Dautel Forstberg Spatburgunder Grosses Gewachs 2020 750ml

#41 in Top 100 Wines of Germany, 2024. The greatest pinot noir ever made in the underrated region of Wurttemberg! A whole bouquet of violets on the nose, and behind that a wealth of red beets, gunpowder and wet earth. Terrific concentration on the super-focused, but only medium-bodied palate. Off-the-scale racy energy at the almost endless finish suggests this sleek masterpiece has decades of life ahead of it. From a high-altitude site that was forgotten until Christian Dautel started making wine from it. Drinkable now, but best from 2025.

• Country: Germany
• Region: Wurttemberg
• Size: 750ml
• Color: Red
• Alcohol by Vol: 14.0%

Varietal

Pinot Noir

Regularly described as being the grape varietal responsible for producing the world’s most romantic wines, Pinot Noir has long been associated with elegance and a broad range of flavors The name means ‘black pine’ in French, and this is due to the fact that the fruit of this particular varietal is especially dark in color, and hangs in a conical shape, like that of a pine cone. Despite being grown today in almost every wine producing country, Pinot Noir is a notoriously difficult grape variety to cultivate. This is because it is especially susceptible to various forms of mold and mildew, and thrives best in steady, cooler climates. However, the quality of the fruit has ensured that wineries and vintners have persevered with the varietal, and new technologies and methods have overcome many of the problems it presents. Alongside this, the wide popularity and enthusiasm for this grape has ensured it will remain a firm favorite amongst wine drinkers for many years to come.