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 Vintage2008 Label 1 of 15 
TypeRed
ProducerFriedrich Becker (web)
VarietySpätburgunder
Designation"B"
Vineyardn/a
CountryGermany
RegionPfalz
SubRegionn/a
Appellationn/a

Drinking Windows and Values
Drinking window: Drink between 2012 and 2018 (based on 31 user opinions)

Community Tasting History

Community Tasting Notes (average 89 pts. and median of 90 pts. in 19 notes) - hiding notes with no text

 Tasted by sid_loves_wine on 3/13/2020 & rated 94 points: My first impression on the nose was that I wasn't sure it was kept in perfect conditions before I bought it (showing light oxidization, maybe 20%), but it still had beautiful scents of cassis, blueberry, caramel, potting soil, stony minerals. Some light woodsmoke started to emerge. Even with the minor oxidization nose was still totally alluring, although I was worried the palate would be fading.

But then the palate- wow!! Still hyper-intense acidity, bright red cranberry, wild and brambly, bordering on citrus, plenty of minerals and an extremely long, lingering finish. There's a tiny hint of spritz which was odd, but didn't detract from the experience. Acidity must have been insane when it was released- there was more than enough fruit to support it here. Literally a tale of two worlds on nose and palate, possibly the biggest disconnect ever in that regard. Both good, but like two different wines.

Possibly the most surprising element was 1.5 hrs later when the nose had became brighter, much more red-fruited and mineral. Oxidative notes were tougher to detect; seemed to get tighter and more precise, as if the nose and palate traveled toward one another. Just so classic and clean. The "caramel" tone from the oak combined with the highly acidic/minerally fruit was VERY Burgundy. Didn't feel as savory/austere as Meyer-Näkel "S" Spätburgunder but still firmly in the old-world style. Even with the minor flaws, truly beautiful and complex enough to warrant this super long note. Very serious stuff for $40. (1215 views)
 Tasted by Hans Lukas on 12/10/2015 & rated 90 points: Dunkles, transparentes Rot; leicht cremig im Antrunk; sehr animierender Spätburgunder mit einer "kühlen" Note, rauchig, Leder, Wald (-Beeren), feine Säure, mittellanger Abgang. Leider hatte die Flasche einen leichten Korkschmecker. Sehr schade. (2347 views)
 Tasted by NoTrollingerPlease on 3/28/2015 & rated 89 points: Private Dinner: Deer and Pinot (Private Location): Glass: Riedel Vinum Burgundy
Clear, medium+ ruby red. Clean, medium+ fully developed nose of red fruits, soil and mineral notes. Dry, medium tannins and acidity, medium intensity and finish. Quite pleasing, complex aftertaste.
Will stay on this level for some more years but I don’t think that it will develop any more. (2802 views)
 Tasted by Hotspur21 on 8/26/2013 & rated 88 points: Some not very appetising fizz. But the nose is fantastic. Some of the caramelized density of great Burgundies and Bordeaux coming through, that is quite a surprise. Typical Pfalz PN of the advanced class with a little more acidity and a shorter finish than expected. Maybe a flaw in the bottle. (3298 views)
 Tasted by Antti on 8/16/2012: Heavier than most German Pinots, bright fruits and forest floor on the nose, also a bit of oak present still. Somewhat big in the mouth, with ripe tannins. Supposedly this will get even better, but was actually nice for now as well. (3789 views)
 Tasted by Finare Vinare on 2/25/2012 & rated 91 points: Even better than last year, the 2008 Spätburgunder B has put on some weight and roundness, and totally integrated the oak. Two sizes bigger than the regular cuvée, this is a great pleasure to drink at the moment and a few years down the road. (3697 views)
 Tasted by Krautrocker on 1/28/2012 & rated 90 points: Plums! Wonderful balance and a lively earthiness in the nose. Seems too light at first but then really grows on you and becomes elegant. (1542 views)
 Tasted by Kicho on 12/18/2011 & rated 81 points: Not so heavy red. (2385 views)
 Tasted by Krautrocker on 11/29/2011 & rated 90 points: A fruity, earthy Pinot with great balance and character. Super. (1691 views)
 Tasted by rSyver on 10/14/2011 & rated 84 points: Dark red on colour. A good pinot nose, however I think the oak is a bit too present. Kind of makes the fruit seem a bit darker than I would expect. The palate is better with cooler fruit present. A great fruit present, the acidity is good and the finish is good making a good balance in the wine. Not long finish, but good. But if the oak is not present on the palate it reappears on the finish. It might be integrated with time, I do not know.

A good pinot indeed. Given the price it could very well compete with a lot of the Burgundies at the same price, but is lack the finesse and elegance. A great pinot everyday wine in my book. (2246 views)
 Tasted by aagrawal on 5/14/2011 & rated 90 points: K&L German Tasting (K&L, San Francisco): Plums, palate has ripe fruit; palate has great balance but also ripeness, some dark fruit. Like a very balanced but californian pinot. Will likely improve for a few years in the cellar. 90+ (2272 views)
 Tasted by Finare Vinare on 5/1/2011 & rated 90 points: Elegant, perfectly balanced nose with apparent floral notes over pure dark raspberry fruit, wet limestone and discrete medium-toasted oak. On the palate we get ripe fruit with good fresh acid bite, obvious minerality and remarkable length. An outstanding achievement at this level/pricepoint, a strong candidate for any pinot-lover's cellar. Should develop nicely for at least five years. (2006 views)
 Tasted by kalle303 on 2/27/2011 & rated 92 points: wooow. what a surprise. my first bottle of SB and i love it.
will def. look into this grape/producer in the future. (1686 views)
 Tasted by awinestory on 9/17/2010 & rated 84 points: blind tasted ...

color: very trans, color spreads
nose: med+ , oak? wait for palate, rich ripe fruit,a bit sweet and carmelized ...a heavy floral scent of rich red flowers (not light!)
dry, acid is med tannin med body med alc med+(!?) 14 length strawberrys ripe, a darker undertone ...

... a hard candy with jammy shell'

PN first choice, (1276 views)

CellarTracker Wiki Articles (login to edit | view all articles)

Friedrich Becker

Producer website

Winery since 1973 at the slopes of the Pfälzer Wald (Palatinate Forest)

Weingut Friedrich Becker
Hauptstraße 29
76889 Schweigen-Rechtenbach
Pfalz / Germany

Spätburgunder

Wikipedia article about Spätburgunder (Pinot Noir) varietal

Germany

Wines of Germany | The Association of German Prädikat Wine Estates (VDP) | How to read a German wine label | Geographical Information Down to Single Vineyards

#2014 Vintage Notes:
2014 Vintage Report by Terry Theise
2014 Vintage Report by Wine Spectator
"My gut still tells me the Saar (and to some extent) the Ruwer are better overall in 2014 than the more storied areas of the Mosel proper, but those that spent the requisite time living in their middle-Mosel vineyards made some of the most electric and "feathery" Riesling in a long time (maybe the finest in 20 years - yes, it's true!)" - Jon Rimmerman (Of course only a very short historical memory would call the Saar and Ruwer less 'storied' than the middle Mosel - jht)

Pfalz

interactive map and details on weinlagen.info | Pfalz (Wikipedia)

 
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