A.Christmann Spätburgunder Idig Großes Gewächs Bio 2018

A. Christmann Spätburgunder Idig Großes Gewächs Bio 2018 is the red flagship of this acclaimed Pfalz estate and a benchmark for German Pinot Noir. Sourced almost entirely from Christmann’s near-monopole Idig vineyard, this certified organic Großes Gewächs marries Burgundian finesse with unmistakable Pfalz personality. The Idig site, first documented in the 14th century and today regarded as one of the greatest crus of the region, delivers a wine built for long, graceful evolution in bottle.

Tasting Notes
In the glass, the 2018 Idig Spätburgunder shows a luminous, translucent ruby to garnet hue, with a fine, elegant rim that hints at its precision and clarity. The nose is beautifully detailed and layered: wild raspberry, red cherry and woodland strawberry are intertwined with crushed rose petals, subtle smoke, and notes of beetroot, fine herbal spice and chalky minerality. With air, more complexity emerges—hints of black tea, dried orange zest, and a delicate, almost Burgundian underbrush character. On the palate, this is refined rather than showy, with a taut, linear structure wrapped around pure red fruit. Silky, precise tannins frame flavors of red currant, cherry and cranberry, supported by vibrant acidity that keeps everything fresh and lifted. The stony, calcareous core of the Idig vineyard comes through clearly as a cool, saline-mineral undertone that lengthens the finish. Still youthful and tightly coiled, the 2018 is only beginning to reveal its potential and will reward patience over many years. Expect an optimal drinking window to open after several more years in the cellar, with the capacity to evolve gracefully for at least 10–15 years from vintage under proper storage.

Production
The Idig vineyard sits on a powerful limestone massif in the heart of the Pfalz, its upper soils dominated by limestone and clay, strewn with Bundsandstein (colored sandstone) fragments, countless limestone stones and a remarkable quantity of basalt that was deliberately brought into the site in the 19th century. This complex, well-drained terroir, combined with the relatively warm but ventilated Pfalz climate, provides ideal conditions for Spätburgunder of great depth and finesse. Weingut A. Christmann farms the vineyard organically (Bio) with a strong focus on biodiversity and low yields, harvesting by hand to ensure precise selection of perfectly ripe, healthy bunches. In the cellar, the philosophy is minimal intervention: gentle handling of the fruit, traditional fermentation (often with a proportion of whole berries or whole clusters depending on the vintage), and a long, patient élevage in fine-grained oak barrels that respects the delicacy of the Pinot fruit. The result is a Großes Gewächs that transparently reflects its limestone-rich origin and the nuances of the 2018 vintage.

Food & Serving
This Idig Spätburgunder is a refined partner at the table, particularly with elegant, savory dishes that mirror its complexity. Think roasted duck breast with cherry or red wine jus, delicate lamb saddle with herbs, veal tenderloin, or fine game birds such as partridge or pheasant. It also shines with earthy, mushroom-driven cuisine, truffle dishes, and mature semi-soft cheeses like Reblochon or a well-aged Munster. Serve at 14–16 °C (57–61 °F) to highlight its aromatic precision and freshness. In its youth, decanting for 1–2 hours is recommended to allow the wine to open fully; as it matures and gains tertiary complexity, a gentle splash-decant immediately before serving will be sufficient.

Producer
Weingut A. Christmann is one of Germany’s leading family estates, based in the Pfalz and renowned for its meticulous, terroir-driven wines, both white and red. The Christmann family has been cultivating vines in the region for generations, steadily building a reputation for precision and purity while championing organic and biodynamic methods. Today, their holdings include some of the finest classified sites in the Pfalz, with Idig standing out as a crown jewel and near-monopole. As a member of the VDP (Verband Deutscher Prädikatsweingüter), the estate has played a key role in the elevation of German dry wines—particularly Riesling and Spätburgunder—to world-class status. Their Großes Gewächs bottlings, such as the Idig Spätburgunder, are regularly counted among the country’s most important and sought-after wines.

We deliver within 2 - 6 business days. You can choose whether it should be to a parcel shop or home delivery. Free delivery to both parcel shops and your front door. Our store partners primarily use GLS, DPD, UPS and DHL for deliveries. We cover deliveries to the majority of countries in Europe.