Tasting note
There are red wines that make a bold entrance – and others that draw attention with quiet conviction. The Idig Spätburgunder belongs to the latter category. From what is perhaps Germany’s most cohesive ensemble of top vineyard sites, 95 per cent of which is owned by the Christmann family, comes a Pinot Noir of remarkable grace: powerful at its core, silky in expression, with that saline limestone minerality that Steffen Christmann describes as the voice of the soil. In magnum format, it matures with particular patience – a wine for long evenings, not for instant gratification.
- Colour & appearance
- Muted garnet red with a violet core – composed, dense, and youthful in its seriousness.
- Nose
- Sour cherry and wild raspberry, underpinned by darker notes of cassis. Smoky and herbal hints, a cool limestone character that lends depth to the fruit without overwhelming it.
- Palate
- Rich yet never heavy fruit. A refreshing sour cherry note, lively acidity, and fine-grained tannins – rendered silky rather than coarse by the whole-bunch component. An almost feminine elegance, great charm, and a precise line.
- Finish
- Long and saline-mineral, with lingering red fruit and a delicate, almost Burgundian spiciness.
- Terroir & origin
- The VDP.GROSSE LAGE Idig in Königsbach (Palatinate) is the heart of the Christmann estate: around 4 hectares, steeply sloping to the south-southeast, sheltered by a gentle breeze from the Klausental. The Terra fusca soil rests upon a massive limestone bedrock – the very source of this wine’s saline elegance.
- Grape variety & vinification
- Spätburgunder from two parcels in the upper section of the vineyard, comprising both old vines and French clones. Hand-harvested, low yields, 30 to 50 per cent whole-bunch fermentation following a five-day cold maceration; 18 months’ barrique maturation with only around 10 per cent new wood, followed by a brief rest in stainless steel.
- Food recommendations
- Classic pairings: duck breast, saddle of venison, coq au vin, accompanied by baked mushrooms or mature hard cheese.
- Special features
- A monopole site with over 400 years of history; the estate has been farmed biodynamically since 2003 (certified by respekt-BIODYN and EU Organic). The magnum bottling promises a particularly slow and harmonious evolution.
