BEST OF Deutscher Spätburgunder - Marcus Hofschuster, Wein-Plus, Germany

Picture: Vineyard Walk with Moritz Haidle, Weingut Karl Haidle, See:  Germany-East Tour 2018 by ombiasy WineTours: Wine, Art, Culture, History - Berlin, Saale-Unstrut, Sachsen, Württemberg, Franken

Marcus Hofschuster is Editor-in-Chief and Lead Taster of Wein-Plus, a leading European on-line wine guide, based in Germany. Marcus Hofschuster is the man behind the reputation that Wein-Plus has gained over the past 2 decades. All wines are tasted blind. Marcus Hofschuster uses the 100 points scale.

From time to time, Marcus Hofschuster summarizes his tasting results in a "BEST OF" list. This time, he published a list summarizing his tasting results with regard to Spätburgunder from Germany.

Picture: Nico Rechenberg, Dirk Würtz, Weingut Balthasar Ress, Marcus Hofschuster, Wein-Plus, Armin Diel, Schlossgut Diel, Paul Truszkowski, Wine in Black, and Felix Bodman at the GG Pre-release Tasting in Wiesbaden, Germany, 2016. See: Germany’s Grosses Gewächs GG Wines Released (2015 White and 2014 Red) - Notes from the Pre-release Tasting in Wiesbaden, Germany

Introduction

Marcus Hofschuster provided an introduction in German, which I translated into English:

We are pushing ahead!

Probably no other wine segment in Germany is currently as rapidly moving ahead as Spätburgunder. In almost all German wine regions Spätburgunder wines are now produced that can compete internationally - and there are more every year. Stylistically, German Spätburgunder are moving to less wood and lower alcohol, following the example of modern top Burgundies. There is a great variety of styles, perhaps more than ever, and there is hardly a style where you cannot find a wine made at the highest quality level. Differently said: If you cannot find a Spätburgunder in Germany that you like than you simply do not like the grape variety. And who still believes that Germany cannot produce ultra-premium Pinot Noirs does not know what is going on in Germany.

Also in terms of prices, Burgundy seems to be the model, because the number of Pinot Noir wines with Euro prices in the high double digits or even three-digit area is steadily increasing. In view of the qualities, this is often not too much, especially in international comparison.

There is no reason to complain. Thanks to the across-the-board improvement, the availability of excellent wines at reasonable prices has considerably improved.

We tasted well over 500 German Pinot Noir wines last year. The best ones are listed here.

The Best Spätburgunder/ Pinot Noir

96WP (Wein-Plus Points)

2013 Sonnenberg “Heydenreich”, Friedrich Becker

Picture: Annette Schiller and Friedrich Becker sen. See: Wine Tasting at Weingut Friedrich Becker– Germany-South Wine Tour by ombiasy (2014)

94WP

2015 “Terra1261”, Baltes
2013 Steinwingert, Friedrich Becker
2015 Bienenberg GG “Wildenstein”, Huber
2012 “Réserve RdP”, Knipser

Pictures: Tasting at Weingut Benedikt Baltes (Weingut der Stadt Klingenberg), with Benedikt Baltes. See: Germany-East Tour 2018 by ombiasy WineTours: Wine, Art, Culture, History - Berlin, Saale-Unstrut, Sachsen, Württemberg, Franken

Picture: Tasting at Weingut Bernhard Huber in Baden, with Yquem Viehauser and Julian Huber – Germany-South Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2015)

93WP

2013 Herrenwingert, Friedrich Becker
2013 Sonnenberg “KB”, Friedrich Becker
2015 Eichberg GG, Franz Keller
2015 Hundsrück GG, Fürst
2015 Rosenthal GG, Adeneuer
2015 Schlossberg GG, Huber
2015 “Caviar”, Ress
2015 “Devonschiefer R”, Kreuzberg
2015 Schloßberg GG, Baltes

Picture: Tasting with Fritz Keller at Weingut Franz Keller in Oberbergen, Baden. See: Tour and Tasting at Weingut Franz Keller in Oberbergen, Baden– Germany-South Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2015)

Pictures: Dinner with Sebastian Fürst and Julian Huber. See: Winemaker Dinner with Chef/ King of Spices Ingo Holland and Sebastian Fürst (Weingut Rudolf Fürst, Franken), Julian Huber (Weingut Bernhard Huber, Baden) and Jérôme Legras (Champagne Legras & Haas)

Picture: Dirk Würz, Weingut Balthasar Ress, Technical Director, in the Cellar Tasting the new Wine. See: At Weingut Balthasar Ress in Hattenheim, Rheingau, during the 2015 Harvest with Winemaker Dirk Würtz, Germany

Picture: Tasting at Weingut H.J. Kreuzberg in Dernau, Ahr, with Owners/ Winemakers Ludwig Kreuzberg and Frank Josten. See: Tasting at Weingut H.J. Kreuzberg in Dernau, Ahr, with Ludwig Kreuzberg and Frank Josten– Germany-North Tour by ombiasy WineTours 2016

