Zweigelt 2018

Zweigelt is considered an absolute classic of Austrian red wines. Varietal and vintage typicity can be wonderfully depicted. Gernot Heinrich sees his Zweigelt as playing a very unifying role in the Burgenland context. The vine rows are distributed among the flat, humus-rich sites in the Heidenboden, the gravelly sites of the Parndorfer Platte and the slopes of the Leithagebirge, which are based on limestone and slate.

The harvest took place in late August 2018. The fermentation takes place spontaneously for a fortnight in wooden fermentation racks as well as on the skins in stainless steel. The blend then matures for 31 months in wooden fermentation racks as well as in used 500l oak barrels.

Dense black-red with slight cloudiness and violet rim

The first nose seems absolutely bloody and ferruginous. It is reminiscent of the wines of the northern Rhône. Ethereal notes of pine and fir woods, mint and eucalyptus follow directly behind. Moss, undergrowth and a little tree bark convey balsamic as well as woody aromas. Potting soil and forest floor complement this pleasantly and ideally balanced. All in all, the effect is pleasantly rustic with a lot of polish and finesse. Blueberries, cassis, elderberries and sour cherries counter with plenty of fruit. Nutmeg slowly but surely spreads in the background.

Then in contrast to this in the nose. It is extremely juicy, slender and enormously cool. The mouth feels like it is wrapped in silk. The fruit presents itself from a small-berry and pleasantly acidic side. It shows the bloody character again in the form of drinking flow, crisp mouthfeel and high salivation. The spicy aromas of the forest appear only subordinately in the finish.