Rudolf Fürst Centgrafenberg Pinot Noir 'R' Grosses Gewächs GG dry 2005

Rudolf Fürst Centgrafenberg Pinot Noir GG dry 2005

1.Classification and origin
This wine is a top growth from Germany. It is classified as a Grosses Gewächs (GG) by the Verband deutscher Prädikatsweingüter (VDP), which identifies it as a dry, origin-defined top wine from a parcel classified as a "Erste Lage".

• Winery: Rudolf Fürst Winery, Bürgstadt (Franconia)

• Grape variety: Pinot Noir (Spätburgunder)

• Site: Centgrafenberg (single vineyard in Bürgstadt)

• Vintage: 2005

• Classification: VDP.GROSSES GEWÄCHS

• Predicate: Dry

2.The site: Centgrafenberg
The Centgrafenberg is one of Franconia's most renowned steep slopes for Pinot Noir. The soils consist of weathered red sandstone with a proportion of shell limestone. This soil composition gives the wines a distinctive mineral structure, spicy aromas and great ageing potential. Fürst cultivates some of the oldest Pinot Noir plots in the region here.

3.The 2005 vintage
The 2005 vintage is regarded throughout Germany as classic and outstanding. A long, warm summer with cool nights led to optimum ripeness while retaining freshness. The wines are characterised by an excellent balance between fruit concentration, acid structure and ripe tannins. For red wines, especially Pinot Noir, it is one of the best vintages of the decade.

4.Sensory assessment (when ripe)
After 19 years of ageing in the bottle, the wine presents itself in its fully developed, tertiary phase.

• Colour: Medium-intense garnet red with clear orange tones of ripeness on the rim.

• Nose: The primary fruit has receded in favour of a complex, delicate bouquet. Aromas of dried morello cherries, stewed plums, truffles, forest floor (sous-bois) and cedar wooddominate. Typical of the Centgrafenberg is an underlying, spicy-mineral note (of white pepper and fine smoke).

• Palate:Medium to full-bodied, dry. The tannins are fully integrated and silky. The acidity is lively and carries the aromas. The flavour repeats the nose with notes of ripe, dried red fruit, tobacco and a clear, salty minerality. The finish is long, complex and persistent and ends with an elegant bitterness that invites you to drink it again.

• Overall impression: A serious, profound and fully mature Pinot Noir that is powerful and elegant at the same time. It is not a fruit wine, but a contemplative wine of great class that is true to its terroir.

5. Drinking age and serving suggestions

• Drinking window: The wine is at the peak of its development and can be kept at this level for at least another 3-5 years if stored properly (cool, dark, constant temperature).

• Decanting: Recommended(approx. 30-60 minutes before serving). This helps the complex flavours to develop and allows any slight reduction notes typical of mature wines to evaporate.

• Serving temperature: 14-16°C.

• Food pairing: Ideal accompaniments are aromatic, not too heavy dishes such as roast venison or game, duck breast, mushroom ragouts or mature cheese (e.g. Comté, mountain cheese).

6.Conclusion
The Rudolf Fürst Centgrafenberg Pinot Noir GG 2005is an excellent example of the world-class potential of German Pinot Noir. It perfectly embodies the characteristics of its great vintage and its origin from the Centgrafenberg. The ageing process has turned it into a harmonious, complex and incredibly captivating wine. A pleasure for connoisseurs, which impressively demonstrates the signature of the exceptional winemaker Paul Fürst and the value of ageing top-quality GG wines.

Rating: Outstanding (96/100 points). A timeless wine.