Eichberg Muskateller DAC 2024

Wine description for Eichberg Muskateller DAC 2024 by Sattlerhof

Colour & appearance

Pale straw yellow with a youthful sheen – clear and bright in the glass, just as one would expect from a wine raised in cool stainless steel.

Nose

Varietally typical and remarkably inviting: muscat, rose and aromatic hops rise immediately, followed by grapefruit, slightly exotic fruit, fresh grapes and fine herbs. A hint of white pepper lends tension to the bouquet and prevents any suggestion of sweetness.

Palate

Almost crystalline, clear and vibrant. The fully dry vinification (residual sugar 1.1 g/l) makes the wine seem cool, juicy and crisp without being thin: a pleasing textural weight carries the muscat-spiced fruit, accompanied by spicy notes of pepper, coriander seed and hops. The fresh acidity (4.5 g/l) keeps everything taut and focused.

Finish

Clean, fragrant and fading out with a delicate spiciness – the peppery note lingers longer than the wine’s lightness might suggest.

Terroir & origin

The grapes come from estate-owned vineyards in Eichberg, one of the DAC village-wine communes of Southern Styria. The steep slopes at 450 to 550 metres above sea level, with poor gravel and sand soils and a cool microclimate, ensure slow, aromatically precise ripening. Here, on the hillsides around Gamlitz, the Sattler family has been working since the 1980s – pioneers who recognised the potential of this terroir early on.

Grape variety & vinification

Muskateller from vines aged 15 to 30 years, harvested at full ripeness, fermented and matured in stainless steel tanks. At Sattlerhof, the guiding principle is minimal intervention: hand-harvested grapes, gentle pressing, temperature-controlled fermentation – all in the service of fruit and clarity.

Food recommendations

The dry, spicy character opens up many possibilities: asparagus with hollandaise sauce, Styrian fried chicken, Thai curry with lemongrass, sushi or grilled fennel with orange. Also a precise refreshment when enjoyed on its own on the terrace.

Special characteristics

Muskateller tends towards opulence – this one shows the opposite: restraint rather than exuberance. The estate’s art lies in channelling the variety’s intensity without diminishing its personality. Bottled young and conceived for freshness, it is the most agile entry point into the winery’s Eichberg range.