Isteiner Cabernet Sauvignon 2022

A Cabernet Sauvignon that brings together concentration and lightness. The dark fruit is deep and opulent, yet never heavy, and a cool, mentholated streak keeps the wine upright. In the glass, dark purple with violet reflections and a pale rim.

The vines stand at 369 metres of altitude in the Isteiner Kirchberg vineyard, on Jurassic limestone deposits between the Rhine Rift Valley and the southern Black Forest. Conditions there are considered almost Mediterranean, warm enough for this international grape variety. The Jurassic limestone at the Isteiner Klotz is a rarity in Germany and gives the winery in the Markgräflerland its identity. The families of the Reinecker sparkling wine estate, along with Fritz and Friedrich of Weingut Franz Keller, took over the estate in 2018/2019 and converted it to organic farming.

Single-varietal Cabernet Sauvignon from hand-harvested, carefully selected grapes. In the cellar, the guiding principle is minimal intervention, with ageing in French oak barrels containing 30% new wood. The wine is dry and comes in at 13.0% ABV.

Plenty of juiciness and richness, with a clear, effortless flow. The tannin remains fine-grained and silky, currently still overlaid by the fruit. The acidity sets a precise, slightly astringent counterpoint, lending structure and freshness. Mint and eucalyptus act as a cool counterpoint to the dark fruit, while the spice notes of black pepper, oregano and sage only emerge on the finish.

With pink-roasted rack of lamb with herb crust, beef fillet or braised dishes such as bœuf bourguignon.