Kammerberg Spätburgunder 2018

The Kammerberg Spätburgunder from the Friedrich Becker estate comes from the Kammerberg vineyard, located around the village of Schweigen-Rechtenbach in the far south of the Palatinate. The plots lie directly on the Franco-German border, on well-exposed slopes with limestone and marl-limestone soils. This privileged location, characterized by a relatively mild climate and a Rhine influence, allows for the slow and complete ripening of the Pinot Noir grapes, resulting in wines of great finesse and a distinctly terroir-driven character.

The grapes for this single-vineyard Spätburgunder are hand-harvested at perfect ripeness, carefully sorted, and then destemmed into the vats, with a variable proportion of whole bunches depending on the vintage. Alcoholic fermentation takes place in open vats, with gentle punch-downs or pump-overs to extract finesse and structure. After racking and delicate pressing, the wine is transferred to oak barrels, mostly Burgundian, for extended aging on its fine lees, before blending and bottling without any attempt at excessive manipulation.

This wine reveals notes of ripe red fruit , black cherry , and raspberry , complemented by floral touches reminiscent of violet and peony . Spicy nuances of pepper and clove mingle with delicate vanilla and smoky oak. On the palate, the wine is precise, with a silky texture, fresh acidity, fine tannins, and a long, elegant finish.

Germany has a long and illustrious history of winemaking. The Romans established the country's first vineyards along the banks of the Moselle River, near the present-day city of Trier. By the third century AD, vineyards had spread to various neighboring valleys, primarily those of the Moselle's tributaries. During the Middle Ages, the Christian church, particularly the Cistercian and Benedictine monasteries, had a significant influence on the development of viticulture and the production of quality wine in Germany. Germany has always been renowned for its excellent white wines: slightly sweet, low in alcohol, but always of high quality. However, in recent years, wine drinkers have tended to prefer drier wines. Consequently, the German market has evolved to cater to all tastes with some splendid dry Rieslings and other white wine varieties, such as Pinot Blanc, Gewürztraminer, and Grauburgunder. Warmer summers and milder winters have also favored rosés and reds, with Pinot Noir being the third most planted grape variety in the country. So, take your pick—from traditional Rieslings to great reds, the range is wide and still expanding. The German wine industry lost its way in terms of quality during the 20th century, expanding plantings onto less favorable sites and increasing yields to levels where quality was severely compromised. However, Germany's greatest wine producers were never completely lost, and since the end of the 20th century, considerable efforts have been made to restore Germany's former glory. Yields are now limited by law, and many leading producers have joined forces to form the VDP association (see German Wine Labels). Members of the VDP are bound by a commitment to focus their efforts on quality rather than quantity. In terms of volume, Germany ranks among the top ten countries in the world for annual wine production. Just over 60% of the wine produced is white, and it is widely acknowledged that the white wines from Germany's best vineyards and most reputable producers are among the finest in the world. German red wines are also gaining in popularity and quality, particularly those made from Spätburgunder, the local name for Pinot Noir. The second most popular red grape variety (in terms of planted hectares, at least) is Dornfelder.