2015 Weingut Dr Heger, Spätburgunder, “Sonett” Dry, Baden, Germany

£16.95

Description

Roving Sommelier is passionate about premium quality regional wines. For me, Dr Heger is one of the best producers of Spätburgunder in Germany. In fact, Germany is the third largest producer of Pinot Noir (Spätburgunder in German) in the world. I bet you didn’t know that! My personal journey with Dr Heger started in 2006 when I was wine buyer and head sommelier at Orrery in Marylebone, London. I was introduced to their wonderful wines by Iris Ellmann of The Wine Barn and I have been following them with great interest ever since.

The vineyard was founded in 1935 by Dr. Max Heger, previously a country doctor practicing in the region. His growing passion for wine saw him purchase some of the best slopes in the Kaiserstuhl in Baden. Ihringer Winklerberg is one of Germany’s warmest vineyards. A steep, stony and exposed site rising to an altitude of 300 metres, it produces bold, ripe Spätburgunder (Pinot Noir). Achkarrer Schlossburg vineyard is best known for its complex Weissburgunder and Grauburgunders (Pinot Gris and Pinot Blanc). As the slopes are steeply terraced, the use of machinery is almost impossible and much of Dr. Heger’s 28 hectares is tended by hand.

In 1992, Max’s son Wolfgang (known as Mimus) handed the estate down to his son Joachim. He has expanded the business, launching a new label – Weinhaus Joachim Heger – producing lighter, everyday wines. Meanwhile, the Dr Heger estate continues to produce premium, elegant wines known for their structure, longevity and complexity. For me, if you’ve never tasted a German Pinot Noir before, I couldn’t think of a better wine to start off with. The 2015 Sonett is elegant and fruity with all the hallmarks of an affordable top-quality premium entry level Spätburgunder.

The estate received the top score of five grapes in 2017’s Gault Millau Awards. Weingut Dr. Heger is a member of the VDP and the German Barrique Forum.

Alcohol: 13% abv (75cl)

Closure: Screwcap

Grape variety: Spätburgunder (Pinot Noir)

Flavour Profile: Clean, Fresh, Dry, Medium-bodied, Elegant, Forest Fruits, Cherry, Plum