Celebrating Le Manoir’s 40th Birthday

The WineBarn team would like to wish our friends (pictured above left to right) - Head Sommelier Charles Alford, Food & Beverage Manager Lukas Hyner and Head of Wine Louis Wilde - at Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons a very happy birthday, as the Belmond Hotel and double Michelin-starred restaurant, celebrates its 40th year. 

Based in the heart of the Oxfordshire countryside, this quintessentially English haven focuses on seasonality, sustainability and sourcing locally, proudly embodying the ‘garden to table' ethos of its chef-patron, Raymond Blanc. Le Manoir offers gastronomic excellence, with dishes prepared using only the finest ingredients grown in their grounds. This ethos has also won the restaurant its Michelin Green Star - an annual distinction which highlights restaurants at the forefront of sustainable practices and environmental standards.

Having supplied the restaurant with fine German wines for over 22 years, we were pleased to send them two special 1984 vintage bottles to mark the year it was founded, including Bassermann-Jordan's 1984 Forster Jesuitengarten Riesling Kabinett and Schloss Reinhartshausen 1984 Schlossberg Eiswein. 

Bassermann-Jordan, are an organic wine producer based in the Pfalz region. The estate dates back over 300 years and covers around 49 hectares with more than 20 different vineyard sites. Jesuitengarten, where the grapes which produced this Riesling Kabinett were grown, is one of Bassermann-Jordan’s top vineyards. The site was originally owned by the Jesuit monastery, hence the name. It has sandy loam soil rich in clay, as well as basalt and limestone rock. This Kabinett is made from fully ripened, hand picked Riesling grapes which gives the wine its intoxicating yet subtle residual sweetness. It also provides excellent aging potential.

Schloss Reinhartshausen
1984 Schlossberg Eiswein

Schloss Reinhartshausen have been producing legendary Rieslings since 1337 at one of the world‘s oldest winegrowing estates. Based in the Rheingau region, it spans 64 hectares and includes Mariannenaue - an island on the Rhine River and a designated European Nature Reserve. Schloss Reinhartshausen’s Eiswein, otherwise known as ice wine, was produced from grapes that were harvested at temperatures of -7°C or below. The frosty conditions freeze the water content of the grape, which remains in the wine press whilst the juice drips into vats, giving this wine its dense concentration of sweet grape extract. 

Despite its large amount of residual sugar, this amber coloured Eiswein has the steely acidity of a Schlossberg Riesling. It has fine, mild ripe aromas of green and citrus fruits, with sweet and appetising honey notes.

Both wines are part of our rare wine collection.