NUMEN Rosé 2020

Wine description for NUMEN Sankt Laurent Rosé 2020 by Johannes Zillinger

Colour & Appearance

Cloudy, pale ruby red – an unfiltered, natural wine that makes no secret of its origins from the bottle.

Nose

This delicate Sankt Laurent from vines over a hundred years old unfolds a remarkable aromatic complexity: dried violets, sour cherries and cherry stones form the foundation, complemented by red berries and a pronounced stony minerality. Added to this are bay leaf, undergrowth and a fine hint of Espelette pepper – an unusual, fascinating spice note.

Palate

Charming and inviting, this wine presents itself on the palate. The silky tannins and lively acidity invite the next sip. Particularly successful is the interplay between sweet berry fruit and austere, slightly earthy notes. Despite its delicacy, the wine possesses considerable length and inner harmony – a wine that is more red wine than rosé and thereby defines its own category.

Finish

Long-lasting with fine fruit and a mineral aftertaste that underscores the wine’s elegance.

Terroir & Origin

From the Weinviertel, Austria’s largest wine region, comes this extraordinary Sankt Laurent. The vines, over 100 years old, yield physiologically fully ripe grapes of particular concentration and depth.

Grape Variety & Vinification

Johannes Zillinger practises radical minimalism here: Following hand-harvest on 9 September 2021, there was a six-month semi-carbonic maceration in Kvevri (Georgian clay amphorae), followed by four months on the lees in 500-litre acacia wood tonneaux. Bottled unrefined with minimal 25 mg/L sulphites. With just 12% alcohol and 1 g residual sugar, a prime example of finesse over power.

Food Pairing Recommendations

Excellent with grilled Radicchio Tardivo with Kampot pepper, onglet slices with polenta and cherry jus or cod with cocoa bean nibs on savoy cabbage purée. The versatility ranges from vegetarian dishes to tender meat and fish.

Special Features

A wine that breaks conventional categories – neither classic rosé nor typical red wine, but an independent statement for natural wine philosophy and the expressiveness of old vines.