Petz Red Wine – 2023

Syrah and Merlot in the Petz Red Wine by Oliver Zeter

The 2023 vintage of Petz Red Wine by Oliver Zeter is a dry, juicy red wine where Syrah clearly leads and Merlot complements it. Both varieties spent a year together in French oak barrels, and it was bottled unfiltered.

Petz Rotwein 2023 is the Syrah-dominated edition of this red wine by Oliver Zeter from the Palatinate, grown in vineyards near Hambach and Edenkoben. With 13% ABV, it feels lively and drinkable, with fine tannins providing a secure structure.

Black cherry, cocoa, and a hint of licorice

The 2023 Petz Red Wine smells of dark forest berries and black cherries, with notes of cocoa and a touch of licorice underneath. In the background, a delicate herbal spice resonates. On the tongue, the wine is dry, juicy, and fruity, carried by fine tannins, and its finish is remarkably long.

Syrah originates from the Rhône and is known for its dark fruit, and in this vintage, it makes up the vast majority of the cuvée. Merlot contributes a small share, and its soft nature rounds out the fruit. The result is a red wine that is immediately accessible yet has enough depth for a long evening if you take the time to enjoy it.

A year together in barriques

The grapes grow in vineyards around Hambach and Edenkoben, two wine villages at the foot of the Palatinate Forest. After the harvest, the mash ferments in open vats, as has long been traditional for red wine. Afterward, the grape skins and young wine remain together for several weeks so that the color and tannins can slowly integrate.

After gentle pressing, the Syrah and Merlot for this vintage go into used French oak barriques together to mature side by side for twelve months. This allows the two varieties to grow into a single wine while still in the barrel, long before it reaches the bottle.

The wine is bottled unfined and unfiltered. Petz was the nickname once given to Walter Baer, the winemaker's great-grandfather, and this name now appears on the label.

Pepper steak, wild boar, and mushroom ragout

A pepper steak with red wine sauce, a roast of wild boar with red cabbage, or a mushroom ragout with creamy polenta are dishes where this red wine can showcase its dark fruit, as the spice of the food accentuates it further. It also pairs well with oven-roasted vegetables with rosemary. It brings just the right amount of intensity for an evening by the fireplace or an autumnal dinner with friends.

Served slightly below room temperature, around 17 degrees Celsius, it shows the best balance of fruit and spice, and half an hour of breathing before eating gives it the chance to unfold its bouquet. For larger groups, it is also available in a box of six bottles.

You can find the predecessor made from Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon in the Petz Rotwein 2022. If you want to experience the grape variety on its own, head to the Syrah Réserve 2022. For an overview of the entire range from this Palatinate winery, visit our Oliver Zeter page.

Petz Rotwein 2023 – a red wine and its specifications

• Origin Germany
• Region Palatinate
• Oliver Zeter, Neustadt an der Weinstraße
• Grape varieties 85% Syrah, 15% Merlot
• Aged in used barriques
• 13% vol alcohol
• 0.7 g/l residual sugar
• 5.2 g/l acidity