2020 Franz Keller Spätburgunder Eichberg Grosses Gewächs

Very nice Pinot Noir (or Spätburgunder) from the German region of Kaiserstuhl, which is located in the Baden wine region. Producer of this wine is the authentic winery Franz Keller . Keller is a specialist in 'Burgundersorten', so the Pinots and Chardonnay. Especially the Spätburgunders (sometimes also called Pinot noir because they work with clones from Burgundy) enjoy great international prestige. Magda van der Rijst thought it was her 'favorite producer of Spätburgunder from all over Germany' last year, but this year Lars Daniëls has once again put a wine from Keller in his shortlist during the Grosse Gewächse tasting in Wiesbaden.

The Kaiserstuhl is the warmest and sunniest wine region in Germany and is characterized by volcanic soils covered with fertile high loess deposits that provide excellent wine-growing conditions for what in Germany they call the Burgundersorten such as Weissburgunder, Grauburgunder, Chardonnay and Spätburgunder. Wijnhuis Keller has truly beautiful vineyards, click here for an overview. At Keller, only the best, carefully selected grapes from the best vineyards and plots are used: Schlossberg, Kirchberg, Eichberg, "Im Leh" and "Kähner". Aged in their best casks, these wines each have a unique character, potential and finesse - truly unique grand crus!

This Grosses Gewachs Spätburgunder comes from the Eichberg vineyard. The plot that is located in the lower half of this vineyard was planted in 1994 by Fritz Keller with only Pinot Noir clones from Burgundy. This vineyard has tephrit soil and is located on the south, partly southeast and southwest, is one of the warmest locations of the winery. The dark volcanic soil leads to a distinctive, rather masculine Pinot Noir that is powerful and animated, with notes of tar and increasing maturity.

The wine has matured for 18 months in barrique barrels (35% new oak) and has great aromas of beautiful dark cherries and spices. This Eichberg Pinot Noir is much more masculine compared to, for example, the Kirchberg and the other vineyards. Oak is present, yet pleasant especially at the moment despite its youth. Powerful wine with fine tannins and a long, concentrated finish. Can be stored for quite a few more years, which will only make this powerhouse even more beautiful.

The wine goes very well with a nice dinner with, for example, fried or stewed red meat, with powerful, tasty sauces and also delicious with a cheese board with Epoisses cheese, for example.