Kirchberg Oberrotweil Chardonnay GG 2022

Wine Description for Kirchberg Oberrotweil Chardonnay GG 2022 by Franz Keller

Colour & Appearance

Intense straw yellow with brilliant clarity – a wine that already promises maturity and concentration on the eye.

Nose

A fascinating nose with fine reduction that lends the wine depth. Layers of pear, quince and mirabelle plum meet exotic carambola. These are joined by lemon and lime zest, verbena and lemon balm, underpinned by a hint of fennel green and yeast dough. The mineral component reveals itself in crushed chalk, whilst subtle oak provides the framework.

Palate

A paradox in the best possible way: elegant and almost quaffable, yet wild and tempestuous at the same time. Woody spice and subtly smoky notes meld with juicy pears, ripe quinces and mature citrus fruit. Yet this Chardonnay is above all a wine of texture and structure – with fine grip, chalky texture and juicy acidity. The oak is deployed with precision, never dominant. From the first moment the wine builds tension that carries through to the long finish: precise, subtle, vibrant.

Finish

Long, mineral and charged with tension. The acidity carries the fruit far, whilst the chalky minerality resonates. A finish that invites the next sip.

Terroir & Origin

The Oberrotweil Kirchberg is a south-westerly exposed vineyard site with pale, calcareous volcanic scree – a terroir that makes Burgundy enthusiasts sit up and take notice. Planted in the early 1990s with genetics from the finest Burgundy sites, this vineyard yields grapes of extraordinary precision.

Grape Variety & Vinification

Chardonnay in pure form, spontaneously fermented after brief skin contact to zero grams residual sugar. Twelve months ageing in 350-litre oak barrels (35% new wood), followed by six months in steel tank – each on full lees. This combination of oak and steel creates complexity without excess.

Food Pairing Recommendations

A versatile companion: scallops with butter sauce, turbot with champagne sauce, sweetbreads with morels, lobster or also aged Comté. The structure certainly pairs well with poultry in cream sauce too.

Special Features

A Großes Gewächs that demonstrates German Chardonnay plays in the same league as international benchmarks. At just 12.5% alcohol, Franz Keller proves that greatness need not mean heaviness. A wine with ageing potential that already captivates.