Lemberger Herzstück 2022

Wine Description for Lemberger Herzstück 2022 by Roterfaden

Colour & Appearance

Luminous, transparent ruby red with remarkable clarity – a visual hint at the early harvest and reduced alcohol content.

Nose

Seductively cool and elegant: red currants and crisp sour cherries dominate, underpinned by pomegranate. These are joined by aromatic herbal notes of bay leaf and a fine juniper trace, rounded off by subtle yeast spice.

Palate

Here the magic of this wine reveals itself: where Lemberger often comes across dark and tannin-driven, this one dances across the tongue. Fresh, transparent, juicy – and yet with unmistakable varietal character. The earthy notes and the characteristic meatiness of Blaufränkisch are present, but finely drawn. The tannin shows presence without dominance, pronounced yet silky. The ethereal bay leaf spice returns, perfectly balanced between lightness and meaty substance.

Finish

Persistently fresh with fine spice and an elegant tannin structure that invites the next sip.

Terroir & Origin

The vines are rooted in blue shell limestone near Vaihingen an der Enz, north-west of Stuttgart. This calcareous terroir lends the wine its mineral tension and cool elegance.

Grape Variety & Vinification

Early harvest for moderate 11% alcohol. Two-thirds of the grapes are destemmed, followed by a four to five-week maceration in open wooden vats with natural yeasts, without extensive extraction. Maturation in multi-year vats on full lees, bottled unfiltered and minimally sulphited.

Food Pairing Recommendations

Venison fillet with plum red wine reduction, venison roulade with grapes and walnuts, but also with beetroot baked in salt crust with caraway and lentils – the wine proves its versatility between game and demanding vegetarian dishes.

Special Features

A prime example of the new generation of German red wines: light-footed rather than heavy, drinking-friendly rather than concentrated, but without sacrificing character and depth. Roterfaden proves that Lemberger can be different – and should be.