Andreas Bender Pinot Noir 2022

Description

Andreas Bender Pinot Noir 2022 is a rather elegant Pinot Noir but I have classified it as a light, fruity red wine as it is fruity – and very drinkable. Fruits including ripe redcurrants and raspberries with a hint of vanilla and spices from the very light touch of oak ageing. The sweet, ripe, red fruits mix well with the acidity which makes this a very mouth-watering Pinot Noir. The texture of Andreas Bender Pinot Noir 2022 is silky smooth, the wine medium-bodied and the finish long. I agree with Andreas that this is more robust than classical French Pinot Noir but don’t think of it as a really intense wine; it is beautifully elegant. If you like a fuller-bodied, more intense Pinot Noir, you might like my Pinot Noir from Pegasus Bay in New Zealand and for a really classic, smooth Burgundian Pinot Noir, you will love Domaine Bachey-Legros Santenay Clos des Hâtes Vieilles Vignes.

German wine classifications can be confusing; Andreas Bender Pinot Noir 2022 is a Qualitätswein or Quality Wine from the Pfalz region, a PDO or Protected Designation of Origin. This is a long-winded way of saying that all the grapes for this wine are from the Pfalz region, the sunniest part of Germany which helps produce lovely ripe grapes with complex flavours. Under new wine laws coming in from the 2026 vintage we may well see some changes in the labelling of this wine to reflect its single vineyard origin.

Andreas Bender describes his ethos as follows: “The most important thing for me are first-class grapes from the best locations, traditional winemaking and uncompromising quality.” So a perfect match for Wines With Attitude. He combines the old and the new – “he’s a traditionalist when it comes to choosing prime soils, hand selecting grapes, careful cellar work, simple winemaking methods and natural fermentation. But his contemporary “wine-thinking” is clearly visible with his label design and his belief that wines need to be accessible and fun.”