Robert König Assmannshäuser Höllenberg Spätburgunder QbA Trocken 2008 -Rheingau, Germany
Lighter-bodied and ruby colored. Very pretty, feminine, fresh red fruit aromas. bright, high-toned strawberry and raspberry fruit, nutmeg, with a supple and juicy texture. Delicious despite being relatively simple.
Salwey Spätburgunder QbA Trocken 2008 -Baden, Germany
Black cherry fruit, a little sweet red beet, smoke, gun-flint, sharper acidity, but plenty of body. 13% alc
Dr Heger Merdinger Bühl Spätburgunder QbA 2007 -Baden, Germany
Smoky, sweet Spanish chorizo paprika, raspberry, black cherry, nice depth of flavor and good balance. It would compare favorably to entry-level Oregonian Pinot Noir (The OR or Willamette Valley bottlings from A to Z, Cloudline, Lange, WVV, Ponzi etc.) and certainly to the similarly-priced CA Pinots.
Bassermann-Jordan Pfalz Spätburgunder Trocken 2008 -Pfalz, Germany
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%
Cheers,
Bill