Spätburgunder "Aus den Lagen" 2023

A juicy, cool-toned Spätburgunder from the Palatinate. Christmann positions the "Aus den Lagen" line as the estate's second wine; the quality within this entry-level tier is impressively high.

The wine draws on all of the estate's own classified vineyards, spread across nearly five kilometers along the Haardt slope, each with its own soil and microclimate. The grapes come exclusively from VDP.ERSTE and VDP.GROSSE LAGEN: parcels from Gimmeldinger Kapellenberg and Mussbacher Eselshaut, complemented by selected barrels from the crus of Gimmeldingen and Königsbach. Variegated sandstone, limestone and terraced gravel mark each of these vineyards differently. The A. Christmann estate in Gimmeldingen cultivates 17 hectares, all classified as VDP.ERSTE or VDP.GROSSE LAGE and planted with Riesling and Pinot.

Spätburgunder (Pinot Noir), fermented with 20 to 30 percent whole clusters, then aged 17 months in barrique. Dry, 13.0% vol.

On the nose, sour cherry, wild raspberry, plum and blackberry, joined by elderberry, undergrowth, cinnamon and cedarwood, underscored by minerality and notes of graphite and cold smoke. The palate opens juicy and berry-driven, with cool finesse; the tannic structure feels velvety and polished, while the acidity stays lively. The color shows a slightly hazy garnet red, gently lightening toward the rim.

Founded in 1798, the estate has farmed organically since 2002 and biodynamically since 2003, certified by respekt-BIODYN and EU organic. Steffen Christmann has run it since 1996, the seventh generation of the family, joined since 2018 by his daughter Sophie Christmann. Whole-cluster fermentation and extended barrique aging give the wine structure without masking its fruit.