Sampling German Spätburgunder

I am studying the German Wine Scholar course and while in Perth, tasted German wines with a friend who is also doing the course, and a couple of her tasting buddies (our tasting panel comprised of 1 MW, 1 DipWSET, 2 x WSET Level 3).  We did 6 flights over two sessions and 34 wines in total.

A grape variety that is getting increased attention in Germany, particularly in Baden and Ahr, is Spätburgunder, otherwise known as Pinot Noir.  We were curious to taste them, even though they are difficult to source in Australia.

Our flight had four Spätburgunders – two from Baden and one each from Pfalz and Rheinhessen.  As expected, they were all light-bodied.  Overall we were not impressed – one had brett, another had really bad VA which didn’t really blow off, and another had a dominant flavour of rotting forest floor and green tannins.  Only one was vaguely drinkable with black plum and cherry, rosemary, porcini and forest floor.  Not a great experience, especially for a grape variety that is on the rise in Germany.

I will stick with drinking Australian, French, New Zealand and Oregon pinot noirs.

The wines were:

Thoerle Saulheim Spätburgunder Kalstein 2020 (Rheinhessen)

Rings Spätburgunder 2020  (Pflaz)

Shelter Winery hans-bert espe and silke wolf 2016 Spätburgunder (Baden – Württemberg)

Franz Keller Spätburgunder 2022 vom Loess (Baden – Kaiserstuhl) – the best of them

Rating: Meh!