Winemaker Notes
The 2019 Simonroth Lemberger is dark with a sapphire red core. It smells of violets, thyme, juniper wood, laurel, black pepper and Parma ham, accompanied by red and black currants, sour cherries and plum compote. A racy Lemberger with great balance, due to the ripe acidity, fine fruit, velvety tannin structure and excellently integrated wood. Impressive length.
Vegan-friendly
Professional Ratings
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James Suckling
Intensely rooty nose that reminds me of some traditional red Burgundies, even though the aromas here go in a darker direction (bark, wet earth and graphite). Serious structure and weight, but also fresh acidity and moderate alcohol that make the finish light and bright. There’s a thread of savory character running through all this, adding more complexity. Bottled unfiltered. Vegan. Drink or hold.
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Wine Enthusiast
This is round and supple, sporting concentrated flavors of blackberry, currant and hints of bitter cocoa, taking on depth and complexity as they unravel. Well-integrated tannins create a corduroy texture, upping the allure of this medium-bodied red. Focused finish.
Red wine from Germany, really? Yes, really. The country’s world class German Rieslings may be its vinous claim to fame, but 40% of wine production is red. The star is Pinot Noir, known as spätburgunder, which is the third most-planted grape in Germany. In the regions of Baden and Ahr, in fact, this varietal is actually number one. German Pinot Noir offers precisely delineated characteristics of juicy red fruit, spice and earthy minerality that stay light but vivid. Look for versions from Weingut Dautel, August Kesseler and Claus Schneider.
Another important German red wine is Blauer Portugieser, used for crisp, light-bodied wines. Dornfelder is also appreciated; it typically expresses a fun, grapey fruitiness that resembles Beaujolais. Smaller but still commercially significant plantings include Trollinger and Pinot Meunier. Even international varieties like Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot appear in some of the warmer regions.