Cabernet Franc 2019, Oliver Zeter, Pfalz

Multi-layered aromas of blueberries, blackberries and cassis. The body is well structured with pleasantly ripe tannins that balance the wine wonderfully.

Oliver Zeter, working side by side with both his father and brother, first made his name as an importer of fine wines. From the start, Zeter was well positioned to move into the ranks of the producers. Today, Zeter currently produces wine from grapes grown on roughly 20 hectares of prime Pfalz vineyards. Six of those hectares he cultivates himself, the remainder are tended by long-time partners. While his plots can be found in vineyards throughout the entire winegrowing region, the winery itself is seated in Neustadt, in the heart of the Pfalz.

The drinking bear that adorns the label comes from the quill of a well known Pfalz artist named Otto Dill, a friend of Oliver’s great grandfather Walter Baer (German for bear). On one occasion in 1933 Walter was unable to meet his friends for a regular ‘glass of wine or two’ and the artist sent the sketch on a postcard to his friend Walter the ‘bear’, and the postcard was signed by all the friends present that day. Oliver has the postcard in his kitchen. He declared that the bear had been with him all his life and when he made wine he would go on the label.

After a short cold maceration, an open maceration with wild yeasts took place. The wine was aged for 12 months in Italian amphorae made of terracotta.