After returning from a very inspirational trip to visit Melanie & Michael last week, it's a pleasure to be able to release new cuvees from 2Naturkinder.
Recovering from the twin-blows of vintages '20 and '21 (with yields nearly entirely destroyed by late frosts and downy mildew respectively) 2022 saw the fates finally turn in Kitzingen, and with the 2023 harvest on the horizon, it's fair to say optimism is on the cards at 2Naturkinder. The energy was contagious.
Despite the difficulties at the turn of the decade, watching Melanie, Michael and their wine's progression is thrilling. Singing the praises of Silvaner has long been the order of the day here, but a deep interest in traditional co-planted and co-fermented field blends has been an exciting development. More on those next year...
Having worked no-till since 2016, and experimenting with biodynamic treatments in 2021, Michael's organic approach is becoming yet more holistic and attentive, now swapping biodynamic preps for compost teas and "Effective Microorganisms" (EM encourage a healthy rot in the cover crops, rather than mowing) - dramatically increasing soil health and diversity. The mycorrhiza he enthusiastically showed us as he dug his hands into the earth of one vineyard is particularly encouraging: "My soil guy was very excited. He took lots of pictures".
To stand in the vines with Michael is to briefly gain just a glimmer of his fathoms-deep understanding of his viticulture. Here is where the real work is done, a long game staked out over months and years, playing a profound role in the final wines.
Fans of the wines will be pleased to hear that despite a difficult vintage, these new releases from are a dazzling example of why we love Melanie & Michael's work.
Propellant, invigorating and pure: the latest wines from 2020 and 2021 are an affecting collection that bear the hard-won marks of a family and team farming with the utmost care, working in close collaboration both with one another and nature, with a masterful team effort in assembling the final bottles from a dizzying array of tanks and barrels collected over the vintage.
With the upcoming 2023 vintage marking their first decade as 2NK, change is afoot in the line-up. This tranche sees us bid farewell to a couple of old friends, as they make space for the introduction of the first field blend next year.
Released mostly from years with greatly diminished yields, some of these wines are available in very small quantities.
AVAILABLE NOW
SPARKLING
NEW 2021 - Silvaner Pet Nat - Silvaner A triumphant return after the frost-destroyed 2020!
WHITE / SKINS
NEW 2021 - Fledermaus Weiss - Muller Thurgau, Silvaner, Riesling
The swansong of the white Fledermaus. Alive with acidity.
NEW 2021 - Drei Freunde - Silvaner, Bacchus, Muller-Thurgau
Bacchus leads the blend again after back-seat-driving the '20. Bright and aromatic.
NEW 2020 - Kleine Heimat Silvaner - Silvaner
One of the few vineyards to survive the 2020 frost. Incredibly pretty, stony expression.
NEW 2020 - Weinschwärmer - Pinot Gris, Riesling
Frost destroyed this parcel's first bud break, but secondary bud break yielded enough fruit to produce a tiny amount of this beloved varietal blend.
NEW 2019 - Wilde Heimat - Silvaner
The final ever vintage of Wilde Heimat! Grown in Iphofen on keuper soils (beside Andi Weigand's vines) Super-sunny, steep plot.
ROSE
NEW 2021 - Black Betty - Domina, Regent
Frost necessitated the new Domina/Regent Betty blend in 2020 and they liked it so much they decided to repeat the trick this year. Juicy.
RED
NEW 2021 - Fledermaus Rot - Pinot Meunier
Bat-fans rest easy, the Fledermaus red will continue, unlike the white. Crystalline, detailed and precise.
