New
75cl
Wasenhaus Spatburgunder Kalk 2022
Vendor code : 1385
Christophe Wolber and Alexandre Götze have honed their skills at some of Burgundy's top biodynamic estates. Alex spent nearly a decade at Pierre Morey and De Montille, where he now serves as chef de culture (vineyard manager), while Christophe gained experience working at renowned estates such as Leflaive, Bernhard van Berg, Domaine de la Vougeraie, and Comte Armand. Their first vintage in 2016 was a remarkably successful debut, demonstrating that such quality could hardly have been achieved by chance.
Color
Red
Country
Germany
Fortress
12.5%
Region
Baden
Producer
Wasenhaus
Grape
Spatburgunder
Vintage
2022
The 2022 Spätburgunder Kalk is a blend of grapes sourced from limestone soils. It shares some of the character of Bellen (which is also grown on limestone soils, with some grapes from Bellen included in this blend), but is perhaps more supple. This Pinot Noir comes from several plots, all situated on the limestone soils of Markgräflerland, with most vines being over 40 years old. The grapes underwent fermentation with 40% whole bunches in an open-top fermenter for 18 days, and the wine was aged for 16 months in mostly used barrels. The aroma reveals hints of strawberries, raspberries, cherries, and violets. On the palate, the wine showcases high acidity, a pronounced minerality, light tannins, and subtle spices. It offers a distinct profile that sets it apart from Burgundy wines.
Wasenhaus takes a gentle approach to extraction, employing very little punchdown during fermentation and instead using occasional, mostly hand-stirring of the cap to ensure a healthy start to fermentation. Sulfur is used carefully, with no more than 30-50 parts per million in total, and is only added after malolactic fermentation is complete. According to Wasenhaus, the timing of the first sulfur application plays a crucial role in ensuring smoother tannin integration, particularly in whole-bunch fermentation. When sulfur is added during the vinification process (including primary and malolactic fermentation), the wine has more time to fully develop. In contrast, if sulfur is applied early, before fermentation begins, it can lock in harder tannins, which may take longer to evolve in the bottle and suppress the wine’s best moments by maintaining a firmer tannin structure. All of Wasenhaus' wines are aged in oak barrels, but it’s still too early to determine their long-term approach to new oak usage. The team continues to experiment with each vintage to find the best balance.
Reviews from critics
92/100
1 points
95-100
0
90-94
1
85-89
0
80-84
0
75-79
0
0-74
0
Wine Advocate
The 2022 Spätburgunder Kalk is predominantly sourced in Ebringen, Ehrenstetten and Kirchhof and comes from 40-year-old and younger vines. The wine opens with a bright and fresh, cherry and chalky bouquet. Silky, refined and lush on the palate, this is tight, saline and tensioned, remarkably intense and refreshing, firmly structured Pinot with fine but enormously vital acidity, fine limestone tannins and a long and intense finish. Tasted as a sample at the domaine in February 2024, a week before bottling. About 5,000 bottles were expected to be filled.