Description
The Becker family has been winegrowing for seven generations in a small corner of Germany, where the Pfalz, Alsace, the Palatinate Forest and the Northern Voges Mountains meet—just 500 meters away from the French border. Friedrich Fritz Becker Senior was responsible for shifting the estate’s focus from selling grapes to the local co-op to making his own wines. When he bottled his first Spätburgunder (Pinot Noir) he was not particularly well received by his neighbors. Instead of giving up, he was reminded of Aesop’s fable of “The Fox and the Grapes,” which involves a fox trying to eat grapes from a vine that he could not reach. Rather than admitting defeat, the fox stated that the grapes were sour, and that he never really wanted them in the first place. The image of the fox is featured on the Becker Family wine labels, ever since their first commercial release in 1973.
In 2005 Fritz Jr. took over the winemaking at the estate, though his father continued to oversee the vineyards. Today, the estate has 60 acres under vine, planted 70% to the Burgundian varietals Pinot Noir, Pinot Gris and Pinot Blanc, 10% to Riesling and the remaining 20% to Muskateller, Silvaner, Gewürztraminer and others. Although the majority of the vines are located on French side of the border (60%), the Becker Family wines are permitted to be produced and labeled as German wines; this is due to the family having owned the property for many generations, prior to the current border delineations—literally grandfathered-in, if you will.
100% Pinot Gris from 15–40-year-old estate-grown vines. The grapes were hand harvested and destemmed. The grapes were macerated for 3–4 days before being pressed off the skins. The juice was fermented in stainless-steel tanks and 2,400L oak-barrels and aged on the lees for five months after fermentation, gaining even more flavor and complexity. The resulting wine has a pale copper shade due to the extended maceration on the skins.
Inviting aromas of fresh stone fruit and citrus. The palate is fresh, juicy and delightfully textured, with flavors of white and yellow peaches, fresh cantaloupe and lemon zest; mouthwatering acidity juxtaposed with a pithy, fleshy tannin. Sumptuous and refreshing at once—an elegant expression of Pinot Gris “orange” wine.
