Fürst 2003 Spätburgunder "R" Centgrafenberg
Franken, Germany
Paul Fürst (wine-maker/owner)
www.weingut-rudolf-fuerst.de
Article on www.finewinepress.com, Feb 2006
Tastingnote:
Spicy and smoked on the nose, wonderful texture, strong oakiness but not
obtrusive, refined tannins, great length and able to improve enormously
on the air. Sense of place and great place and first rate winemaking.
My favourite! MB
The Fürst family has been involved in viticulture since 1638. In
1975, whilst attending the Geisenheim school for viticulture Paul Fürst's
father, Rudolf, died suddenly. Paul Fürst immediately leaved his
studies and at age 21 took over the estate to carry on the tradition in
the cramped Fürst family residence in Bürgstadt. In 1979 Paul
and his wife Monika started building a new estate on the outskirts of
town. This included a new residence and state of the art cellar atop the
Centgrafenberg vineyard. The new site provides breathtaking views of the
Main river valley and the picturesque medieval town of Miltenberg. Under
Paul Fürst's tenure the estate has grown from six to 50 acres. Primary
holdings are 37 acres of the B�rgstadter Centgrafenberg
a pure south-facing moderate to steep site.
Paul Fürst's big challenge are red wines. The western portion of
Franken has always been producing a good quantity of red wine especially
Spâtburgunder (Pinot Noir). The old, traditional style of Pinot
Noir, was never mistaken for red Burgundy. This started to change in the
mid-80s when Paul began experimenting with new vinification methods more
akin in style to red Burgundy. His 1990 Pinot Noir was a breakthrough
and helped establish the variety as a serious category in Germany. In
a blind tasting connoisseurs mistook the wine for a Burgundy from the
Commune of Beaune. Today fermentation is done on the skins and the wine
is matured in mostly French oak. The wines show very good aging potential.
The 1990 still tastes very young today. The best reds are in order of
increasing quality - Parzival, a red wine cuvee of Pinot Noir and Domina,
Frühburgunder and the top wine the Spâtburgunder 'R'.
Paul Fürst was 'Vintner of the Year 2003' in Germany and had the
Wine - Award for 'Wine of the Year' in Germany from Magazin Wein - Gourmet
in 2004 with a 2001 Spätburgunder 'R' Centgrafenberg.
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