2012 Weingut Claus Schneider, Weiler Schlipf, Spatburgunder Trocken “CS” Baden, Germany.
This Claus Schneider CS Trocken Pinot Noir is really lovely wine, it is hard to imagine a more elegant example of Spatburgunder with so much flavor and silky texture at this price point, in fact this tasty stuff will impress Burgundy and Oregon Pinot lovers and those looking for class and detail should really search this Baden beauty out! Imported directly by Wine Wise in Oakland, California this Pretty Pinot Noir from Weingut Schneider should be filtering into the market place soon. Baden in Germany’s restive spa region in the south is home to many interesting and unique wines, the soils are mixed and are less serve than on the rivers with more limestone, sandstone, loam and clay, the weather can be warmer and you can find lush easy to love wines, especially fine Sylvaner, usually in those funny shaped bottles, but there’s quite a lot of good Pinot Noir too, and this Weingut Claus Schneider is one of the nicest I’ve seen. The 2012 Weiler Schlipf CS is the signature wine of the winery and is their best bottling, or reserve if you will, and it is wonderfully complex and composed with black cherry, plum, vibrant red berry and tangy currant fruits along with hints of mineral, rose oil, spice and earth, showing good vivid character, creamy tannin and superb length, this is very stylish stuff. A touch of cedar, floral tones, mint tea, perfectly mated oak notes and fresh acidity add to the array of layers, but there is seamless harmony and grace here, everything is folded together with poise and this Spatburgunder drinks stupid good right now and will for many years to come, best from 2016 to 2021, even the basic Spatburgunder from Schneider is rocking good too, this is a winery to keep an eye out for!
($31 Est.) 93 Points, grapelive