Mano Negra – 2023

Mano Negra 2023, a powerful cuvée with Mediterranean flair

The Philipp Kuhn Mano Negra 2023 is a dry, powerful red wine cuvée made from Cabernet Sauvignon and Blaufränkisch, aged for 17 months in barriques. Velvety, spicy, Mediterranean. A VDP.Gutswein with character and dark fruit.

Philipp Kuhn Mano Negra 2023 is an expressive, dry red wine cuvée from the Palatinate region. The name refers to the "black hand" the winemaker gets when mashing the color-intensive grapes. Let yourself be captivated by the Mediterranean charm already present in the deep purple hue of the glass.

Cherry, cassis, pepper, and gingerbread

In the glass, the Mano Negra glows in a deep purple. The nose is scented with cherry, cassis, and dried plum, accompanied by herbs, pepper, and a hint of gingerbread.

On the palate, it is velvety, balanced, and powerful, with fine tannins and Mediterranean charm. At 13.5% vol and only 0.7 g/l residual sugar, it remains dry and straightforward. A full-bodied red wine that carries its power with elegance.

With 70 percent, the Cabernet sets the tone: powerful, dark-fruited, and structured. The 30 percent Blaufränkisch adds spice and a fresh note. Juicy, velvety, and Mediterranean – this is a cuvée for long evenings.

With grilled lamb and mature cheese

Mano Negra likes hearty, robust cuisine. Pasta and pizza, grilled dishes, and mature cheese are its favorite companions, though it is also perfect enjoyed solo on a quiet evening.

Grilled lamb, braised dishes, and a mature cheese platter suit it well. Its powerful body effortlessly maintains tension against spicy aromas. If you would like to continue tasting more from the estate, reach for the mysterious Incognito Cuvée or the creamy Grauer Burgunder vom Löss.

Harvested separately, matured together

The grapes for the Mano Negra grow in the calcareous Laumersheim sites consisting of loess loam, fine limestone grit, and solid limestone in the subsoil. Cabernet Sauvignon and Blaufränkisch are harvested by hand at the optimal time.

Destemmed, they undergo a 14-day fermentation in mash vats before maturing for a good 17 months in small French oak barriques, which gives the wine fine roasted aromas and an elegant structure. The varieties are blended only shortly before bottling: 70 percent Cabernet Sauvignon and 30 percent Blaufränkisch.

This highlights Philipp's knack for red grape varieties. It is not for nothing that he has won the German Red Wine Prize several times. Philipp bottled his first vintage in 1992; today the estate manages around 40 hectares and has been a member of the VDP since 2008. You can find more from the Palatinate among the other wines from Philipp Kuhn.

Mediterranean spice in a large red wine glass

At 16 to 18 degrees, the Mano Negra shows its Mediterranean spice at its best; an hour of aeration in the glass does it good. It tastes great freshly opened, but often shows even more on the second day. Its dark fruit comes across most beautifully in a large red wine glass. Once opened, it keeps well for two to three days if sealed, and improves with time. Powerful, velvety, Mediterranean.

Mano Negra – a wine and its values

• Origin Wine from Germany
• Growing region Palatinate
• Winery Philipp Kuhn
• VDP. Gutswein
• Grape variety 70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Blaufränkisch
• 13.5% vol. alcohol
• 0.7 g/l residual sugar
• 5.2 g/l acidity