some of our selected German pinot noirs
I don’t particularly drink a lot of pinot noir. I usually go for more intense reds. But I’m trying to convince myself that I like it, especially because I keep reading that this type of wine goes with “lighter fare” like fish and vegetarian dishes. Recently we tried the quality pinot noir under $20 home tasting which surprised me with how yummy these wines could be. So I’m being bold and tasting some more regional pinots.
About a year ago Hegui ordered some Nelles pinot from Germany. It was less than $20 then if I recall so it’s in my home tasting budget right now. The wine also happened to be really good. Most folks don’t think of Germany as a source of pinot noir. I think that in the US we tend to look at that country as the land of rieslings. Let’s hope that it stays secret. Then maybe these delicious wines will remain affordable enough for everyday drinking. I know, I know; some of these wines cost more than $20 each. However, when you average the five, it comes in at just less.
Another fun thing about German wines is the unusual bottles that they come in! Look how amazing the German flutes look compared to some of the more conventional Bordeaux and Burgundy style bottles! They’d be really sexy to open at a dinner party or on a romantic evening for two.
sexy label for Undone pinot noir
2007 Undone Pinot Noir: $10.99
We tried this one last of the five. It was just o.k. overall. The wine shop advertised it as an unbelievable value, which is clearly the case with the well-below-$20 price. It had a pale brown red color. The aroma was a bit “burned grass” and “overripe melon” to us; sort of smoky and berry-ish. It tasted of cherry had a medium body that didn’t last. There were vanilla notes at the finish. “It’s almost like juice.” The alcohol content was only 12%.
2007 Friedrich Becker Estate Pinot Noir: $16.99
This was a transparent grayish brownish red color. There was a nose of ginger, spices, clove, cinnamon and herbs. It had cherry and raspberry flavors with a peppery finish. It was “not bad” though less dense than the Konig. We would have this one again.
2007 Nelles “Ruber” Spätburgunder Trocken 1479N, Ahr: 21.99
This is our favorite of the five. It was a transparent deep ruby red. It had a cherry nose. Medium bodies with a peppery finish, the wine had cranberry and cherry flavors and coated the tongue in a pleasing way.
becker estate pinot noir
2005 Schloss Schönborn Pinot Noir: 18.99
This was a transparent ruby red that was a little cloudy. It smelled like cherry candy. It was dry with a cherry flavor, medium body. The finish was slightly astringent with some spice. It wasn’t really memorable. Hegui thought that this was for “people that like white wine:” it’s light, pleasant but not demanding on the palate.
2007 Robert Konig Assmannshauser Hollenberg Spätburgunder Spätlese Trocken: $29.99
This was a pale translucent rusty brownish red. It had a tropical aroma with notes of passion fruit and mulberry. It was almost sweet tasting despite being dry. It was medium bodied with a long finish. It seemed “dense but light.” It was a pleasant wine that we would drink again.
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Try the German Spaten wine! That’s a sweet, brown style wine served at the Oktoberfest 😀
Very good. But I want to read about French wine!
Kisses from Paris. Saudades