Chardonnay Leithaberg DAC 2023

Wine Description for Chardonnay Leithaberg DAC 2023 by Heinrich

Colour & Appearance

Pale, clear lemon yellow with a silvery rim – a wine that already signals freshness and precision to the eye.

Nose

Initially closed and introverted, the nose unfolds with patience into something fascinating: wet slate and wet pebbles dominate the first impression and unmistakably point to the limestone-rich terroir of the Leitha Mountains. Fine citrus notes join in, lemon balm and the unusually appealing borage. With air, the wine opens to yellow stone fruit and markedly earthy angelica – complex, distinctive, unmistakable.

Palate

Taut and with a firm bite, this Chardonnay presents itself – not a wine that makes things easy for the drinker, but one that richly rewards their attention. The pointed acidity is masterfully integrated and carries the wine with a creamy texture, framed phenolically by fine, tight-knit tannins at the edge of the tongue. Juicy, spicy, herbal – a Chardonnay with real character and backbone.

Finish

Long, focused and characterised by a delicate saline aftertaste that impressively underscores the mineral origin of the wine one last time. Unpretentious and precise – nothing too much and nothing too little.

Terroir & Origin

The grapes come from several top vineyard sites on the limestone and slate-bearing eastern slopes of the Leitha Mountains in Burgenland: Spiegel, Kirchberg and Alter Berg in Winden, Fügler in Jois, and Edelgraben and Zwergbreiten in Breitenbrunn. A mosaic of premier crus that explains the depth and complexity of this wine.

Grape Variety & Vinification

Chardonnay, hand-harvested in early September. After brief skin contact, the must ferments spontaneously – without the aid of cultured yeasts. The malolactic fermentation also occurs spontaneously, and ageing lasts an impressive 17 months on the lees in large wooden casks. The result is a wine of great texture and depth, where the wood is entirely in service of the terroir.

Food Pairing Suggestions

The taut structure and saline minerality make this Chardonnay an ideal companion for grilled turbot with beurre blanc, calf sweetbreads with lemon jus or scallops on pea purée. Also an excellent choice with aged alpine cheese or white asparagus with hollandaise sauce.

Special Features

Gernot and Heike Heinrich’s Leithaberg Chardonnay is an impressive testament to Austria being among Europe’s most exciting Chardonnay producers. Not an international mainstream style, but a wine with unmistakable origin and signature – mature, complex and with great ageing potential.