A Grand Cru-caliber Spätburgunder of extraordinary depth and finesse—wild red fruit, limestone minerality and Burgundian elegance from Ingelheim’s historic Pares vineyard.
Expert Rating
97 Points James Suckling: “Breathtaking nose of ripe wild berries and herbs, savory and a touch of sous bois. Great concentration and amazingly mouth-filling for just 12.5%, this is a German pinot noir masterpiece and one of the wines of the vintage! Staggering length, the finish still tightly wound. You need some patience to get the best this has to offer. From biodynamically grown grapes. 100% whole cluster, wild-fermented, then 18 months in small oak. Unfiltered and unfined. Drinkable now, but best from 2025.” STUART PIGOTT — JAMES SUCKLING
The AdamsWein Pares Spätburgunder 2023 is one of Simone Adams’ most ambitious and profound Pinot Noirs, produced from the historic Pares vineyard in Ingelheim, Rheinhessen. Pares is recognized as a VDP.GROSSE LAGE, Germany’s equivalent of a Grand Cru vineyard, and is widely regarded as one of Ingelheim’s most important sites for Spätburgunder. AdamsWein itself is not a VDP member, however, so the estate cannot officially place “GG” on its label.
Situated at approximately 250 meters elevation on the western slope of the Mainzer Berg, Pares combines loess and sandy loam over a limestone base. The limestone gives the wine its unmistakable tension, mineral drive and finely structured finish, while the site’s elevation and exposure help preserve freshness and aromatic clarity.
Simone Adams’ parcel has an unusual history. The land had been abandoned for roughly three decades before Adams reclaimed and replanted it, using her own selections derived from traditional German Pinot material rather than relying on Burgundian clones. The result is a Spätburgunder with an identity distinctly its own—powerful and complex, yet unmistakably tied to Ingelheim.
The 2023 Pares sits at the pinnacle of the AdamsWein Pinot Noir range. It shows remarkable depth and intensity, with raspberry and ripe cherry at its core, surrounded by darker berry fruit, floral notes, savory spice and an earthy, limestone-derived mineral character. Gerstl describes an exceptionally noble aromatic expression, with Burgundian raspberry and cherry notes rising from considerable depth, and awarded the wine a perfect 20/20. Robert Parker awarded the 2023 Pares 95 points.
On the palate, the wine is layered and concentrated without becoming heavy. There is a compelling wildness to the fruit, but also tremendous clarity, freshness and precision. Fine tannins give the wine structure while vibrant acidity and chalky minerality keep everything focused through the long, persistent finish. A recent tasting at the estate singled out the 2023 Pares as the most complete of the single-vineyard wines, emphasizing its combination of depth, layered fruit and freshness.
Winemaking
The 2023 single-vineyard Spätburgunders at AdamsWein were made with 100% whole clusters and matured for approximately 18 months in barrel. Treating the vineyard wines similarly in the cellar allows the differences among Ingelheim’s individual sites to remain particularly transparent.
Adams favors spontaneous fermentation, restrained intervention and minimal sulfur. The estate does not filter or fine its wines, emphasizing purity of fruit and vineyard expression.
Organic & Biodynamic Farming
The 2023 Pares is certified organic, with German retailer Weinfurore specifically identifying the wine as coming from controlled organic cultivation and displaying certification DE-ÖKO-022.
AdamsWein began ecological soil cultivation in 2017 and converted the estate completely to biodynamic farming in 2020. U.S. importer Bowler Wine likewise categorizes AdamsWein’s Pares as biodynamically farmed.
About AdamsWein
Based in Ingelheim am Rhein, AdamsWein is run by Simone Adams, who took over her family estate in 2010. Her work focuses particularly on Burgundy varieties—Spätburgunder and Chardonnay—grown on Ingelheim’s limestone-rich soils. Production is small, yields are restrained and the wines are made with an emphasis on site transparency rather than extraction or overt winemaking.
Grape: 100% Spätburgunder / Pinot Noir
Vintage: 2023
Region: Rheinhessen, Germany
Village: Ingelheim am Rhein
Vineyard: Pares
Site Classification: VDP.GROSSE LAGE / Grand Cru vineyard
Style: Dry Red Wine
Alcohol: 12.5%
Farming: Certified Organic; Biodynamic
Vinification: 100% whole cluster
Élevage: Approximately 18 months in barrel
Robert Parker: 95 Points
Gerstl: 20/20
Character: Raspberry · Cherry · Wild Berries · Flowers · Spice · Limestone · Mineral
Food Pairing
A serious Pinot Noir suited to equally refined dishes: roast duck, venison, lamb, veal, beef tenderloin, roast chicken, wild mushrooms and truffle dishes. Its acidity and mineral structure also make it particularly compelling with richer poultry and game preparations.
Serving & Cellaring
Serve slightly cool at approximately 55–60°F (13–16°C). In its youth, this is a wine worth giving one to two hours in a decanter. Its structure and concentration point toward exceptional longevity; Gerstl gives a suggested drinking window of 2032–2060, although the wine is already impressive today.
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