Chardonnay 2020 – Klaus Vorgrimmler

The Tuniberg is a quarry clod of Jurassic limestone that was "left hanging" during the formation of the Upper Rhine Graben. Similar rocks are only found again on the Swiss border and in the Swiss Jura. The entire Tuniberg is covered with glacial loess, although the thickness in the southern part is less than in the central and northern parts, so that the vines in the steeper southern part root right into the Jurassic limestone. In the rest, the typical fertile loess-loam soils prevail.

The grapes are harvested by hand, destemmed and pressed very slowly and gently so that the run-off must and phenols oxidise. The must is pre-clarified overnight by gravity and then fermented spontaneously in stainless steel. The wine remains on full lees without sulphur additions until bottling. In spring it is drawn off, roughly filtered once and bottled with about 30-40mg total sulphur. Apart from a little SO2, the wine is bottled without any additives or fining.

Brilliant golden yellow with silvery lightening towards the rim.

The 2020 Chardonnay from Klaus Vorgrimmler combines fine fruit and skilful use of wood on the nose. Aromas of orange, lemon, lemon zest and ripe quince combine with subtle smoky hints, crispy baguette, roasted hazelnuts and white nougat. Everything seems very elegant and never superficial or even loud.

Refreshing and lilting, it moves across our tongue with the fine fruit of the nose and an intense herbal note of lime blossom, fennel, fennel herb, a little artichoke and coriander. In the aftertaste, its fine acidity and its accentuated herbal spiciness are clearly indicated. A wine that shows Burgundian finesse and flirts with a fine cedar note and saltiness in the long finish.