Achkarren Spätburgunder 2024

A Pinot Noir built on finesse rather than volume. At 12.5% ABV it stays lean and lively, with the volcanic subsoil lending structure and length. Vinified dry, with clear fruit and no heaviness.

Achkarren lies in the Kaiserstuhl in Baden, a hilly landscape on the Upper Rhine shaped by extinct volcanoes. The vines root in volcanic rock, giving the estate's wines their mineral signature. The Franz Keller estate has farmed vines here since 1892, today cultivating 35 hectares, including six VDP Grosse Lagen. Since 2016, Friedrich Keller has run the estate as its fourth generation.

Pure varietal Pinot Noir, known in Germany as Spätburgunder. The winery, completed in 2013, is built in terraces into the hillside and works on the gravity-flow principle; its roof is planted with native species from the Badberg nature reserve. Uwe Barnickel and Christian Häuber work parcel by parcel with minimal intervention; their credo is "as little as possible, as much as necessary". In the vineyard, a gradual conversion to organic farming with biodynamic elements is under way.

Dark cherry and wild berries, underscored by herbal spice and a mineral note. The acidity is vibrant, the tannin fine-grained, the finish long and marked by its volcanic origin.

Pairs well with roast duck breast, saddle of venison, or herb-crusted rack of lamb. Equally suited to mushroom dishes such as porcini risotto or creamed chanterelles, to coq au vin, and to mature Comté.

The estate's restaurant Schwarzer Adler has held a Michelin star continuously for over 55 years. Around 400,000 bottles are produced each year.