Fritz Waßmer Schlossberg Staufen Chardonnay 2019

In 1998, Fritz Waßmer took a lifetime of family learning and, with a passion for the vines that was second nature, started his own winery in Bad Krozingen, Baden. Proudly self-taught in the intricacies of winemaking but with generations of viticultural knowledge in his bones, Fritz built on an affinity he felt for Pinot Noir and never looked back.

His love for this iconic grape, one of the star varietals of Baden, goes back a long way when Fritz started to develop an admiration for the legendary Burgundy approach to Pinot Noir production. While this is the guiding star grape at Fritz Waßmer, other classic French cultivars like Syrah, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Merlot also have a special place in the winery vineyards. Rarities in leading German wine regions, Chardonnay, Pinot Blanc, Pinot Gris, Sauvignon Blanc, Viognier, and even Auxerrois have been added in recent years.

Whether a flagship Pinot Noir or another timeless grape, Fritz’s near-obsession is to enable each unique terroir to shine through in every sip.

In the bouquet, with a little air contact, creamy, ripe, tropical yellow fruit, smooth and with a lot of spice in the final. The palate is full and round, with an appetizing freshness. Ripe yellow apple, banana, guava, pineapple and with notes of black pepper and turmeric, rounded off by vanilla cream. Amazingly balanced with such intensity on the palate, with a little grip. The finish is fine and long. Not heavy, but stable and full. Not sweet, but ripe and concise.