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2013 Claus Schneider Weiler Schlipf product-timed-pdf - Spätburgunder, Baden, Germany *Pinot Noir - Rare & Amazing German Gem for Pinotphiles
Why We're Drinking It
For those who love classic Pinot Noir and those who mistakenly believe all German wine to be white—and sweet. This James ‘Special Selection’ discovery hails from Germany’s southern spa region of Baden, where Pinot Noir has been grown perhaps even longer than in Burgundy and with equally electrifying results!
Burgundy lovers will applaud this premium German Pinot, grown in Baden’s most heralded escarpment Weiler Schlipf. The terroir here is rich in clay and limestone, and ideal for Pinot Noir of exceptional purity and verve. Schneider’s ‘CS’ refers to the proprietor’s initials and signifies the reserve wine from this estate. As such, grapes are picked later when riper compared with Schneider’s regular Spatburgunder, and the wine is treated to a touch more aging in barrique. Never filtered, this wine is bottled with all of its character and complexity intact, and is a stylish, sleek Pinot Noir that left our Tasting Panel breathless.
Weiler Schlipf is pretty much the most southernmost vineyard in all of Germany and luckily for all of us, it is in the hands of a master winemaker. This is for Pinot fans of all stripes and any red wine drinker looking to broaden their palates and horizons.
Reasons why we love it:
Pinot Noir is known as Spatburgunder in Germany, and it is grown in all of Germany’s 13 wine regions.
Pinot (or Spatburgunder) was first introduced to what is now modern Germany by the Cistercian monks in the 13th century, and plantings here may actually predate those of the Cote d’Or.
Not only are Schneider’s ‘CS’ wines made from riper grapes and given lengthier maturation in oak, this one is also culled from the very best sites on the Weiler Schlipf slope.
Tasting Notes
VARIETAL Burgundy lovers will flip for this high quality CS (aka Reserve) Pinot Noir Spatburgunder (aka Pinot Noir)! A class of it's own, full of complex nuances APPELLATION of vegetal character and coffee. The fruit is nice and dark and brambly Baden, Germany mixed between each layer. This is really remarkable and unique in the ALCOHOL category, something you must try for yourself. There's lovely acidity, it's rich, 13.00 balanced and will pair greatly with many different foods. ~James Byus III SIZE 750ml BLEND Pinot Noir
The Story to Know
The estate owned by Claus and Susanne Schneider is located in the town of Weil am Rhein (Markgräflerland area) in the Baden wine-growing region in Germany. The ancestors of the family have been involved in wine production since 1425. Claus Schneider studied viticulture and winemaking at the college in Weinsberg , and took over the estate from his parents after his graduation in 1982. His wife Susanne comes from a long line of wine producers and coopers in Haltingen, and was the Baden wine queen in 1979.
The vineyard area totals eight hectares, of which two hectares are in the Haltinger Stiege site and six hectares in the Weiler Schlipf – the most south-westerly single vineyard site in Germany. This site is in danger of disappearing, the soil consists of impermeable sandstone slabs covered by a layer of limestone and clay, and this steep slope is slowly sliding (in local dialect: „schlipft”) down. Varieties planted are Pinot Noir (3,4 ha), Chasselas (2,6 ha), Pinot Blanc (1 ha), Pinot Gris (0,8 ha), Chardonnay (0,4 ha) and Johanniter.
Particular attention is paid on quick and clean processing of the grapes. The musts are fermented at temperatures of 16 to 20 °Celsius. The wines are left on the lees for an extended period until they are bottles, which as a rule is not before the end of April. Bottle-fermented sparkling wines are also produced.
As one climbs the quality tree at Schneider, one does not get more power or weight but rather an ever-increasing degree of filigree and concentration. This is the sleekest, purest and most finely balanced of the bunch. The top wine in a top vintage, it would hold its own against vastly more expensive wines from Burgundy or the New World. It proves that very often the best value is not to be found with the cheapest wines but, paradoxically, with the most expensive.~The Winery
Perfect Pairings
Pair with roasted poultry, bean casseroles and even pan fried pork chops.
I would love this pinot paired with a seared duck breast with pomegranate sauce accompanied by a side of roasted garlic mashed potatoes and bacon braised brussels sprouts. Yum! Anything roasted or seared crispy with some herbs will do the trick. Savory flavors and even bold will work with this versatule red. ~Chef James
Ratings
94 Insider Points
Reviews
Victoria Moore, The Telegraph, October 2014: "No one beyond wine-world ever mentions it but German pinot noir is very good, if difficult to find: they keep it all to themselves.Schneider has the most southerly vineyards in Germany and what I like about this wine is that it combines ripeness with a chiselled shape. It’s not hedonistic, more elegantly sinewed. I drank with ricotta/fig/mint tagliatelle then slow-roast pork. Big hit."