First release: Stodden and Fürst 2024

The Stodden wines from the Ahr Valley are some of the best spätburgunder wines coming out of Germany. Alexander Stodden, who is 5th generation has a small estate of 10 hectares, 95% of which is focused on spätburgunder. The wines tend to have concentration, power and structure, yet the 2024 vintage has a finesse and elegance to them. From a single vineyard that is planted on a steep slope in the village of Ahrweiler on complex slate and loess soils. The wine delivers a spice, mineral rich core with ripe cherries and plums combined with chalky, firm tannins. Drink from 2027 to 2036. 12.5%

I was particularly impressed with this wine in 2024 as it displays great energy and purity. The fine tannins are melt in your mouth and the perfume is red fruited and with crushed strawberries. This wine displays the cooler profile of 2024. We don't usually buy this wine, but due to the frosts in 2024 reducing yield significantly, the regular Jean Stodden Spätburgunder bridge label wasn't available. Drink this year to 2034. 12.5%

The fruit for the Tradition comes from young vines from their top vineyard sites, as well as old vines from the bottom of the slopes. Spending 13 months in used barrels, this wine is bright, fruit forward and full of red-berry perfume. The tannins are fine and delicate and there are hints of spice giving the wine added layers of complexity. Yields were smaller due to frost, but the quality at this stand-out estate is high. Drink from 2027 to 2037. 13%

This pinot comes from three single vineyards on largely iron-rich soils in the village of Bürgstadt. It is a site that shows great minerality and structure and in 2024 there is a restrained concentration with wild flower and small red-berry fruits. There is a touch of liquorice and rosemary combined with chalky tannin grip. Drink from 2027 to 2037. 13%

Centgrafenberg is one of the estate's most celebrated Grosses Gewächs (Grand Cru) sites that is situated just above the family home. With its 40 degree slope, red, iron-rich sandstone soils with plenty of rocky parts, this cool site gives wine with structure and restrained concentration. 2024 is smoky and brooding in character with lots of wild herbs and spice combined with bramble and dark red cherry fruit notes. The tannins are firm, yet fine grained and the wine has concentration and structure. Drink from 2028 to 2040. 13%

From the village of Dernau, this single-vineyard wine from the Hardtberg comes from steep, south-facing slopes and complex soils of primarily slate and loess. This is a glossy, vibrant and delicious red that has the racy acidity of the cooler 2024 vintage on display. With a silky and glossy palate, this wine displays lots of brambles, liquorice notes and spice with a fine tannin structure. Drink from 2027 to 2035. 13%

Drink from 2027 to 2034

A six-bottle case containing two bottles of each of the following:

Tradition Spätburgunder, Fürst
Bürgstadter Spätburgunder, Fürst
Spätburgunder JS Ahr, Jean Stodden

Notes PDF