Sommelier Journal

PAGES (22) October 15 2011

TASTING PANEL German Spätburgunders David Furer, CWE David Furer is the author of Wine Places (Mitchell Beazley, 2005); a contributor to the annual Wine Report, Hugh Johnson’s Pocket Wine Book, the Which? Wine Guide, and the recently published book Opus Vino; and a writer for numerous magazines. He has lectured at universities around the world and has passed the Advanced-level exam of the Court of Master Sommeliers. He is the speakers coordinator and co-host of Wine Future Hong Kong ’11.

Pinot Noirs from the past decade impress a Dallas panel. Pinot Noir from Germany—called Spätburgunder, or “late (ripening) Burgundian”—is today the most widely planted and highest-quality red grape from this northern European dynamo, trailing only Riesling and the rapidly declining Müller-Thurgau in total acreage. Back in the 19th century, German plantings of red grapes actually exceeded those of whites. Admittedly, most were anemically flavored, low-alcohol drinks for everyday glugging in ...