Knipser Winery – Chardonnay from Barrique
The Knipser Chardonnay*** 2022 is a dry, powerful Burgundy from the Knipser winery in Laumersheim, Palatinate. Intense and complex with distinct oak notes and ripe fruit, it has a good acidity structure that can easily cope with its 14% alcohol by volume.
On the nose, the Knipser Chardonnay shows complex, fruity notes of red apples, yellow pear, and juicy mirabelle plum, but also exotic pineapple and papaya, as well as slight bitter notes of citrus zest, interspersed with nutty hints, flint aromas, and well-integrated wood. The wine shows power and fullness, and despite the ripe grapes, a lively acidity, which makes it a great food companion. It goes well with rich sauces, pasta with cream sauces and mushrooms and smoked bacon, but also with the sweetness of seafood. For a wine of this caliber, it appears very fresh and balanced with good drinkability.
Winemaking – Knipser
The vines for this Chardonnay are located in the best sites of the Knipser winery, characterized by shell limestone rock, including the "Im Großen Garten" Grand Cru site. With around 15 hectares, the Knipser winery is one of the largest private Chardonnay estates in Germany.
The late, selective hand-picking of perfectly healthy grapes in autumn usually takes place in several passes to harvest optimally ripe fruit. At the winery, all grapes are destemmed. The resulting mash is gently pressed in a tank press. Fermentation takes place spontaneously in new barriques from Burgundy, where the long aging on fine lees also takes place until bottling in late summer 2023. It then matures for another two years in the bottle. The Knipser Chardonnay is a great Burgundy from barrique that one would not immediately place in the Palatinate. Great.
- Berlin Chardonnay Award 2025: 1st place - 96 points
- Falstaff Chardonnay Trophy 2025: 92 points
- Vinum: 94 points
Chardonnay*** – a wine and its values
- Origin Wine from Germany
- Growing region Palatinate
- 100% Chardonnay
- 14 % vol alcohol
- 7.6 g/l acidity
- 1.6 g/l residual sugar