Hello Bridgees,
Resident Old Bridge Cellars Wine Nerd, Aly, here....Nerd de Vin if you will. I hope this newsletter finds you well and the start to the new year has been a good one. I didn’t think I would be writing to you quite so soon, but after a little break we are back at it for another year, here to tell you about the best new wines to hit our shelves. Red Burgundy lovers, take note...
Resident Old Bridge Cellars Wine Nerd, Aly, here....Nerd de Vin if you will. I hope this newsletter finds you well and the start to the new year has been a good one. I didn’t think I would be writing to you quite so soon, but after a little break we are back at it for another year, here to tell you about the best new wines to hit our shelves. Red Burgundy lovers, take note...
We’ve discussed how the iconic wines of Burgundy have largely moved out of the realm of affordability, shifting the focus to discovering the finest wines the rest of the world has to offer. Even in local markets, and when we include our close neighbours like New Zealand, top-tier Pinot Noirs have firmly surpassed the $100 mark, with premier cuvées now approaching $200 per bottle. But never fear, we are always on the hunt for VALUE...and we think we've found something!
My latest 'Trust the Nerd' adventure takes us to Germany, the world’s third-largest producer of Pinot Noir, trailing only France and the US. With more plantings and production than Australia and New Zealand, Germany is a significant player in the Pinot world. I'll be taking you to Germany's southernmost region of Baden, located at a latitude similar to Burgundy’s, is roughly the same distance from Burgundy as Perth is from Margaret River. Given these parallels, it’s no surprise that Pinot Noir thrives here.
My latest 'Trust the Nerd' adventure takes us to Germany, the world’s third-largest producer of Pinot Noir, trailing only France and the US. With more plantings and production than Australia and New Zealand, Germany is a significant player in the Pinot world. I'll be taking you to Germany's southernmost region of Baden, located at a latitude similar to Burgundy’s, is roughly the same distance from Burgundy as Perth is from Margaret River. Given these parallels, it’s no surprise that Pinot Noir thrives here.
I was recently presented with a wine which has only just been brought into Western Australia, less than 2 weeks ago. First thoughts, WOW! I did think that I should probably just keep it to myself, but where’s the fun and enjoyment of wine if we're not sharing?
Introducing Franz Keller, a family with three generations of winemakers in the Kaiserstuhl region of Baden. Pioneers in the area, the Kellers initially made their mark in hospitality, with Franz’s wife, Irma, becoming the first German woman to receive a Michelin star in 1969. Now son and grandson, Fritz and Friedrich, are the custodians of the terraced vineyards where the wines are all handpicked and a stunning new winery built into the landscape, is gravity fed.
Introducing Franz Keller, a family with three generations of winemakers in the Kaiserstuhl region of Baden. Pioneers in the area, the Kellers initially made their mark in hospitality, with Franz’s wife, Irma, becoming the first German woman to receive a Michelin star in 1969. Now son and grandson, Fritz and Friedrich, are the custodians of the terraced vineyards where the wines are all handpicked and a stunning new winery built into the landscape, is gravity fed.
I was lucky enough to taste three different price points, but it was the first that blew me away. The Franz Keller Spatburgunder 2022 was immediately alluring and highly aromatic. There is a little spiciness hinting to the 15% whole bunch but it certainly adds to the complexity of this wine, not the sappy or super stemmy notes that you see in some other versions. On the palate it is super smooth and generous with hints of cola nut and cherries. I thought to myself that if this was tasted in a blind lineup, I would say it hailed from Burgundy!
The one thing that doesn’t resemble ‘Burgs is the price tag. RRP is $69.95 which in the scheme of things is probably why I thought I better graciously share this gem. This is a finite resource and yes it’s quite likely the wrong time of year so soon after the festive period but I would hate you to miss out.
To spread the love, we’re offering a special price of 3 for $180—limit 3 per customer. I’d like to think that this deal might just twist a few arms! Jump online or come visit at either store (North Fremantle or Como) to chat all things Pinot, our favourite pastime!
See you all soon,
Aly and the Old Bridge Cellars team
