A German red from the Neipperg family

This is a red wine from the Neipperg's family estate in Wurttemberg. If the Neipperg name and crest looks familiar, it is because of a member of the family, Comte Stefan, owning the prestigious Bordeaux chateaux of Canon-la-Gaffaliere, Clos de l'Oratoire and La Mondotte. There is a Bulgarian venture too. This dry red is made from 60% Lemberger (Blaufrankisch), 20% Pinot Noir, 10% Pinot Meunier and 10% Samtrot (a Pinot Meunier mutation) and aged in barriques. I tasted it at a Wine Now dinner to showcase some JJ Prum wines in 2005. Ruby red with a nose of berries, citric acidity and slight tannins, the palate was medium dry (although it is trocken) with red fruit and vanilla wood, with acid and tannins leading to a predominantly acidic finish.