Stepp Pfalz Chardonnay 2021

92+ POINTS: Anne Krebiehl, Falsaff.com

The latest addition to Gerd’s range… a ripe, round and refreshing Chardonnay, also aged in those magic barrels from Burgundy. Think Hautes Côtes de Beaune quality at German prices.

“Medium golden yellow. On the nose, woody and smoky notes with ripe pear and pineapple, passion fruit, quince and a touch of anise. Powerful on the palate with vivid acidity, a saline touch, emphatically dry with subtle viscosity. A youthful wine, Francophile in style.”
- Anne Krebiehl, Falsaff.com

When it comes to German wine, Mosel seems to get all the international attention. But trust us, Pfalz has a lot going for it and is on the rise. The combination of a warm & dry climate and varied soils make it capable of producing world-class Pinot Noir, Riesling and lately, Chardonnay.

Our latest find from the region is Gerd Stepp. He returned to his parents’ family farm where he grew up in the Pfalz after two decades abroad, making wines in Tuscany, New Zealand and South Africa, to name but a few. Gerd has the stereotypically German dogged attention to detail, precision and discipline. At the same time, he is open to new ideas, flexible in approach and is quietly determined to make the best wines. Gerd’s family vineyards are located in the villages of Bad Dürkheim and Wachenheim. The Stepp fruit predominantly originates from these sites in the Pfalz. One being limestone based and the other sandstone based - both ideal for quality wine production. He complements these by sourcing grapes from selected parcels further afield. The vineyards are steep terraced and are 100% hand-picked.A serious runner, when he’s not in a winery or tasting, he’s probably training for a marathon.

abv 13%