Wine

The nose is deep and compact, with hints of dark fruit and spice. On the palate it is dense, with tannins destined for a long future. Plenty of cherry and raspberry, with anise and salt – but also clove and some black pepper, as well as leather. The power and density of the bouquet and the palate, together with the freshness and youthfulness, suggest a bright and long future. The still youthful wood leaves a certain impression on the palate. Strength without hardness, weight, or heaviness. Let the wine breathe or let it rest for a few years and enjoy it for decades.

The bottle and of course the price indicates that we are at the top of the advancing German wine industry. Fritz Waßmer has simply created a monumental Spätburgunder that simply needs to be experienced. This Spätburgunder created from the fruit of 2 small terraces high up on the so-called Kaiserberg, east of the small town of Herbolzheim. 

Region

Baden is situated in the federal state of Baden-Württemberg, bordering France to the west and Switzerland to the south. It stretches from the northern part of the Black Forest to the northern outskirts of the city of Basel.

Baden is known for its vibrant wine culture, and various wine festivals and events take place throughout the year. These festivals provide an excellent opportunity for locals and visitors alike to taste and enjoy the region’s wines.

Climate & Terroir

The region benefits from a relatively mild climate, thanks to its proximity to the Rhine River and the shelter provided by the Black Forest to the east. The diverse terroir of the region, including various soil types and microclimates, allows for the cultivation of a wide range of grape varieties.

Vineyard

Humic loess loam, including yellow lime marl, supported by light slate and granite. The high, steep cliffs are warmed by the sun and slowly transfer this heat to the vines. At the same time, winds constantly blow through the Rhine plain. The vines stand with “warm feet”, so to speak, in the cooling winds. The wines obtained are particularly powerful, large and at the same time very elegant.

Vinification

The grapes are harvested by hand and placed in small plastic boxes before being driven down to the winery where all stalks are removed before the grapes are crushed and spontaneously fermented in open new French casks. After that, they’re left for 24 months of aging in the same casks. The final wine is put together in stainless steel vats and bottled without clarification or filtration.

The plan is that this Herbolzheimer Kaiserberg wine should only be produced in the best vintages, so it is no coincidence that this debut takes place with the fruit of a year when a wonderfully dry and warm summer was followed by cool days in September and October. 2015 is the best vintage for Pinot Noir in Baden since 2009. An excellent, extremely potent and very promising Pinot Noir that already makes you think of the most sexy wines of Morey Saint Denis.

The wine opens with a fascinating scent where the sweet exotic spices of the oak completely embrace the fruit, but slowly forest strawberries, dark cherries and raspberries begin to join in. The wine is full-bodied, very aromatic and very rich in, but just before it all gets too bombastic a lively fruit acid ripples and ensures that the superlatives stay in line. Undoubtedly the most subtle and powerful Spätburgunder from Fritz Waßmer to date, and surely a wine that, although already very generous, will become more sophisticated over time.

Ideal drinking temperature 16 °C.