92WP

2013 Kirschgarten GG, Knipser
2013 Mandelpfad GG, Knipser
2012 Burgweg GG, Knipser
2012 “Réserve”, Knipser
2015 Bienenberg GG, Huber
2015 “Rouge de Schulz Nr 1”, Chat Sauvage
2015 Schlossberg GG, Franz Keller
2015 Bischofsberg, Baltes
2015 Gärkammer GG, Adeneuer
2015 Schloßberg GG, Fürst
2015 Kräuterberg GG, Meyer-Näkel

Picture: Annette Schiller and Marc Adeneuer, Weingut Adeneuer. See: Wine Tasting at Weingut J.J. Adeneuer in Bad Neuenahr-Ahrweiler, Ahr, with Marc Adeneuer - Germany-North Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2015)

Pictures: Paul Fürst, Annette Schiller, Sebastian Fürst and Christian Schiller at Weingut Rudolf Fürst. See: Tasting and Tour with the Pinot Noir Legend Paul Fürst, Weingut Rudolf Fürst in Bürgstadt, Franken – Germany-East Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2015)

Pictures: Vineyard Walk and Tasting at Weingut Meyer-Näkel in Dernau, Ahr, with Dörte Näkel– Germany-North Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2015)

91WP

2013 Alte Reben “Jaspis”, Ziereisen
2015 Siebeldinger “Vom Muschelkalk R”, Rebholz
2015 “Jaspis”, Ziereisen
2014 “Devonschiefer R”, Kreuzberg
2015 Silberberg GG, Kreuzberg
2015 Silberberg, Meyer-Näkel
2015 Mönchberg, Julia Bertram
2015 Lämmler GG, Aldinger
2015 Gips “Marienglas” GG, Alsinger
2015 Lämmler GG, Schnaitmann
2013 Henkenberg GG, Salwey
2014 Sonnenberg GG, Stodden
2015 Kirchgasse GG, Stadt Lahr
2015 Mönchberg Gehrnhalde GG, Haidle
2015 Sommerhalde GG, Huber
2015 Forstberg GG, Dautel
2014 Forstberg GG, Dautel
2015 “unfiltriert”, Jülg
2015 Burgweg, Wageck-Pfaffmann
2014 “Grand Duc Reserve”, Deutzerhof
2015 Centgrafenberg GG, Fürst
2015 Höllenberg, Chat Sauvage
2015 Höllenberg GG, Kesseler
2015 Kirchberg, Franz Keller
2015 Klingenberger “Alte Reben R”, Baltes

Pictures: Massive Tasting at Weingut Ziereisen, with Hanspeter and Edeltraud Ziereisen. See: 2 Cellar Tours and 1 Tasting at Weingut Ziereisen in Efringen, Markgräfler Land, Baden, with Hanspeter and Edel Ziereisen - Germany-South and Alsace 2018 Tour by ombiasy WineTours: Baden, Alsace, Pfalz and Rheinhessen

Picture: The Table of Hannsjörg Rebholz, Weingut Ökonomierat Rebholz, Pfalz, at the Gala Dinner of the Rieslingfeier 2016 in New York City, with Annette Schiller, David Schildknecht and Hannsjörg Rebholz. See: A German Riesling Feast in New York City: Rieslingfeier 2016, USA

Picture: Cellar Tour and Tasting at Weingut Aldinger in Fellbach (Stuttgart), Württemberg, with Matthias Aldinger. See: Germany-East Tour 2018 by ombiasy WineTours: Wine, Art, Culture, History - Berlin, Saale-Unstrut, Sachsen, Württemberg, Franken

Picture:  Vineyard Tour, Cellar Tour and Tasting with Rainer Schnaitmann at Weingut Rainer Schnaitmann in Fellbach, Württemberg– Germany-East Wine and Art Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2015), Germany

Picture: Annette Schiller and Christian Dautel. See: Tasting at Weingut Dautel in Württemberg with Christian Dautel - Germany-East Wine and Art Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2015)

Picture: Alexander Stodden, Weingut Jean Stodden, Ahr. See: Cellar Tour and Tasting at Weingut Jean Stodden, Ahr, with Alexander Stodden - Germany-North Tour 2017 by ombiasy WineTours

Picture: August Kesseler and Annette Schiller. See also: Cellar Tour and Tasting at Weingut August Kesseler in Assmanshausen, with Winemaker Simon Batarseh – Germany-North Tour 2016 by ombiasy WineTours

