NUMEN Muskateller 2021

Tasting notes for NUMEN Muskateller 2021 by Johannes Zillinger

Colour & Appearance

Quite cloudy, pale golden yellow.

Nose

An intense interpretation of Muskateller that is miles away from the ordinary: with aeration, a complex world of roses, nutmeg and grapefruit zest reveals itself, underlined by bitter oranges and lime zest. Unusual notes of baked celery, fresh garden herbs and wet, baked clay lend the aromatics a fascinating spice.

Palate

On the palate, it initially presents itself as silky and, thanks to the noticeable tannin, extremely grippy. The supporting acidity steadily gains presence. Floral notes and citrus fruit meet pleasantly tart zest. The wine feels dense yet slender at the same time, threaded with a striking salty minerality, taut and long – masterfully skin-fermented without being overly demanding.

Terroir & Origin

Grown in Velm-Götzendorf in the south-eastern Weinviertel. The terroir is characterised by complex limestone-sandstone soils, which lend the wine its salty structure. The estate operates under Demeter certification, featuring sheep and poultry in the vineyard alongside herb cultivation for natural preparations.

Grape Variety & Vinification

Produced from Muscat à Petit Grains. The harvest took place on 9th September 2021. This was followed by a ten-day intracellular skin fermentation in Georgian kvevri (clay amphorae). The wine subsequently aged undisturbed on the lees for 14 months in 600-litre tonneaux, supplemented by a ten per cent proportion of fresh berries. Bottling took place unfined with merely 35 mg/L of sulphites.

Food Pairings

An outstanding partner for grilled tuna with spicy watermelon and carrot-yuzu salad, fennel and cedrat lemon salad with sumac or stuffed calamares with chard, fennel seeds, vine tomatoes and anchovies.

Particularities

NUMEN stands for the divine power of a place. This biodynamic orange wine unites the ancient Georgian kvevri tradition with the lime-rich soils of the Weinviertel to create a radical, puristic wine with impressive grip.