Country: Germany

Region: Mosel

Grapes: Pinot Blanc

Vintage: 2020

ABV: 12%

Bottle size: 75cl

Viticulture: organic practices

Winemaking: fermentation in old oak, maturation in stainless steel. 5g/l residual sugar.

Vegan?: yes

This delicate and subtle grape is handled with dexterity in this example by Andreas Bender. Not just a neutral white wine; this has depth and texture, with a medium body and soft citrus and stone fruit notes.

About the producer: Considered something of a maverick in his local region of Mosel, Germany, Andreas Bender is both a traditionalist and a pioneer. He worked in various different wine regions around the world before establishing his winery in Mosel, and the influence of ‘seeing the world’ shows in his unconventional way of blending multiple vineyard sites together, rather than bottling them separately as most in the area do. However, he does take a more classical approach in terms of winery interventions, opting for old oak maturation vessels and a hands-off style.