WTN: Bassermann-Jordan Pfalz Spätburgunder Trocken 2008

Not lacking for color -2008 being a rather fine Pfälzer vintage after all. Nice black cherry fruit and a pretty floral component. It is a clean, honest expression of Pinot Noir without the tartness or herbaceous character found in most of the 2008 red Burgs I´ve tasted, and none of the thickness or cola flavors of 2008 Oregon Pinot, but rather a ´tweener´style that I like very much for the price. 13,5% €12

Cheers,
Bill

[David M. Bueker]

Interesting note Bill. I wish there was a range of affordable spatburgunder available here, but it just isn't in the cards.

You´re right, David.

I think that it depends upon how much people are willing to spend for Spätburgunder and how much importers and retailers\restaurants are willing to stick their necks out to inform consumers about the quality of German Pinot Noir. There is still a huge prejudice against ´German Red Wine´ in America -most of it brought on by Germany´s enthusiam for red crossings that didn´t deliver on promises made (portugieser and dornfelder being the biggest culprits, both still hugely popular here) and by the horrible lieblich red wines that the big bottlers pump out and ship overseas for a ´line extension´ to thier frosted-bottle Riesling. The Spätburgunder that does make it to America (Heger, Kesseler, Meyer-Näkel, Diel, Becker, Fürst etc.) is generally of a very high quality but with an Imported price tag that often surpasses that quality. Germans are happy to pay 40, 50, 60€ for top German-made Pinot Noir, so it makes little sense for the producers to take anything less just to export it. It´s the same reason that Tempier Bandol Rose is worth the 15€ bottle price while sitting sea-side overlooking the Mediterranian, but is a slap in the face at $40 US.

Even this modest 12€ Bassermann-Jordan Spätburgunder would probably cost $20-$25 in a US shop (maybe still a deal when you consider what you can buy from Burgundy or OR for the same price.) It´s a shame that the dollar started to slide at about the same time that Germany was making huge strides forward in Pinot Noir (not to mention Lemberger and St. Laurent with which the Austrians are doing a fine job of exporting.)

There are always Meßmer liters, but it would be nice to have a lot more. Unfortunately, I guess the same could be said of Burgundy.

Cheers,
Bill

I think that it depends upon how much people are willing to spend for Spätburgunder and how much importers and retailers\restaurants are willing to stick their necks out to inform consumers about the quality of German Pinot Noir.

Yes, I guess German wine in general needs a lot of explaining for the broader public. But I also wonder how much need there is for more pinot noir in the retail market.

I mean sure I'd love to have more choices, but I get the feeling that retailers aren't exactly flying through all their Burgundy wines either. Especially once you get past the top handful of cult names.

I think that it depends upon how much people are willing to spend for Spätburgunder and how much importers and retailers\restaurants are willing to stick their necks out to inform consumers about the quality of German Pinot Noir.

Yes, I guess German wine in general needs a lot of explaining for the broader public. But I also wonder how much need there is for more pinot noir in the retail market.

I mean sure I'd love to have more choices, but I get the feeling that retailers aren't exactly flying through all their Burgundy wines either. Especially once you get past the top handful of cult names.

Excellent point. Perhaps another question is whether or not the trend for importing not only unknown producers from well-known regions (like Burgundy) but also undiscovered wines of micro appellations from every corner of the world is slowing down.

Cheers
-Bill