2020 Weingut Aldinger Feldhase Trollinger Trocken, Wurttemberg, Germany

Winemaker Notes
Hansjorg and Matthias Aldinger are now running the family business and are sticking to the devotion to nature that generations before them had shown. This can be seen even in the name of this wine, Feldhase, meaning “hare”. As told by the Aldinger brothers; “We listen carefully to the needs of our soil, vines and skies. Each vineyard and each vintage must be accepted on its own unique merits.”. You’ll find this same focus on nature in their 2020 Trollinger.

Trollinger is not a common grape for most. Unless you regularly enjoy the light red from Germany or its northern Italian Alto Adige version Schiava/Vernatsch, you can easily think a Troillinger-based wine could be a number of different grapes, just ask our staff. When I first tried Feldhase, I thought it could be a real crowd-pleaser while also being something fun and different for our customers to enjoy. When first sampling my co-workers on it, none of them could guess what the grape was. Kevin asked if it was Blaufrankisch, Samantha thought maybe a light Cabernet Franc, Jessica wondered if it was some type of Cinsault/Carignan blend. Even Randy was stumped on what the grape was, but every single person who tried it really enjoyed the flavor profile whether they knew what it was made from or not.

Delicate candied red fruit, ripe strawberries and dark cherries give the wine a dark rich profile while having enough acidity to keep the mouthfeel light. A soft, savory herbal-ness adds length, really allowing the fruit to linger on your taste buds.

This wine is very versatile as well. You can chill this wine and heighten its freshness, turning its fruit from rich and dark to slightly underripe, with more vibrancy and a hint of tartness. Above cellar temperature, the dark fruit transforms, getting a little more brambly while the herbal characteristics lighten up. The Aldinger Trollinger Feldhase can be enjoyed on its own or served with chicken, pork or red meat. Its uses are just as adaptable as its flavor profile suggests.