90WP

2015 Sonnenberg GG, Kreuzberg
2015 “Rhini”, Ziereisen
2014 Herrenberg, Stodden
2014 Hardtberg GG, Stodden
2015 Sonnenstuhl GG, Schmitt’s Kinder
2015 Feuerberg Kesselberg, Bercher
2015 Sonnenlay, Günther Steinmetz
2015 Burggarten GG “B 52”, Nelles
2015 “Réserve”, Jülg
2015 Sonnenberg, Jülg
2015 Goldberg, Wageck-Pfaffmann
2015 Malterdinger “Alte Reben”, Huber
2015 Rosengarten, Stefan Meyer
2015 Schwarzer Letten, Stefan Meyer
2013 Kalmit GG, Siegrist
2015 Schlossberg, Chat Sauvage
2015 Rüdesheimer, Chat Sauvage
2014 Höllenberg GG, Künstler
2015 Saumagen GG, Rings
2014 Schupen GG, Dautel
2015 Schupen GG, Dautel
2015 Pfarrwingert GG, Meyer-Näkel
2015 Sonnenberg GG, Meyer-Näkel
2015 Sonnenberg GG, Bernhart
2015 “Von Unserm S”, Ress
2015 Trotzenberg, Julia Bertram
2013 Burgweg GG, Knipser
2015 Lämmler GG, Heid
2015 Schlossberg GG, Heger

Picture: Vineyard Tour with Martin Johann Schmitt, Weingut Schmitt's Kinder, Franken. See: Vineyard Tour and Tasting at Weingut Schmitt’s Kinder in Randersacker, Franken, with Martin Johann Schmitt – Germany-East Tour 2016 by ombiasy WineTours

Picture, Werner Jülg, Weingut Jülg, with his 3 Sons Friedrich, Moritz and Johannes Jülg. See: Lunch, Wine Tasting and Winery Tour at Weingut Jülg in Schweigen, Pfalz with the Jülg Family– Germany-South Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2014)

Picture: Tasting at Weingut Rings with Andreas Ring. See: Tasting and Cellar Tour at Weingut Rings in Freinsheim, Pfalz, with Andreas Rings - Germany-South and Alsace 2017 Tour by ombiasy WineTours

Pictures: Tasting and Weingut Dr. Heger and Christian Schiller and Joachim Heger. See: Cellar Tour and Tasting at Weingut Dr. Heger in Ihringen, Kaiserstuhl, Baden – Germany-South Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2015)

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At Weingut Balthasar Ress in Hattenheim, Rheingau, during the 2015 Harvest with Winemaker Dirk Würtz, Germany

Tasting at Weingut Bernhard Huber in Baden, with Yquem Viehauser and Julian Huber – Germany-South Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2015)

Vineyard Tour and Tasting at Weingut Schmitt’s Kinder in Randersacker, Franken, with Martin Johann Schmitt – Germany-East Tour 2016 by ombiasy WineTours

Vineyard Walk and Tasting at Weingut Meyer-Näkel in Dernau, Ahr, with Dörte Näkel– Germany-North Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2015)

Tasting and Tour with the Pinot Noir Legend Paul Fürst, Weingut Rudolf Fürst in Bürgstadt, Franken – Germany-East Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2015)

Tasting at Weingut Rings with Andreas Ring. See: Tasting and Cellar Tour at Weingut Rings in Freinsheim, Pfalz, with Andreas Rings - Germany-South and Alsace 2017 Tour by ombiasy WineTours

Wine Tasting at Weingut J.J. Adeneuer in Bad Neuenahr-Ahrweiler, Ahr, with Marc Adeneuer - Germany-North Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2015)

Lunch, Wine Tasting and Winery Tour at Weingut Jülg in Schweigen, Pfalz with the Jülg Family– Germany-South Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2014)

2 Cellar Tours and 1 Tasting at Weingut Ziereisen in Efringen, Markgräfler Land, Baden, with Hanspeter and Edel Ziereisen - Germany-South and Alsace 2018 Tour by ombiasy WineTours: Baden, Alsace, Pfalz and Rheinhessen

Tasting at Weingut H.J. Kreuzberg in Dernau, Ahr, with Ludwig Kreuzberg and Frank Josten– Germany-North Tour by ombiasy WineTours 2016

A German Riesling Feast in New York City: Rieslingfeier 2016, USA
Vineyard Tour, Cellar Tour and Tasting with Rainer Schnaitmann at Weingut Rainer Schnaitmann in Fellbach, Württemberg– Germany-East Wine and Art Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2015), Germany

Tasting at Weingut Dautel in Württemberg with Christian Dautel - Germany-East Wine and Art Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2015)

Cellar Tour and Tasting at Weingut Jean Stodden, Ahr, with Alexander Stodden - Germany-North Tour 2017 by ombiasy WineTours

Cellar Tour and Tasting at Weingut August Kesseler in Assmanshausen, with Winemaker Simon Batarseh – Germany-North Tour 2016 by ombiasy WineTours

Cellar Tour and Tasting at Weingut Dr. Heger in Ihringen, Kaiserstuhl, Baden – Germany-South Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2015)