Region: Pfalz, Germany

Varietal: 100% Pinot Noir (Spätburgunder)

Tasting notes: Pleasant, clear ruby red with dark reflections. On the nose scents of wild berries, tobacco, spices and forest floor. On the palate juicy, elegant with good length and structure. Classic German Pinot Noir showing elegance and freshness.

Producer: When Friedrich Fritz Becker Senior bottled his first Spätburgunder (Pinot Noir) and showed it to his peers, he was met with criticism, mockery, and disbelief that Spätburgunder grapes can ripen in the region of Pfalz. Fast-forward almost 40 years later, and Fritz Becker Junior enjoys building on his visionary father’s legacy. Today, many estates grow Spätburgunder, but the Beckers are the forefront. The family owns more than 70 acres and produces over 12,000 cases annually. Positioned on the very border with France in the town of Schweigen, the Beckers have witnessed that border shifting throughout history. Today, they have vineyards on both the French and German side, at the edge of the Palatinate forest—with 70 percent of their land situated on the French side in Alsace.

Vineyard and Winemaking: Grown on rare limestone soil with heavy topsoil of loam and clay. The vines are 18 to 42 years old.The grapes were hand harvested and destemmed. Before pressing, the grapes were macerated for 14 to 21 days to extract all the flavors and aromas from the grape-skins into the juice. The juice was fermented in big and small oak-barrels. Afterwards let on lees for almost 12 months after fermentation again in oak-barrels to gain even more flavor and complexity.