Hefeabzug, Grüner Veltliner trocken 2023

Wine description for Hefeabzug Grüner Veltliner dry 2023 from Nikolaihof

Colour & Appearance

Pale yellow with green reflections – typical of a young Grüner Veltliner from the Wachau.

Nose

Here the name is truly apt: initially the wine shows pronounced reductive characteristics with match heads, flint and a hint of egg salad. Yet those who give it time will be rewarded. After sufficient aeration, a precise aromatic spectrum unfolds of kitchen herbs, coriander, watercress and borage, accompanied by spicy notes of white pepper and citrus zest. The initial reduction leaves a mineral impression of wet stone.

Palate

The attack surprises with aromatic bitterness and creamy texture – the yeast is present without being obtrusive. The fruit initially seems veiled, until a distinctive minerality takes hold. Firmly and grippingly structured, with a rough, almost powdery texture, this wine develops a phenomenal drinking flow. The transformation from the reductive start to mineral clarity is impressive.

Finish

Medium length with lingering minerality and spicy herbal notes. The 5.4 grams of acidity provides freshness and tension through to the end.

Terroir & Origin

Grown on loam, loess and paragneiss in partly terraced vineyard sites of the Wachau. Nikolaihof is Austria’s oldest wine estate with history dating back to 63 AD. Since 1971 it has been worked according to biodynamic principles, and has been Demeter-certified for years.

Grape Variety & Vinification

100% Grüner Veltliner, aged for six months in large wooden cask on fine lees. Bottled in April 2024 with only 1.5 grams of residual sugar – a bone-dry wine with 12.5% alcohol.

Food Pairing Recommendations

Perfect with asparagus with Hollandaise sauce, goat’s cheese, green salad with herb vinaigrette, blue trout or vegetable tempura. The minerality harmonises beautifully with oysters or sushi.

Special Features

An authentic lees-contact wine that demands patience and rewards it. Excellent value for money for a biodynamic Wachau Veltliner. Those who appreciate reductive styles and can give wine time will find here a characterful, mineral drop with personality.

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