2013 Furst Spätburgunder Schlossberg GG MAGNUM

The more that I taste the Fürst wines, the more that I am blown away by the single most compelling examples I have experienced of zen power-without-weight complexity in Pinot Noir to be found in Germany. His reputation in Europe is that of the finest estates in all of Germany, yet in the US he is virtually an unknown entity. As a bonkers fanatical Pinot Noir lover working with over 50 estates in Burgundy, I can unequivocally state that any serious Burgundy lover would be remiss to not at least check in on exactly what I and oooodles of other wine lovers/critics are talking about, as his Grand crus are worthy of every bit of consideration relative to their French counterparts. I am particularly gaga over his Klingenberger Schlossberg vineyard, a Chambollean example of airy treble toned mineral intensity, with impossibly gorgeous tiny red fruited inner mouth perfume and weightlessness. The vineyard itself is as majestic a site as any you will ever encounter, its STEEP sandstone terraces carved into the hillside reminiscent of Côte Rôtie. With the amount of manual work and cost required to work such land, it is not a proposition one approaches to make money, even at these eye popping prices. As Paul told me, he does it for love and to preserve such a majestic and remarkable heritage. His 2013 Schlossberg, offered here, won Pinot Noir (aka Spätburgunder in German) of the year last year in the Gault Millau, as it routinely breaks hearts of Pinot lovers everywhere, in every single vintage. For those who want to check out what the Schlossberg is about but who can’t pony up to the Grand cru pricetag, I would steer you towards the ortswein (villages) level Klingenberger bottling, which is essentially declassified Schlossberg from young vines….