Chat Sauvage Pinot Noir Rüdesheim dry dry 2017

Chat Sauvage Pinot Noir Rüdesheim 2017

1. Classification and speciality

This Pinot Noir represents the characteristic, unconventional style of the young Chat Sauvage winery in the Rheingau. The 2017 vintage comes from a warm, sunny year with early ripening, which resulted in ripe, accessible wines with good fruit in the Rheingau. The speciality lies in the interpretation of the Pinot Noir grape variety through the estate's "minimalist intervention" philosophy: no use of new barrique wood, no exaggerated extraction, but a focus on fruit, terroir and drinking flow.

2. Sensory description (vinified dry)

• Colour: Medium, transparent ruby red with light brick-coloured reflections on the rim.

• Nose: A very lively, rather cool and elegant aroma. Fresh red berries (raspberry, wild strawberry, cranberry) are dominant , underpinned by a clear mineral and stony note(slate, wet pebbles) that reflects the Rüdesheim terroir. Light spicy notes of white pepper, dried herbs and a delicate floral vein (violets) round off the picture. No offensive roasted flavours.

• Palate: Medium-bodied with an incisive, invigorating acidity that gives the wine its tension and freshness. The tannins are finely honed but noticeable and provide a pleasant, structuring texture. The palate follows the nose with juicy red fruit, a salty mineral note and a very long, clean finish characterised by this mineral freshness and delicate bitterness (like orange peel).

• Overall impression: Not a heavy, extract-rich Burgundy imitation, but a slender, drinkable and fascinatingly transparent Rheingau Pinot Noir. It emphasises elegance, acidity structure and the origin from the slate and gravel soils of Rüdesheim over pure fruit power.

3. Drinking recommendation & potential

• Maturity & drinking window: The 2017 is now at an optimal drinking maturity. The primary fruit is still fully present, but has already combined with the secondary, developed notes. Due to its good acidity structure, it can certainly continue to develop in the bottle for another 3-5 years, but will not gain much complexity in the process; its charm lies in its vitality.

• Serve: Serve at 14-16°C. A brief aeration in the carafe (15-30 minutes) can open up the flavour and soften the tannins even further.

• Food pairing: Perfect with light to medium-heavy cuisine: roast chicken or poularde, cold roast, lamb fillet, mushroom dishes (e.g. risotto), and especially with German specialities such as roast onion or bratwurst. Its acidity also cuts well through fatty components.

4. Rating and style classification

The Chat Sauvage Pinot Noir Rüdesheim 2017 is an exemplary representative of the modern Pinot Noir typical of the Rhine region: cool, elegant and mineral rather than powerful and opulent. It proves that great complexity and character can be created without the use of new wood. For lovers of traditional, barrique-aged Pinots, it may seem too lean; for friends of purist, terroir-driven and lively red wines, it is a convincing, honest and very enjoyable glass.