Weingut Carl Ehrhard, Rüdesheim, Kirchenpfad, Spätburgunder Trocken 2012, Rheingau, Germany

Tasting Note: German red wines are a joy to find because so little of it actually leaves the country.

However if you were to smell the nose of this pinot noir (known as “spätburgunder” in Germany) you would know at once it is a German-styled wine, the same way you can detect a French-styled wine on the nose.

Ruby in color this wine has a chalky minerality on the nose that combines with red fruit that flirts with strawberry without actually showing any leg above the knee.

Strawberry on the nose continues as dry red fruit on the palate along with hints of red cherry.

The wine displays medium astringency combined with a raisiny finish as if you’d dropped a raisin in limestone dust and popped it into your mouth.

A dry, red-fruit-laced pinot noir style that presents a new take for many Americans on a classic grape.

Bottle Note: Deutscher Qualitatswein b.a. – Gutsabfullung, A.P.NR. 24 033 010 14.