Blaufränkisch Alter Berg Leithaberg DAC 2017

Wine Description for Blaufränkisch Alter Berg Leithaberg DAC 2017 from Heinrich

Colour & Appearance

A transparent, clear ruby red – modest in presentation, yet possessing a luminosity that deserves attention. Not a heavy, opaque darkness, but the elegant translucence of a wine that has nothing to hide.

Nose

The nose is complex and suffused with cool precision. Black cherry and sour cherry form the foundation, flanked by plum and sloe. Beneath runs an earthy, almost woodland depth: damp forest floor, undergrowth, ivy. To this is added the unmistakable aroma of wet stone after rain – petrichor – something of aged game and a hint of fermented cardamom. A bouquet of fascinating individuality.

Palate

Whoever underestimates this wine has not decanted it. After sufficient air, the Alte Berg unfolds a vibrant minerality and a tension that pulses through the entire palate. The cool dark fruit is illuminated by a flash of sweet ripeness, whilst subtle yeast notes lend the wine a subtle, almost Burgundian depth. Purist, precise, yet never austere.

Finish

Long, saline-mineral, with a lingering echo of cherry stones and damp limestone. The finish is cool and clear – a wine that does not let go.

Terroir & Origin

The grapes grow in the Windener Alter Berg, a south-east facing slope in the Leitha Mountains. Above, the forest cools; below, the Neusiedl Lake shimmers. The soil: sparse limestone – austere, demanding, character-building. Cherry trees in the rows complete this extraordinary micro-terroir.

Grape Variety & Vinification

Blaufränkisch in its most concentrated, artisanal form. Hand-harvested in early October, spontaneously fermented over three weeks on the skins in wooden fermentation vessels, then gently pressed with the basket press. Maturation took place over 29 months in a cellar amphora and used 500-litre oak barrel – a vinification that eschews intervention and allows the wine its own path.

Food Pairing Suggestions

A wine of character demands dishes with depth: Braised venison shoulder with redcurrant jelly, dark chocolate and Brussels sprouts is the classic choice. Equally convincing: Filet Mignon, filled with chestnuts and plums. For those thinking vegetarian, reach for Leek lasagne with Bleu des Causses and walnuts – the pungency of the cheese mirrors the minerality of the wine masterfully.

Special Characteristics

A Leithaberg DAC from the 2017 vintage that bears the hallmark of the winery Heinrich: no compromises, no artifice, only terroir. This Blaufränkisch demands time – in the cellar and in the glass. Those who bring patience will be rewarded.