Pfalz in Germany is perfect Pinot country – where you’ll find terraced vineyards overlooking the Rhine valley, on sandstone, with a long gentle growing season to achieve full ripeness in the grapes.
Well-travelled winemaker Gerd Stepp describes his winemaking as ‘New Zealand winemaking with a French influence’. It’s all about maximising the fruit purity, and then he puts it in French oak barrels for 18 months.
But these aren’t any old oak barrels. Gerd has a friend who makes Grand Cru Burgundy, uses the barrels once, and sells them on to him.
You end up with an intense, juicy, perfumed Pinot, loaded with red fruit, Christmas cake and cloves. The oak gives it a gorgeous toastiness and spiciness – it supports the fruit perfectly.
No wonder Pfalz is home to Germany’s best Pinots, and getting more and more international attention. You can add this one to the list as one of the region’s best.