Zero Grande Cuvée – 2019

Zeró Grande Cuvée Brut Nature by Oliver Zeter

Zeró Grande Cuvée by Oliver Zeter is a vintage sparkling wine made from Pinot Noir and Chardonnay using traditional bottle fermentation. As a Brut Nature, it is bottled exactly as it matured on the lees, allowing its fruit to shine with exceptional clarity.

Zeró Grande Cuvée 2019 is a barrique-fermented sparkling wine from Oliver Zeter in the Palatinate region, harvested by hand. At 12% ABV, it presents as citric, clear, and refined, and the 2019 vintage was awarded 93 points by Falstaff.

White blossoms, bright grapefruit, and greengage

Fine bubbles rise in the glass of the Zeró Grande Cuvée, and the aroma is reminiscent of white blossoms, bright grapefruit, and greengage, accompanied by subtle yeast notes and a hint of apple peel. Falstaff describes it as a nuanced Pinot fragrance in which the yeast notes resonate only faintly.

On the palate, the Brut Nature is citrusy and clearly defined; the minerality is exposed, and the perlage is extra fine. A ripe, well-integrated acidity keeps it lively, and the compact finish reveals a slightly tart touch that provides structure. "Very well composed!", writes Falstaff.

From used barrique to fine-bubbled sparkling wine

For the Grande Cuvée, Pinot Noir and Chardonnay are hand-picked and pressed as whole clusters so that the must runs from the press particularly delicately and clearly. The base wine is fermented in used barriques, and a long malolactic fermentation gives it a fine creaminess that remains palpable in the glass later on.

The wine then undergoes a second fermentation in the bottle, during which the carbon dioxide is produced that later emerges as perlage. It then remains on the lees for many months before the yeast is removed during disgorgement. During this time, the yeast cells release substances that give it a fine mousse, subtle yeast notes, and a powerful extract.

Brut Nature is the driest sweetness level defined by wine law for sparkling wine. After disgorgement, the Zeró Grande Cuvée remains just as the yeast has shaped it. Oliver Zeter produces it only in exceptionally good vintages and in small quantities. At Meininger’s German Sparkling Wine Award, the 2019 vintage also received 92 points, and the wine magazine Vinum lists it as a "Best Buy."

Oysters, scallops, and a glass at midnight

Oysters, thinly sliced scallops with lemon, or a plate of salmon sashimi are natural companions for a Brut Nature, as its acidity and minerality complement the saltiness of the sea. It also makes a beautiful start to a festive evening as an aperitif, such as on New Year's Eve when toasts are made at midnight.

The fruit and perlage are at their most expressive between 6 and 8 degrees Celsius, and a sparkling wine cooler will keep it at the perfect temperature during a meal. You can read about how long an opened bottle lasts in our guide How long does sparkling wine stay fresh.

You can find out more about the production process in our Sparkling Wine Knowledge section. You can find a Sauvignon Blanc sparkling wine from the same winery in the Sauvignon Blanc Sekt Brut. You can find more sparkling wines, including those from other regions, in our Sparkling Wine category.

Zeró Grande Cuvée 2019 – A sparkling wine and its specifications

• Origin Germany
• Region Palatinate
• Oliver Zeter, Neustadt an der Weinstraße
• Grape varieties 68% Pinot Noir, 32% Chardonnay
• Traditional bottle fermentation
• Brut Nature
• 12% ABV
• 0.8 g/l residual sugar
• 7.7 g/l acidity
• 93 points Falstaff
• 92 points Meininger
• Vinum Best Buy