37° Pinot Noir & Edition "Zwölberich"

In search of new possibilities for quiet food companions without sweetness - opulence, mouthfeel and fine tannin structures make these new wines ideal companions for dark meat with a low cooking level.

In our search for a suitable producer for a 100% Pinot Noir, we came across the Domaine de Petit Roubié in central Languedoc. Floriane and Olivier Azan began converting the business to organic farming back in 1981. It is ancient wine country, as vines have been planted here since antiquity. The vineyards are dominated by rocky soils with a thin layer of soil. Many plots are planted with hedges and trees as windbreakers against the constantly blowing Tramontane. The sunlight is particularly intense here, right by the sea, which is why many rows of vines are oriented from north to south, with the foliage providing shade for the grapes. Pinot Noir is rather a specialty in this region between Nimes and Perpignan. Nevertheless, the wine convinced us with its intense cherry notes and the scent of raspberry. As the distilled cherries we use to refine the wine are not available in sufficient quantities and with a convincing taste in organic quality, we decided not to include a claim on the label despite the organic wine used. Strawberry, raspberry, redcurrant and blackberry are further refinements to create a new taste experience on the dealcoholized wine. We have further enhanced the complexity with an extract of prunes, roasted hazelnuts and coffee.

Climate change is forcing even experienced organic winegrowers to constantly adapt to ever-changing conditions. The good thing about the organic sector is the constant exchange with colleagues. Floriane and Olivier Azan benefit from this and are experimenting with partial and permanent greening, trying to introduce green manure by sowing appropriate seeds. They have started with agroforestry planting, mineralize their soils with algae and rock flour, combat downy mildew, which has become a problem in recent years, with baking powder and special greening, and fight powdery mildew with net sulphur.

In the heart of the southern Languedoc region, viticulture has been rather unproblematic until now. For a few years now, climate change has been causing completely new problems here too, to which organic cultivation has so far been able to find the right answers. The coming years will show where viticulture is heading. Azans are not thinking about irrigation, as we do in Germany. They see the answer above all in agroforestry projects for shading and mycorrhiza care for more moisture in the soil, as well as in viticultural adaptations. In future, they will probably have to reduce yields further, for example, in order to make the berry skins thicker and bring forward the time of optimum grape ripeness. Domaine de Petit Roubié stands for technically brilliant organic wines that appeal to the heart and soul. Reserve wines matured in wooden barrels from the 2017 to 2021 vintages form the cuvée of this unique "Zwölberich" edition

The Im Zwölberich winery is a pioneering winery known beyond the region, which exclusively cultivates organic and biodynamic wines according to Demeter guidelines and whose vineyards are located in the municipalities of Langenlonsheim and Guldental. The previous owner, Hartmut Heintz, is enthusiastic about our work and has decided to offer us his entire reserve of red wines. The excellent sites there are particularly suitable for winegrowing, as they have very different mineral soils in a very small area due to the local natural formation of the earth. This has resulted in a red wine cuvée made from Dornfelder (49%), Frühburgunder (16%), Spätburgunder (23%) and Regent (12%). All wines are matured in wooden barrels from the 2018, 2019, 2020 and 2021 vintages. 48% of the blend was matured in barrique barrels, 9% in half barrels, 23% in double barrels and 20% in large old wooden barrels. The liquid treasures of the reserve wines were converted into the necessary short-term liquid monetary funds for the winery through sales. For the manufactory, it was a unique opportunity to create something very special non-alcoholic with mature red wines - the "Zwölberich" edition.

During dealcoholization, some of the wine's nuances are lost along with the alcohol. This is why we use blackcurrant, blackberry and blueberry juice to support the typical red berry aroma. The hints of elderberries from the red wine cuvée and the notes of the barrique barrel ageing are still present, even intensifying somewhat, and are therefore rounded off with a small amount of pear juice. We use vegan glycerine to round off the flavor. The deep-frozen ground flowers and herbs for refinement are cold-macerated with the spices and contribute to the full-bodied, spicy taste with hints of vanilla and tobacco.

The IM ZWÖLBERICH winery is a family business with a tradition dating back to 1711. The vineyards and wines have been cultivated organically since 1990 and biodynamically according to Demeter guidelines since 1993. The organic wines are very popular among connoisseurs and have won various awards. In addition to cultivation in harmony with nature, the special soils of the Nahe vineyard in particular ensure an excellent and varied product that is sold all over the world.