2018 Becker - Spatburgunder GC Sankt Paul (750ml)
Weingut Friedrich Becker has been crafting wines in Germany's Pfalz region since 1973, when founder Friedrich Becker began building a reputation first for crisp whites and later for structured, Burgundy-inspired reds. Today the estate is run alongside his son Fritz, with daughter Helena contributing on the sales side, and it has earned the Gault Millau Red Wine of the Year award multiple times. Becker's vineyards sit on the French side of the border near Schweigen, a location that gives the family a distinctive claim among German Pinot Noir producers.
The Sankt Paul bottling comes from a small monopole parcel within the Schweigener Sonnenberg site, planted with notably old vines. Roots reach limestone bedrock beneath just a thin layer of topsoil, while proximity to nearby forest and the Lautertal valley brings cooling night air that preserves freshness. Classified as a Großes Gewächs, or top dry designation, the 2018 vintage was fermented and aged to highlight the site's mineral character, reaching 13.5 percent alcohol.
This Spätburgunder shows red and black cherry, violet, raspberry, and a savory thread of forest floor and leather, with hints of licorice, mint, and light smoke. Firm, fine-grained tannins and a chalky mineral core carry through to a long finish. It pairs beautifully with roasted duck, venison, mushroom risotto, or aged hard cheeses.