IDIG Königsbach Spätburgunder GG VDP Grosse Lage 2021

Wine Description for IDIG Königsbach Spätburgunder GG VDP Grosse Lage 2021 by Christmann

Colour & Appearance

Luminous cherry red with a dark, concentrated core and lighter rim – a visual harbinger of the elegance to come.

Nose

This Idig is an aromatic tour de force of rare complexity. Dark morello cherry, plum and sweet cherry form the foundation, whilst raspberry and blackberry provide red accents. The earthy sweetness of beetroot lends unusual depth. Remarkable is the interplay of cedarwood, forest floor and moss with spicy notes of juniper, black pepper and cardamom. Herbal nuances of sage and rosemary along with a subtly nutty hint of almond round off the multi-layered bouquet. The fruit seems wrapped in tissue paper – noble and restrained.

Palate

Here the true greatness of this wine reveals itself: grandeur meets lightness, power meets finesse. A taut, forceful acidity structures the wine, whilst pronounced astringency provides enormous drinking appeal. Despite its compact structure, it flows silky and elegant across the palate. The texture is dense, yet never heavy – a balancing act owed to the cool vintage of 2021. Spice, fruit, earthiness and fine bitter notes stand in perfect harmony. The fine tannin gives the wine backbone without harshness.

Finish

For minutes this Spätburgunder resonates – herbal, spicy, with lingering freshness and an earthy minerality that seems never-ending. A finish of remarkable length and precision.

Terroir & Origin

The Idig in Königsbach rests upon a limestone rock massif from the Tertiary period. The topsoil consists of terra fusca (limestone and clay), interspersed with limestone stones and basalt from Forster Pechsteinkopf, a primordial volcano. This geological complexity – deliberately supplemented with basalt stones 150 years ago – shapes the wine’s mineral character. The Christmann family manages 3.9 of the 6.5 hectares of this Grosse Lage.

Grape Variety & Vinification

Spätburgunder from vines planted in 1977 and 2008 (French clone from Selektion Massale). Harvested on 18th/19th September 2021. Spontaneous fermentation with 10% whole bunches, maturation in barrique (10% new wood) until February 2023, bottled in May 2023. A classical, craftsman-perfect maturation.

Food Pairing Recommendations

Venison loin with savoy cabbage and cranberry sauce, grilled red mullet with root vegetable purée and toasted hazelnuts or surprisingly also with oven-baked white cabbage with hollandaise sauce – this wine pairs well with both game and more subtle flavours.

Special Characteristics

A Grosse Lage that masterfully captures the finesse and elegance of a cool vintage. Slender, precise, complex – a Spätburgunder of international calibre with unmistakable Palatinate identity.