Comments on: A border runs through it: Weingut Becker, Pfalz and Alsace

By: SBitterolf

SBitterolf — Sun, 03 May 2009 12:51:30 +0000

Martin,

Great meeting you at Keller’s… As for Keller vs. Becker, honestly I haven’t had enough Keller Spatburgunder to comment intelligently… Just a single bottle of 05 Burgel and then the 07/08 barrel samples. Though I’d admit I was very impressed by the 07/08s… Interestingly, I visited Becker on Thursday in Schweigen and we had a long conversation about German Spatburgunder (the visit was well over 4 hrs long!) and apropos of nothing, he mentioned Klaus-Peter as one of his favorites…

By: BerlinKitchen

BerlinKitchen — Fri, 01 May 2009 05:50:41 +0000

Here is a Podcast in german with Fritz Becker.

http://berlinkitchen.com/berlinkitchen/Podcast/Entries/2007/8/31_F._Becker_Pfalz_-_Spätburgunder.html

Cheers,
Martin

By: BerlinKitchen

BerlinKitchen — Fri, 01 May 2009 05:45:41 +0000

Stephen,

we tasted last week together 07/08 Spätburgunder from Keller based on Barrel-samples. Do you think Keller wines are on the same level of Becker “Pinot Noir”?

Take care,
Martin

By: Dr. Vino

Dr. Vino — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 18:55:32 +0000

Stephen – sounds great! Wish I had been there.

Chris and Lyle – yes, good stuff, but can be frustratingly expensive. Great to know about the Rieslings, Lyle, which I didn’t try. Love the name, Laisser Faire!

By: Dylan

Dylan — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 18:14:23 +0000

What an interesting geographical location. It’s great to see that his father never lost heart even through more trying times and the tradition carries on with himself.

By: Lyle Fass

Lyle Fass — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 05:53:04 +0000

The wines are great. JUst had a 2007 Riesling Laisser Faire which is his spontaneous yeast fermentation Riesling and it was stunning and really only opened up on the third day, The Spats are good but this Riesling is the best value in the entire portfolio.

By: Chris Jessen

Chris Jessen — Thu, 19 Mar 2009 22:19:13 +0000

You couldn´t be more right !! Amongst Meyer-Näckel, Fürst, Johner and a handful of other german Winemakers – Becker is the shooting star.
The vast majority of pinot noir producers of Germany have a different approach however. Many do not have a chalk-dominated soil. Their attempts are none-the-less a revelation … try them if you have a chance – If you need addresses let me know – I´d be glad to help !

By: S Bitterolf

S Bitterolf — Thu, 19 Mar 2009 13:51:46 +0000

Great post. “Fritz” Becker is an awesome guy and he is without a doubt making some of the greatest Pinot Noirs in Germany. I don’t know that anyone else that makes a Spätburgunder as elegant, finely knit and integrated. After tasting the Estate I have to agree with you that it’s a jamming little wine and a great value – I’ll be buying it for the store. The “Kammerberg,” while hardly such a value, is a stunning wine and I did indeed sneak a bottle of this (blind) into a tasting of Dujac (Bonnes-Mares, Clos de la Roche, Clos St. Denis) and Vogüé (1er, Bonnes-Mares and Musigny) just this weekend and the Becker held its own. I think it was agreed upon that the Becker was most likely Chambolle… so there you go!