Grauer Burgunder, Quarz und Löss 2024

Wine Description for Grauer Burgunder Quarz und Löss 2024 by Michael Andres

Character

Michael Andres delivers a classic Palatinate Pinot Gris with this wine, whose name already reveals the essential: quartz and loess define the geological signature. The wine presents itself with a moderate 12 per cent alcohol content, refreshingly accessible, and embodies that uncomplicated yet far from inconsequential style that makes German Burgundy varieties so pleasurable to drink. The minimal residual sweetness underscores its dry character – a wine that combines substance with lightness.

Terroir & Origin

The Palatinate, Germany’s second-largest wine region, offers ideal conditions for Burgundy varieties. The combination of quartz weathering soils and loess is geologically particularly appealing: whilst quartz provides minerality and structure, loess stores warmth and moisture, allowing the grapes to achieve balanced ripeness. These soils lend the Grauer Burgunder that characteristic tension between fruit and stony precision that distinguishes Palatinate wines. The region’s mild climate, sheltered by the Haardt and Pfälzerwald, guarantees reliable quality.

Grape Variety & Vinification

Pinot Gris, known in Germany as Grauer Burgunder, is experiencing a renaissance here. Moving away from heavy, sweetish variants towards fresh, dry interpretations – that appears to be Andres‘ approach. The 2024 vintage promises freshness and vibrancy. The grape variety typically brings yellow fruit, subtle nuttiness and a certain creaminess, without becoming heavy-handed. At this alcohol level, one can expect a vinification that prioritises elegance over opulence.

Food Pairing Suggestions

A versatile table companion: asparagus with hollandaise sauce, pan-fried sea fish or poultry in cream sauce harmonise beautifully. This Grauer Burgunder also shows its strengths with mushroom dishes, quiche or mild cheese. The moderate residual sweetness makes it interesting with Asian dishes featuring subtle sweetness – such as Thai curries or sushi.