Pinot Noir – 2021

Pinot Noir by Oliver Zeter, red-fruited and light-footed

Pinot Noir by Oliver Zeter is a red-fruited Spätburgunder from the Palatinate, with grapes sourced from Siebeldingen, Godramstein, and Nussdorf. The 2021 vintage has aromas of sour cherry and hibiscus blossom, feels fresh and light-footed, and has a fine grip.

Pinot Noir 2021 is a dry red wine that Oliver Zeter aged for ten months in used barriques in the Palatinate and bottled unfiltered. At 12.5% ABV, it is among the lighter red wines and pairs well with a light lunch.

Sour cherry, hibiscus, and dried cranberries

The 2021 vintage of Pinot Noir by Oliver Zeter has an inviting red-fruit bouquet of sour cherry and dried cranberries, complemented by the delicate, floral note of hibiscus blossoms. The winery describes it on the palate as “fresh and light-footed, yet with a fine grip,” and it is precisely this blend of lightness and structure that defines every sip.

In Germany, Pinot Noir is known as Spätburgunder and is considered one of the most demanding red grape varieties. Its thin-skinned berries are sensitive to weather and handling, which is why it requires a great deal of attention both in the vineyard and in the cellar. When successful, it displays a clear, cool fruit, and as a Spätburgunder from the Palatinate, this vintage brings exactly that to the glass.

A portion of the juice is drained beforehand

The vineyards are scattered across the Southern Palatinate, mostly around the villages of Siebeldingen, Godramstein, and Nussdorf. The vines vary in age, with some having stood there for up to 30 years, and they are planted with different clones—variations of Pinot Noir. Yields are kept to a maximum of 8,000 kilograms of grapes per hectare.

The grapes are pre-sorted in the vineyard, and in the cellar, the harvest passes through a sorting system once more. Before fermentation begins, Oliver Zeter’s team drains off a small portion of the juice. Because this results in more berry skins relative to the remaining juice, the future red wine gains power and color.

After fermentation, the mash is gently pressed, and the young wine matures for ten months in used French oak barriques. Used barrels impart less oak flavor than new ones, allowing the red fruit to remain at the forefront. It is bottled without filtration to ensure it retains its full flavor.

Duck breast, salmon, and chanterelles

Pan-seared duck breast, a piece of oven-baked salmon, or chanterelles in cream are among the dishes with which this Spätburgunder from the Palatinate excels. Its acidity keeps the richness in check, and the red fruit sits alongside the roasted aromas, allowing both to shine. It also pairs well with ripe soft cheese or oven-roasted tomatoes.

It displays its fruit most clearly when served slightly cooler than other red wines, at 14 to 16 degrees Celsius. As a gift for a meal featuring poultry or fish, it is almost always a perfect choice.

If you would like to experience the same grape variety in a more recent vintage, you can find it in the Pinot Noir 2023, which was aged for twelve months in barrels. The grape variety is vinified as a white wine in the Blanc de Noir La Taille 2025, and you can find further red wines in our red wine category.

Pinot Noir 2021 – a red wine and its specifications

• Origin Germany
• Growing region Palatinate
• Oliver Zeter, Neustadt an der Weinstraße
• Grape variety Pinot Noir (Spätburgunder)
• Aged in used barriques
• 12.5% ABV alcohol
• 0.4 g/l residual sugar
• 5.4 g/l acidity