Im Weingebirge, Grüner Veltliner Federspiel trocken 1988 1500ml Magnum

Wine description for Im Weingebirge Grüner Veltliner Federspiel trocken 1988 1500ml Magnum by Nikolaihof

Colour & appearance

Deep golden yellow with greenish reflections – the colour of mature Wachau Veltliners, displaying an almost oily viscosity in the glass. Clear and brilliant despite 36 years of bottle ageing.

Nose

A complex bouquet that breathes the patience of the Nikolaihof cellar: dried apricots and honeydew melon meet the characteristic peppery spice of mature Veltliners. Behind them lie notes of chamomile, beeswax and a cool, almost graphitic minerality reminiscent of wet slate. With air, toasted hazelnuts and a hint of orange zest emerge.

Palate

Remarkably fresh and precise for a wine of this age. The acidity remains vibrant, carrying aromas of ripe quince, white pepper and dried herbs. The texture is silky, almost ethereal – not a gram of excess weight, yet with a depth that speaks of six decades on the vine. The alcohol at 11 per cent is fully integrated; the wine feels both light-footed and concentrated.

Finish

Long and multi-layered, with a saline minerality that cleanses the palate and a lingering echo of citrus fruits and fine spice. A finish that stays in the memory.

Terroir & origin

The Im Weingebirge vineyard site is one of Europe’s most historically significant crus – documented as far back as AD 470. It forms part of the Alte Point site above Mautern and covers six hectares rising from 206 to 225 metres up the slope. The subsoil consists of paragneiss, which in places reaches right to the surface, overlaid by a mantle of clay and loess. This combination lends the wines their cool precision and mineral depth.

Grape variety & vinification

Grüner Veltliner from one of Europe’s oldest vineyards, harvested in the 1988 vintage. Like all Nikolaihof wines, this Federspiel was matured in large, old wooden casks – a method that allows the wine time to breathe and gives it its characteristic finesse. The magnum bottle has further slowed the maturation process and preserved its freshness.

Food recommendations

A wine for special moments and dishes that respect its complexity: baked char with almond butter, veal fillet with morel jus, Styrian fried chicken with potato salad, or simply smoked trout with horseradish. Also a revelation alongside mature hard cheese.

Special features

This 1988 is an Archive Release – brought to market in 2024 directly from Nikolaihof’s estate cellar. It comes from an estate built on Roman foundations dating back to 63 BC and farmed biodynamically according to Demeter standards since 1971 – making it the world’s oldest Demeter-certified winery. The Saahs family has tended this site since 1894. A wine that makes history tangible.