Another data point for the Wasenhaus Kalk from lunch today. Light raspberries with a bit of stem spiciness. I love the elegance here. A bit tight but drinking well over the course of lunch. Defiantly a good contender to open while the other cuvees lay down to rest.
7 Likes
2018 Josef Walter HundsrĂŒck SpĂ€tburgunder âJâ tonight - brief notes - âDamn good Pinot, yes, quite Burgundian, will be better in a few yearsâŠâ : ) I think that sums it up!
7 Likes
2022 Franzen Neefer Frauenberg - This was really lovely. Bright berries, the fruitier side of Pinot Noir at the moment. It has a hint of sweetness but not from residual sugar, guessing it might be from the barrels. You could tell that raw materials in the wine are very good. I do wonder if this vineyard was managed by someone who only did Pinot what could be done with the fruit. This domain, like most in the Mosel, clearly focuses on Riesling. Overall a very nice wine but I feel it could be a great wine. A very good value for 28 Euros.
This is the vineyard:
7 Likes
Friday evening is a great time for good food and drinking SpÀtburgunder. Had a little Pinot round with two friends and opened some bottles blind. Some notes:
Reinhold und Cornelia Schneider: SpÀtbugunder Parzelle Schönenberg 2014, 13%
(very oldschool producers who couldnât give two flying f*cks about recent trends in the world of SpĂ€tburgunder. The absolut antithesis of Lassak, Roter Faden or Baltes. But they know what they want to do and do it stubbornly and slowly. E.g. the current entry level release is 2020.)
Clearly mature Pinot, slowly but surely turning brick-colored. On the nose, initially gravy and meat juice. Only with a little air also cherry. With a few hours the wine becomes increasingly more fruit forward and shines bright. Somewhat rustic tannins, but fitting the overall impression. Iron and cherry flavors, complex and mature, but not very long. A good wine from a difficult vintage. (29,- âŹ/89 P)
Schlossgut Ebringen: Ebringer Biegarten 2019, 13%
(Inspired by a recent blind tasting of top Pinots by vintners and ITB people from Baden where the wines of Schlossgut Ebringen absolutly outshined much more famous wines.)
Presenting very light in the glas. Initially quite closed nose. Then opens up and shows a classic and very elegant nose. Still âgermanâ in style but much more Burgundian than expected. Red fruit, sour cherry, herbs. Silky in the mouth, very elegant and carried by a present acidity. Very fine tannins. A wine that strives for elegance and finds it that evening. Great!
(Addendum from the following day: the wine finds itself in a difficult spot. It seems steely and slightly drying) (25,- âŹ/91 P)
Weingut Rings: Kallstadter Steinacker 2019, 13%
(One of two âErste Lageâ SpĂ€tburgunders of the well known producers from the Pfalz. 2019 was an exeptional year for SpĂ€tburgunder in Germany and for Rings especially.)
Presenting still quite young and pretty dark in the glass.
The nose is characterized by a clear reduction, which presents itself as sesame. Absolutely typical for Rings and very stimulating. Sesame oil, plus a beautiful SpÀtburgunder nose.
The flavors come together beautifully. The good vintage is evident in the extract, which carries the wine playfully. Still very nice on day two. Great potential! (28,- ⏠(current vintage 50,- âŹ)/92 P)
7 Likes
Thanks for the great notes.
1 Like
Steinmetz, special cuvĂ©e for Rieslinghaus in Bernkastel. âŹ12.50 retail.
Very light indeed yet 14%. Earthy, a little rough tannin but just a little. Cherry and strawberry. Not refined but fun.
5 Likes
That is a nice way to describe his entry level Pinots.
Totally different, 2021 2% lighter in alcohol. Lighter berries. Fresher and herbal. I think I prefer it. âŹ14
2 Likes
Have you had a chance to try the Pinot meunier? I have a bottle coming that a picked up out of curiosity but I havenât tried it yet.
Sorry, nope.
2022 FĂŒrst âTraditionâ SpĂ€tburgunder
Prime quality for 17,50âŹ. I exaggerate a little bit, but 15-20 years ago this entry-level SpĂ€tburgunder would have been considered a Top SpĂ€tburgunder in Germany.
Thanks to climate change, winemakers skill, new vineyards, âUmveredelungâ etc. we taste a SpĂ€tburgunder quality by the vintage 2022 we only dreamed and hoped 15-20 years ago. Famous quote by the grandfather of KP Keller, â* âBuub - dess werd doch ned reif.ââ.âŠâBoy, it won`t be ripeâ*, when KP made a âUmveredelungâ (Sylvaner to Pinot) in the Morstein vineyard in 2011.
As always with the SpĂ€tburgunder by FĂŒrst it is all about finesse&elegance, careful use of oak and a sublime red fruit. I havenât tasted the Top SpĂ€tburgunder 2022 by FĂŒrst so far, but I assume they must be brilliant.
Finally, as a Sommelier I would serve this SpĂ€tburgunder by glass in my restaurant. Guests need to be educated and/or pushed in the right direction sometimes, isnât it?! 
BestBUY
9 Likes
P.S.
92/100 by Stuart Pigott/J. Suckling
1 Like
I thought it was a good wine? 
2 Likes
This was firing on all cylinders right away, concerningly high evaporation factor.
Slightly reductive but firing from the go (PnP). Red and dark berries, spices, great intensity and freshness and nerve. Youâd never guess itâs a 11 year old wine. Despite its light flowing juice thereâs an ample amount of tannic structure. Just delicious and serious at the same time with a long and salivating finish.
5 Likes
Had the '20 at a wine bar in Salzburg last year. Was equally impressed. Good wine.
1 Like
Uups, touchĂ©âŠâŠ
YES, this P.S. was not necessary. On the other hand we all had a good laugh about scores.
I donât think Stuart knows how to rate Red wines! I also donât think I have ever seen a 92 or lower rating from him!
1 Like
I drank several SpÀtburgunder from 2012&2013 in the last weeks and months and they were all charming. BUT the huge quality jump by the vintage 2022 is really stunning in comparison.
Think we done this sometime before and I always get a good laugh when I think about, so thanks bringing out a smile and good laugh in addition to the nice note about the wine Martin!
1 Like
I recall both you and Robert mentioning it, and I donât doubt that you guys correct about it. Not only the vintage (which surely will help), but that together with the leaps in experience and focus.
Despite trying to keep my purchases down for a cellar reduction, I wonât be able to resist purchasing a bottles here and there of Spatburgunder for the 2022 vintage! I might âblameâ both of you for it in the cellar reduction thread, but expected to be very grateful to have taken your word for it.
2 Likes