Pinot bubbly

On 21 May 2009, my girl-friend and I decided to ride our bikes along the "L125" from Müllheim to Staufen. It was Ascension Day and hence a public holiday. It was also Gutedeltag, the day on which this aforementioned road was closed to all motorised traffic. We, and many others, had a lovely time riding along from village to village and stopping to sample the wines.

One of these we tasted at Privatweingut H. Schlumberger in Laufen. It was a bottle of fizz, or a 2005 Pinot Brut, to be precise. Brick-coloured in appearance - with a hint orange. Vivid, biscuity aromas and a juicy, complex palate of pure pinot fruit. It quite possibly is the best German Sekt I've ever had to date.

Needless to say, I bought half a case of the stuff. On entering Switzerland during the day of our big move, I would have had to have paid duty on it had the customs officer not shown some understanding. What a good man.

We've been enjoying the occasional bottle ever since, so that stocks are running low again.