Engelsfelsen Badischer Landwein 2018

Engelsfelsen is probably the most spectacular site in Forgeurac's portfolio. It is located in the uppermost, not land-cleared part of the top Engelsfelsen site in Bühlertal. The site is extremely steep and is considered one of the steepest in Europe at 75 º. From there, the slope rises high into the Black Forest, from which cool air flows into the valley in the evening. Since the vineyard is south-facing, there are large temperature differences between day and night, which explains the intense fruit of the wines. One can only reach the scattered vineyards on adventurously narrow paths. The soils consist of very poor shallow granite gruel. Depending on the vintage, the grapes are partially destemmed or fermented as whole clusters, then briefly foot-crushed in small wooden vats and fermented on the skins for about three weeks in moderate pigeage. After that, pressing takes place on an old basket press. The wines are drawn off with a hose and by drop pressure. The wines are matured exclusively in used wooden barrels, predominantly Barriques and Pièces. No yeasts, no enzymes, no fining, no filtration and, depending on the vintage, a maximum of 30 mg of added sulphur, usually less.

Garnet to purple

Deep and dark, slightly spicy and stony, this wine has a 2018 Angel Rock at the moment of opening. Quite quickly, one becomes aware of the dimension of depth, intensity and complexity in this wine. The Pinot noir Smells of hedge roses, violets and rose hips combined with still youthful yeasty notes, with foliage, earth, dry wood and rock, a little leather, tobacco and some just ripened blackberries.

On the palate the Angel Rock similarly dark, earthy and mysterious as in the fragrance. On the one hand clear and transparent in its structure, it currently seems to be the most closed wine of the Forgeurac Pinots. Underwood, earth, a little allspice and a lot of crushed rock form the aromatic spectrum here together with a few dark berries and nuts. The tannin shows itself to be fine-grained and present at the same time. A few raps provide grip and a cool note that is further supported by the rock notes. The acidity is downright brilliant and lively for 2018. What a diamond in the rough! For me, one of the great interpretive pinot noirs of the vintage. Just put it aside for a few years, please.