Weingut Dautel 'Cleebronn' Spatburgunder, Wurttemberg, Germany

The 2023 Weingut Dautel 'Cleebronn' Spätburgunder is a taut, savory expression of Pinot Noir, bringing ripe cherry and dark berry fruit into a distinctly herbal, earthy register of autumn leaves, fine spice, and stony freshness. Drawn from estate vineyards on Cleebronn's elevated Schilfsandstein plateau, it combines the juicier fruit of the 2023 season with the angular structure and mineral character that define this village-level wine. Careful selection in the vineyard, extended fermentation on the skins, and restrained maturation in used oak preserve a compelling balance of fruit, acidity, and finely assertive tannin.

Product Details:

• Producer: Weingut Dautel
• Owner: Christian Dautel
• Winemakers: Christian Dautel and Ernst Dautel
• Vintage: 2023
• Variety: 100% Spätburgunder (Pinot Noir)
• Classification: VDP.Ortswein
• Vineyards: Estate vineyards in Cleebronn
• Soil: Schilfsandstein (reed sandstone), rocky sand, and clay
• Farming: Sustainable cultivation with yield reduction through bunch thinning and green harvest
• Harvest: Selective hand harvesting in multiple passes
• Cold Maceration: Approximately 5 to 7 days
• Fermentation: Traditional maceration fermentation for approximately 2 to 3 weeks
• Malolactic Fermentation: Natural
• Élevage: Approximately 11 to 12 months in used 300-liter tonneaux and large oak barrels
• Alcohol: 13% ABV
• Residual Sugar: 2 g/L
• Acidity: 5 g/L

Sensory:

Red and dark cherries lead into sloe, black and red berries, dried leaves, subtle woodland tones, and an herbal, balsamic edge. With air, sweeter spice emerges alongside touches of almond, white pepper, and restrained oak. The palate is juicy but firmly drawn, with lively acidity cutting through the ripe 2023 fruit and a chewy, fine-grained tannin structure providing definition. Mineral and savory tones remain central, giving the wine an angular, individual character rather than simple fruit sweetness. The finish is dry, persistent, and increasingly integrated with air.

Awards & Accolades:

• Falstaff: 92+ Points, Ulrich Sautter, 2025

Producer's Background:

The Dautel family has cultivated vines in Württemberg for generations, with Christian Dautel now leading the estate as its 14th generation and current owner. His father, Ernst Dautel, helped establish the modern identity of the winery through an unusually progressive approach for Württemberg, embracing dry wines, Chardonnay, and barrique maturation well before these became commonplace in the region. Christian took responsibility for the estate in 2013 after studying in Geisenheim and Bordeaux and gaining experience in South Africa, Australia, Oregon, Austria, Burgundy, and Bordeaux, including time with Dominique Lafon in Meursault.

Today Christian and Ernst are identified by the VDP as the estate's cellar masters. Their approach to Spätburgunder favors measured oak rather than overt wood character, often using larger barrels so that variety and vineyard remain at the center of the wine. Cleebronn is particularly important for Pinot Noir: the estate's vineyards sit on an elevated plateau of Schilfsandstein, rocky sand, and clay, where an accommodating microclimate permits the early-ripening variety to reach maturity while retaining freshness. The 2023 harvest demanded especially close selection, with Christian describing the Burgundy-variety harvest locally as labor-intensive and requiring careful scrutiny of the fruit.

Serving Suggestions:

Serve at approximately 16 to 18°C and give the wine time in a decanter or a generous Burgundy glass, particularly while young. Its combination of cherry fruit, savory herbs, earthy complexity, and structured tannin suits roast duck, pork tenderloin, rabbit, mushroom dishes, lentils, or game birds. The wine's acidity and mineral tension also make it a strong partner for dishes built around roasted root vegetables, wild mushrooms, or herbs rather than heavy sauces.