2020 Altenbourg Pinot Noir
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Tasting notes
The 2020 Altenbourg Pinot Noir has a deep and generous, fruit-intense nose. Full-bodied, rich and generous on the palate, with intense and perfectly ripe fruit and the heat of the vintage, this is a tight, saline and tensioned, very fresh and firm but concentrated and aromatic Pinot Noir that still has a tart finish but also remarkable aging potential. 14% stated alcohol. Natural cork. Tasted at the domaine in April 2024.
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Tamlyn Currin, jancisrobinson.com
Stephan Reinhardt, Wine Advocate
More reviews and scores
Certified organic (Ecocert) and biodynamic (Demeter). From a south-west-facing vineyard, 20- and 40-year-old vines. 50% whole bunch. Spontaneous fermentation. Very low sulphite additions. Aged in oak, 25% new. Malty nose but the fruit is pure and glossy and sharp with life, and the energy is upright, vibrant, taut. It was the perfect foil to roasted rabbit loin in a blackcurrant and verbena jus, matching the sweet earthiness and tart, fragrant vigour of the juice note for note. (TC)
The 2020 Pinot Noir Altenbourg is from a southwest-facing lieu-dit and has the same iron-rich marls as Vogelgarten. This is from two blocks, one from the 1960s; the other is a massal selection from Clos des Epenots in Pommard planted 20 years ago. The blocks make up half each of the blend. The nose is full of red cherry but has a lovely herbal lift. The palate unfurls like a smooth, tender, soft, glossy bale of silk. The structure is superfine; tannins still brush gently. Most elegant, wonderfully supple, exquisitely fresh. This will evolve beautifully. (Bone-dry)