The “Königsbecher” VDP.GROSSE LAGE® is a steep, well-protected, south-facing site in the Kraichgau. It’s also the lowest lying of Heitlinger’s vineyards. The soils, a seldom-seen composition of ferrous lime marl, store the warmth of the sun and release it to the grapes like none of our estate’s other sites. This makes the Königsbecher vineyard the ideal site for Pinot Noir. The grapes are gently harvested by hand in several stages to ensure that only ripe and healthy berries arrive in the cellar. At the estate, they are carefully sorted, and as whole berries and clusters, fermented in small batches in wooden casks. The goal is to produce elegant, long-lasting Spätburgunder with a fine tannic structure and clear-cut fruit. Malolactic fermentation takes place in wooden casks in which the wines mature for 8-12 months. Lively, fruity Pinot Noir that is fine yet complex and that ages well. Spicy aromas of strawberry, wild berries, and plum appear in the nose; subtle nuances of coffee and chocolate remain on the palate.