2011 Weingut Burg Ravensburg, Spatburgunder Trocken, Burg Ravensburg, Baden, Germany.
I tasted this wine earlier in the year, and it is now available in states, I bought a fresh bottle and re sampled it, it is certainly better with the extra months in bottle, fuller, richer and more lively, this is a real steal for fine Pinot Noir from Germany. Weingut Burg Ravensburg in Baden specializes in Spatburgunder (Pinot Noir) and was a new producer for me at the recent portfolio tasting of German and Austrian wines, and they are imported by Wine Wise in Oakland, California for you West Coasties out there, and while there are some value wine in this class, this producer is making some pretty classy stuff, really worth checking out. This German Pinot shows focused structure and vivid fruit with poached plum, dark cherry and balsamic/smoky strawberry fruits with spicy minerals, dusty raspberry, salted licorice, finty stones and black tea notes. While no where the near the level of Meyer-Nakel or Becker, this wine delivers some surprisingly good depth and pleasure, but certainly a more interesting wine than most village Burgundy and a great value at around twenty bones. Good acidity, juicy in lushness and a good long finish, and a bit of flair and character in a solid Pinot that comes in at about 13% alcohol with a silky soft tannins feel, I am pretty sure I’m going to get a few more bottles myself, very tasty.
($22 Est.) 90+ Points, grapelive