What do you think of when you hear the name “Black Forest”? Perhaps you know that this forest, located in southwest Germany in the region of Baden, is the setting for many of the Grimm brothers’ famous fairy tales, such as Hansel & Gretel and Sleeping Beauty. Maybe you know that it is the home of the world’s largest cuckoo clock! Or perhaps you are partial to the famous Black Forest cake and its chocolate-cherry splendor.

What you probably do not think of is Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. But why not? The region has got plenty of sloping sites at just the right temperatures to grow these grapes to perfection.

Weingut Kopp’s mission was to prove just that, and they‘ve been at it since 1996. They practice biodynamics and polyculture, even raising their own beef to serve at the winery restaurant. Their approach to wine production might be described as reverential, taking great care in every step of the process both in the vineyard and in the winery.

Their Chardonnay is from a single vineyard called Felsenstuck. It is a rocky and incredibly steep slope (60%!) that makes the Cote d’Or look like a pancake. The wine spends years in barrels and in tanks, and today we have the 2020. The nose has flint, beautiful reduction, and elegant notes of quince, peach, and green apple. The palate is powerful, yet delicate, with a finish that lasts for days.

The Pinot Noir comes from a vineyard called Sommerhalde, with reddish soils that give the wine a hint of spice. It is also an incredibly steep site. We are very fortunate to have acquired a couple of cases of wine that they held back at the winery for aging. Time has mellowed the wine, allowing for an extremely pleasurable, complex bottle of Pinot Noir to emerge.

These are special wines, very different from the usual Pinots and Chards we get from Burgundy or California. It’s this kind of diversity that makes the world of wine so much fun. Don’t miss out on these:

Weingut Kopp Felsenstuck Chardonnay 2020 - $49.99

Weingut Kopp Sommerhalde Pinot Noir 2016 - $51.99