Jean Stodden - Dernauer Hardtberg Pinot Noir VDP Grosses Gewächs 2016

The Jean Stodden Dernauer Hardtberg Pinot Noir VDP Grosses Gewächs 2016 is a masterful red wine that impressively highlights the top-class quality of Pinot Noir from the Ahr wine-growing region. The Jean Stodden winery, situated in the village of Rech, is now run by Alexander Stodden and looks back on a long tradition. With a vineyard area of 6.5 hectares, consisting largely of steep slopes, the estate, under the leadership of Gerhard Stodden from the 1980s onwards, has worked its way to the top of the German wine scene and is now regarded as one of the most renowned red wine estates in Germany.

The wine comes from the VDP.GROSSEN LAGE® Dernauer Hardtberg, which is situated in the neighbouring village of Dernau. The south-facing slopes, criss-crossed by small side valleys, offer ideal conditions for Pinot Noir. The soil of the vineyard is a mixture of slate and greywacke, which stores the sun’s heat and benefits the vines even on cooler days . The slightly more sheltered location gives the wine its particularly pronounced fruit aroma. The grapes for this ‘Großes Gewächs’ were harvested by hand and rigorously selected. Following a 17-day maceration, the wine matured for 18 months in 100 per cent new barriques, where it also underwent malolactic fermentation. The wine was bottled unfiltered.

In the glass, the Hardtberg GG 2016 presents itself in an intensely luminous garnet red. The bouquet is incredibly exciting and multi-layered: it reveals smoky notes reminiscent of Ahr slate, as well as aromas of black and red fruits such as cherries, plums and wild berries. These are complemented by nuances of beetroot, parsnip, dried porcini mushrooms, dark chocolate and oriental spices. Falstaff describes the bouquet as mineral and spicy, with ripe raspberry, blackcurrant, rose, almond and a refined woody element with hints of coconut and caramel.

On the palate, the wine reveals its structured and powerful character. The tannins are supple with a fine grain and harmonise perfectly with the ripe fruit. Typical of this vineyard site is the harmoniously integrated, mild acidity, which lends the wine softness and warmth. The flavour is broad and powerful, with pure, ripe fruit highlighted by subtle tannins. The finish is long and lingering.

The high quality of this wine has also been recognised by the specialist press. Falstaff awarded the 2016 Hardtberg 92 points. The 2016 vintage also received 90 points from Gault&Millau and 89 points from the Vinum Wine Guide. The wine has an alcohol content of 13% vol..

Thanks to its structure and density, this Pinot Noir has considerable ageing potential. Ideally ,the wine should bedecanted to allow its full range of aromas to unfold. It is an excellent accompaniment to food and offers an exceptional tasting experience for lovers of complex, terroir-driven red wines.