Kirschgarten Spätburgunder GG – VDP.Grosses Gewächs from Knipser
The Knipser Kirschgarten Spätburgunder GG 2021 from the Knipser winery is a VDP.GROSSES GEWÄCHS from the Laumersheimer Kirschgarten vineyard site in the Palatinate. This is where a classic Spätburgunder (Pinot Noir) is created, characterized by fine fruit and soft, crumbly tannins, which has excellent aging potential.
On the nose, this well-structured, dry Spätburgunder red wine displays a cool aroma of ripe sour cherries, typical of the calcareous soils, complemented by notes of caramelized hazelnut and fine herbal spice, with discernible black pepper and smoky, toasted aromas from the wood. On the palate, the fruit of succulent red stone fruit continues—harmonious, balanced, and very elegant. Truly a joy to drink. Long, persistent finish with enormous aging potential.
This VDP. GROSSES GEWÄCHS receives top ratings every year and is considered one of the best Spätburgunder Grand Crus in Germany.
Winemaking – Knipser
The vines for this Spätburgunder grow in the top Palatinate site of Kirschgarten. Several plots on the southern edge of Laumersheim form the basis for this red wine. Sites characterized by extreme limestone, such as the Mergelweg plot, are used alongside the Riescht plot located directly next to houses, where the oldest Spätburgunder vines, at 30 years old, grow in loess-loam soils. The very sheltered location in the wind and rain shadow of the Orlenberg was already appreciated in the Middle Ages by the Worms nunnery of Kirschgarten, with the first documentary mention of the Kirschgarten site in 1654. They maintained a winery in Laumersheim and gave the site its name.
Good vineyard work is a prerequisite for the best wines, which is why important steps for yield reduction are taken at the Knipser winery through short winter pruning and green harvesting, or vendange verte, in the summer.
The selective hand-harvesting of the grapes took place in the final days of October over several passes in order to harvest optimally ripe fruit. At the winery, all grapes are destemmed. This is followed by classic maceration, which takes several weeks, after which the wine is gently pressed in a tank press. Following a short settling period to allow the heavy lees to settle, it is transferred to wooden barrels. Malolactic fermentation then takes place here, converting malic acid into milder lactic acid, which gives the wine softness and a good mouthfeel. Aging in new French oak barriques lasts for 24 months. Bottling takes place in August before the harvest of the year after next.
Kirschgarten Spätburgunder – a wine and its values
- Origin: Wine from Germany
- Growing region: Palatinate
- Grape variety: Spätburgunder
- 13.5% vol. alcohol
- 5.9 g/l acidity
- 0.3 g/l residual sugar
Wine – award-winning
• 94 points Gault Millau
• 94 points Eichelmann (Top Ten)
• 18.5 points Weinwisser