With gentle roasted aromas, clove spice and a delicate smoky notion, it’s the influence of barriques which dominates the nose at this early stage of development, although fruit is managing to peer through the olfactory curtain with some subtle nuances of cassis. On the palate, however, tannins seem well integrated into a generous texture already, affording the fruit of blackcurrant an early opportunity to demonstrate its juicy and savoury qualities. Minerality keeps a relatively low profile, meaning the Sonnenberg becomes approachable a little earlier than wines from the slaty slopes further up the valley.

Lovely, perfumed black-cherry and sour-cherry nose with some toasty oak that accentuates the fruit neatly. Ripe, concentrated and silky with stunning integration of fruit and oak. Long, gentle finish that pulls you back for more. Drink or hold.

From Bad Neuenahr, the 2019 Sonnenberg Spätburgunder GG offers a beautifully clear, rich, intense and precisely aromatic, immediately seductive bouquet of red and dark berries and cherries, even with some dried fruit and floral aromas. Highly attractive. Silky, with really remarkable fine but persistent tannins, this is a seriously fine and well-made Pinot from one of the warmer crus in the Ahr Valley. The finish is intense and energetic with spectacular length. Highly recommended. Tasted in Wiesbaden in August 2021.

The bouquet highlights cherry aromas in various stages of ripeness, cherry stone, dark raspberry and subtle new wood notes. The tannins seem rather reserved in quantity, with a grainy quality. Some creaminess buffers the minerality.

Fruity, but nevertheless still fairly closed. Raspberry, wood, maceration notes, green tea, and mint. On the palate, an extremely cleverly composed blend emerges: the soft texture merges with the powdery tannins, juiciness, and the fine nerve which leads into the increasingly mineral finish.

A fragrant composition of cherry, chocolate and cigar box works its seductive charm on the olfactory perception. The palate is still under the early spell of barrique-related flavours such as clove, cedar spice and black pepper but sensory glimpses of cherry and blackcurrant indicate the underlying potential of fruit. Tannins are still a little rugged, but well embraced by a rich texture.

Full yet fine black-cherry nose with spicy and toasty overtones. Impressively concentrated and silky palate, the tannins already very well integrated, the finish long and polished. Drink or hold.

From the flood-devastated home village of Dernau, the 2019 Pfarrwingert Spätburgunder GG opens with a concentrated and dark toned, very spicy and herbal bouquet of dark berries such as blackcurrant and cherries and brown rice in butter. On the palate, this is a full-bodied, round and juicy, more oaky Pinot that currently lacks the finesse and energy of the other GGs from Näkel. The finish is juicy and aromatic, revealing fine acidity and mineral tension. The finish is still slightly brittle. Tasted in Wiesbaden in August 2021.