Maximin Grunhaus Single Vineyard Abtsberg Mosel Pinot Noir 2020
Maximin Grunhaus Single Vineyard Abtsberg Mosel Pinot Noir
Region: Mosel, Germany
Vintage: 2020
Bottle size: 75cl
Grape: Pinot Noir
ABV: 13.5%
This Pinot Noir boasts a complex and fruit-driven nose, with aromas of Amarena cherry, blackcurrant, marzipan and liquorice, with subtle hints of hay and eucalyptus. The palate is typified by the region’s cool climate, showing flavours of cassis, elderberry, Darjeeling tea and wild herbs. Discreet tannins and white pepper spiciness linger on the elegant finish.
The grapes for the Pinot Noir are cultivated on one of the best and steepest parcels of the Abtsberg vineyard, the most famous vineyard of the estate. The 1.5 ha Pinot Noir parcel was planted by Carl von Schubert in 2007. Here, the soil is composed of blue Devonian slate and the slopes achieve, in places, gradients of 75% which requires laborious hand harvesting. The Abtsberg is located directly outside the castle Maximin Grünhaus and wines produced from this vineyard are known to be particularly expressive of their site with exceptional ageing potential.
The hand-harvested grapes were transported the short distance to the winery and promptly pressed in a pneumatic press to retain the fruit’s freshness and vibrant fruit characters. The must was allowed to flow two floors down without pressure into the fermentation cellar. Fermentation took place with indigenous yeasts in Fuders, classic Mosel 1000-litre casks made from oak sourced from the local Grünhäuser forest. The wine then spent 18 months in French, Austrian and regional oak to develop in structure and complexity before being bottled and released.
Located on steep, south-facing slopes two kilometres from where the river Ruwer meets the Mosel, the estate of Maximin Grünhaus has a history of viticulture that dates back to Roman times. It takes its name from the Abbey of Saint Maximin, a Benedictine monastery which owned the land from the 7th to the 18th century. Passing into French administration under Napoleon and then eventually to the von Schubert family in the late 19th century, the estate is now overseen by sixth-generation family member Maximin Von Schubert, who took over from his father Carl Von Schubert in 2014.