Wine Advocate wrote of this cellar, "Karl Heinz and Patrick Johner have been among Germany's leading Pinot Noir producers for a long time." Karl Heinz started out in 1985, joined a decade later by his son. This is a very fine, expressive Pinot.
Karl Heinz Johner is very much a family estate, even if half the family (mum and dad) have disappeared to run the Johner estate in New Zealand (also to great acclaim). Patrick has been left to run the show in Baden, and does so with aplomb. Karl H first learnt his skill in England, running a large winery. There he gained an in-depth knowledge of France's finest Pinot Noirs. Baden isn't that far from Burgundy, so in 1985 he returned home determined to show that his wines could be equally good. Neither he, nor Patrick, have been shy of challenging tradition, so you'll find their wines rarely fit within the rules. James Suckling wrote of the 2017 "Top quality for this humble category." Aged for a year in new barriques, this wine will age well.
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