The image of the German Spätburgunder has been undergoing a welcome change for some years now. Although the times of overripe, malty, alcoholic and wood-heavy caricatures of first-class Burgundy are far from over, more and more producers are reflecting on the true virtues of the variety and producing sometimes powerful, sometimes slender, but above all fine, taut and elegant wines - sometimes in qualities that have not been known in Germany since the first half of the 20th century.
They are clearly oriented towards the best red wines of Burgundy, but without simply copying their taste. For it is only when the subtleties of the variety come to the fore that the wines are also able to develop a clear character of origin and their own personality. Thick wood monsters can be produced anywhere and by anyone, but a fine, deep Pinot Noir full of character, like few other varieties, requires not only the right location but also the utmost care in the vineyard and cellar - by someone who knows exactly what they are doing.
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| (Source: DWI) |
For this BEST OF we tasted around 1,100 Pinot Noirs from almost all German growing regions. Wines from the 2010 and 2009 vintages were taken into account, as well as German Spätburgunder from older vintages tasted this year.
To the "BEST OF German Pinot Noirs" (PDF document)
All tasted German Pinot Noirs from 2010
All tasted German Pinot Noirs from 2009
All currently tasted German Pinot Noirs from older vintages
All German Pinot Noirs from the Ahr currently tasted
All currently tasted German Pinot Noirs from Baden
All currently tasted German Pinot Noirs from Franconia
All currently tasted German Pinot Noirs from Mittelrhein
All currently tasted German Pinot Noirs from Mosel
All currently tasted German Pinot Noirs from Nahe
All German Pinot Noirs from the Palatinate currently tasted
All German Pinot Noirs from the Rheingau currently tasted
All currently tasted German Pinot Noirs from Rheinhessen
All currently tasted German Pinot Noirs from Saale-Unstrut
All currently tasted German Pinot Noirs from Saxony