# Kirchenstück Spätburgunder Grosses Gewächs (2022)

- **Producer:** Battenfeld Spanier
- **Colour:** red
- **Type:** still
- **Grapes:** Spätburgunder
- **Region:** Rheinhessen, Germany
- **Style:** Natural
- **Average price:** €75
- **Vegan:** Yes
- **Contains sulphites:** No
- **When to drink:** Now or Later
- **Serving temperature:** 14–16 °C
- **Aromas & flavours:** raspberry, red plum, cranberry, red cherry, smoke, cloves, vanilla, cedar, mushroom, forest floor, tobacco, leather, earth

## About this wine

The Battenfeld Spanier Kirchenstück Spätburgunder 2022 is a VDP.GROSSES GEWÄCHS® from Hohen-Sülzen in Rheinhessen, Germany. It is made from 100% Spätburgunder grapes grown in the renowned Kirchenstück vineyard, known for its limestone and loess soils and old vines. Producer Hans Oliver Spanier focuses on soil vitality and organic farming. The 2022 vintage was dry, contributing to the wine's precision and finesse. This wine is notable for its pronounced minerality and chalky tension, a signature of its terroir.

## Interesting facts

- The Kirchenstück vineyard boasts very old vines, leading to naturally low yields.
- The wine is farmed using certified organic practices.
- It's aged in used barrels sourced from the esteemed Domaine Leroy.
- The minerality is so pronounced, it's often compared to the freshness of Riesling.

## Food pairing

The wine's firm tannins and lively acidity are well-suited to complement the richness of proteins like duck, pork, and lamb, cutting through fat and cleansing the palate. Earthy notes in dishes, such as mushrooms or herbs, can echo and enhance the wine's own subtle complexities.

## Wine making process

The Battenfeld Spanier Kirchenstück Spätburgunder 2022 is produced using 100% Spätburgunder grapes. The winemaking process emphasizes natural methods, including wild fermentation. The wine undergoes extended aging for nearly two years in used French oak barrels, specifically Stück and Doppelstück barrels sourced from Domaine Leroy. Viticulture is certified organic, with a strong focus on soil vitality. The 2022 harvest was influenced by dry conditions, with winter rains aiding in maintaining acidity.