riesling grapes and exceptional sweet wines. The exact designation of this particular Riesling wine, such as trockenbeerenauslese, remains unknown.
Other listings on the label are:
“Hoflieferant” meaning “purveyor”
“gesetzlich geschützt” meaning “proprietary and protected by law“.
On the left side of the label, it reads “Dieser Wein ist abgefüllt and abgelagert auf Flaschen in der Kloster-Kellerei Kreuznach”, which translates as “This wine is bottled and deposited on bottles in the monastery cellars, Kreuznach.” (which is on the right side of the label, though it reads “Kloster-Kellerei Kreuznach instead of monastery cellars, Kreuznach).
To my knowledge and exhaustive research, this is a unique bottle—the only surviving specimen of this fine wine. It is a very valuable antique to say the least and could be a unique and treasured drinking experience as well to those that can afford the finest and rarest pleasures. 1900 Ch. D’Yquem’s typically sell for $5000-$6000 plus the vig at public auction with similar mid shoulder fill levels, and numerous examples of those exist.
I acquired it many years back via Ebay (back when they allowed wine to be sold by private individuals) from a private collection that was inherited. It was stored impeccably, as it has continued to be. I fancied opening it at one of my daughter’s weddings.
$5000 O.B.O.