PREMIUM
Under its German moniker, Pinot Noir has had a long and varied history. Today it is widely planted across the country’s top wine regions, where winemakers are reacting to the effects of climate change and focusing on fruit purity.
Spätburgunder is the German name for Pinot Noir, and means literally ‘late Burgundy’, in reference to its ripening time and origin. It is possible that the variety first arrived in Germany as early as the ninth century. An often-cited story recounts how Charlemagne [d. 814 AD] ordered monks to plant a vineyard in the Rheingau, on a hill below what is now known as Schloss Johannisberg. It may well be Pinot Noir that they planted, as wild Pinot grapes have been found growing on a nearby island in the Rhine.
Scroll down to see tasting notes and scores for 12 fantastic Spätburgunders
See tasting notes and scores for 12 fantasticSpätburgunders
Related content
New Zealand Pinot Noir: 20 premium wines to try
Domaine de la Romanée-Conti 2019: in-bottle tasting comparison
Domaine Coche-Dury: producer profile
Latest Premium Content
-
Bordeaux 2014 revisited 10 years on
-
Vernaccia di San Gimignano: Tuscany’s supreme white wine territory
-
Peter Michael masterclass: DFWE NYC 2024
-
The sommelier suggests… Slovenian whites by Alexandre Fréguin
-
Collector’s Guide: Tuscany
-
Editors’ picks – June 2024
-
Regional profile: Celebrating Rutherglen’s liquid gold
-
Down to earth: Talking Pinot Noir with Sam Neill
-
Domaine Clarence Dillon masterclass: DFWE NYC 2024
-
Andrew Jefford: ‘The suggestion: Different wines leave you in different altered states’
