Isteiner Grauburgunder 2019

The vines of this Grauburgunder grow on the steep slopes of the winery on partly bare Jurassic limestone with a humus layer that is often only a few centimetres thick. The grapes are very small and the yields accordingly very low, which ensures concentration, complexity and a pronounced minerality. The wines are all fermented spontaneously in this winery and do not receive any other additions except for a light filling sulphur shortly before bottling. This Pinot Gris was only very coarsely filtered, if at all. It had some contact with the skins and was then aged for one year in large wood, followed by another six months in stainless steel.

light golden yellow

The Isteiner Pinot Gris shows itself from a full, juicy side and from a stony cool one. The juicy side provides notes of crumbly apple, yellow pears and ripe peach, joined by the coolness with stone and citrus. This is rounded off by a little hay, tobacco and nuttiness.

The interplay continues on the palate, with a shift towards the cool side. Juicy ripe apples dominate the fruit and are supported by some pomelo. In addition, the big wood shows up with a little oak aroma and spice. The wine appears exceedingly creamy and silky, is lining and also grippy due to the extended maceration time. The length that the Isteiner Pinot Gris is outstanding, as is the tension that the special terroir undoubtedly brings.