Blanc de Blancs Sekt Brut 2020

Wine description for Blanc de Blancs, sparkling wine Brut 2020 from Franz Keller

In the gentle hills of Baden, where the sun shines generously and the soil gives the vines a special minerality, Franz Keller creates this remarkable Blanc de Blancs. A sparkling wine that combines the precision of German sparkling wine artistry with the elegance of the Chardonnay grape and was disgorged in January 2024 with a restrained dosage of just 4 g/l - a testament to the winemaker's confidence in the intrinsic quality of his base wine.

Visual impression

In the glass, this sparkling wine from Baden presents itself in a bright, sparkling golden yellow, reminiscent of early morning sunlight shining through a dewdrop-covered vine leaf. The perlage - the visual hallmark of every sparkling wine - is impressively delicate and lively, testifying to the careful bottle fermentation and precise cellar technique.

Nose

The first aroma unfolds with a clarity reminiscent of a fresh spring morning in Baden's wine country. The Chardonnay reveals its varietal elegance in a multi-layered composition of juicy fruit flavours: crisp apple with its refreshing acidity, ripe pear with its gentle sweetness, aromatic quince with its complex spiciness and vineyard peach with its subtle exoticism. These fruit components are enveloped by a fine brioche note - that characteristic yeast note that only comes from patient ageing on the lees - and delicate hazelnut nuances that add an extra dimension to the whole. It is a subtle, simultaneously juicy yet elegant prelude that awakens the senses and prepares you for the first sip.

Palate

The palate is initially greeted by the invigorating perlage - not intrusive, but harmoniously woven into the fruit structure. The carbon dioxide dances on the tongue without dominating. The minerality, which comes from the limestone soil of Baden, is revealed in a fine, almost crystalline structure, accompanied by subtle salty hints reminiscent of a cool sea breeze. The acidity is precise, cutting through the fruit like a well-sharpened knife and giving the sparkling wine a lively freshness without ever being too aggressive. The finish is long, clean and leaves a pleasant memory of ripe fruit and fine yeast pastry notes.

It is this combination of freshness, depth and precision that makes Franz Keller's Blanc de Blancs an outstanding example of German sparkling wine art - a wine that respects tradition and at the same time demonstrates the quality of the Baden terroir for Chardonnay.

General information

The Blanc de Blancs Sekt Brut 2020 from Franz Keller epitomises the growing excellence of German sparkling wines at an international level. With an alcohol volume of 12.0% and a restrained residual sweetness, it is in the ideal range for a gastronomically versatile sparkling wine. The exclusive use of Chardonnay - hence "Blanc de Blancs" - is a conscious decision for elegance and finesse, while the 2020 harvest with its warm summer and cool autumn provided ideal conditions for structured, yet fresh base wines.

Food pairing suggestions

This sparkling wine is ideal as an upmarket aperitif, but it would be almost wasteful to limit it to this role alone. Its complexity and structure predestine it for pairing with Oysters and Seafoodespecially to Scallops with citrus butter. It also harmonises wonderfully with Sushi, Sashimi and light Fish dishes. Its acidity structure and fine perlage make it the ideal partner for Dishes with a creamy texture like Risotto with porcini mushrooms or Tagliatelle with truffle cream. Last but not least, it is an excellent accompaniment to Soft cheese such as Brie or Camembert, whose creamy texture is perfectly contrasted by the lively acidity and perlage of the sparkling wine.