2012 Baden Blauer Spatburgunder Jaspis Alte Reben

Coming from 45+-year-old vines and released after the 2013 vintage, the 2012 Spätburgunder Alte Reben Jaspis is the Pinot Noir for freaks. The nose is deep, fleshy and spicy, almost like raw meat with just a fleshy hint of dark cherries and berries but with lots of spicy/peppery terroir aromas and even beautiful floral (licorice) notes. Concentrated and fleshy on the palate, this is a powerful and generous, almost rich Pinot Noir with still palatable oak flavors but also remarkable purity, finesse and raciness. This is a compact and elegant, very expressive Pinot that still needs time to show its best features. The finish is long and intense, very concentrated and tight, with the best yet to show. Creamy nougat flavors on the intense and persistent finish. I just cannot like this more than the 2014 Jaspis because the oak tannins are a bit too prominent for me here, whereas the purity of the 2014 gives the same structure and tension. Tasted from lot L2714.