Grapelive Daily Pick
By Kerry Winslow
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2007 Meyer-Nakel Spatburgunder “Blauschiefer” Ahr, Germany (Pinot Noir).
I hauled this bottle back from Germany in April of 2009, after visiting the Rheingau and tasting wine from that region. I had tried the 2005 Meyer-Nakel Pinot after hearing it had won the “Best Pinot in the World” tasting in a blind tasting, both in Europe and in England, as reported by Decanter Magazine, and found it elegant and complex. So it was cool to find a bottle of this rare wine in a shop and at a very reasonable price, considering it goes for about $140 a bottle over here when you can find it, I paid $28 Euro for this bottle of 2007 Blauschiefer, and I was really happy. Even after all the hype and hardship of finding a bottle, it was all worth it and it is a stunning Pinot that has layers of silky flavors that are very focused, much like a good Burgundy, almost like a Chambolle-Musigny, but it also shows its Ahr (River) and German terroir with some slate driven flinty mineral notes and strawberry pie that seem unique. 2007 was a tough year for red wine in Germany, so I was ready not to be impressed, and it was quite the opposite in truth, I was almost knocked off my chair! This is a wonderful and complex wine from the “Red Baron” as Meyer-Nakel is know as in German for his noble and full-bodied Pinot Noir (red wines) with glorious perfume, creamy textures and long complex finish. The color is not what you’d find in California, but the depth of flavors would match up nicely against any serious Pinot from anywhere, though more like a fine Oregon vintage with plenty of plum and cherry fruit, mineral spices, blueberry and touches of white pepper, chalk, smoke and vanilla from the perfect use of quality toasted French oak barrels. ( 28 Euro to $140 US) 94 Points, grapelive
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The US prices for this wine would seem too high, though it is at the same quality for price as many fine Burgundy, and I would just consider this wine if you get a chance to visit Germany… There are a few other producers that you might find that are worth trying for quality German Pinot, like Becker and August Kesseler.