2013 Weingut Meyer-Nakel, Spatburgunder, Ahr, Germany.
Weinhaus Werner Nakel’s beautiful and joyous entry level Pinot Noir is a remarkable success in a difficult vintage, the 2013 Ahr Spatburgunder is blessed with deep color, vibrant layers and lovely balance. While 2011 and 2012 were richer, denser and more age worthy, this gorgeous 2013 is more delicate, nuanced and fantastically easy to quaff, it is hard to imagine a better under $40 Pinot from anywhere, period. I love the unique terroir influence, the mixed slate, mostly blue slate of the Ahr really shows through with a red spice, flinty mineral and a smoky character, along with ripe and deep fruit, this is impressive stuff. Werner is letting the next generation stamp some of their ideas into the wines at Meyer-Nakel and there seems a gentle hand is at work as daughters Meike and Dőrte Näkel work into positions in the vineyards and in the cellar here, and I have noticed the style is slightly moving to a bit more subtlety with oak and that the acidity is a bit more lively, all in keeping with the house style, but allowing a touch more elegance. The Meyer-Nakel wines are some of the world’s greatest, and their top single vineyard Pinots are regularly judged to be some of the best Pinot Noir wines, beating top Grand Cru Burgundy offerings from the finest domaines in the Cote d’Or, and in my experience, these are some of the most pleasing wines I’ve ever had, I certainly try to get as much as I can afford each year and take what ever is on offer from Meyer-Nakel, I collect three Pinots every year, Rochioli, Meo-Camuzet and Meyer-Nakel, and I can see no reason to change, especially when it comes to Meyer-Nakel and in particularly this new 2013, it is glorious stuff. The 2013 Spatburgunder starts with hints of violets and rose oil with smoke, red pepper and warm stones along with red fruits, in the glass the hue seems vividly dark ruby with bright edges, and the palate is smoothly refined, but lifting with freshness and lively fruits, raspberry, black cherry, blueberry and spiced plum lead to way along with flinty/shale notes, a touch of dusty earth, truffle, cranberry tang, middle-eastern spice, anise, saline and crushed gravel. The overall feel is harmonious and focused with class, graceful ease and the wood is perfectly framing, it is super drinking wine right now, it comes in at 13.5% alcohol and medium weight with a sublime mouth feel and tastes like Sonoma Coast or Oregon clean, but with it’s own exotic nature with an enjoyment factor that brings a smile from ear to ear and it should deliver even more such smiles over the next few years, drink from 2015 to 2019. If you can find Meyer-Nakel, you are urged to try them, these are fabulous Pinot Noir wines, imported by Rudi Wiest, worth every penny and any effort to secure them, trust me, I had to fly to Germany to get my first few bottles!
($35 Est.) 93 Points, grapelive
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