A dark, structured natural wine rosé from the Weinviertel, which gains unusual depth and spicy complexity through amphora ageing and carbonic maceration.
Bottler: Johannes Zillinger organic winery, Landstrasse 70, A-2245 Velm-Götzendorf / Austria
In the glass
Colour
Dense, intense purple with a striking appearance.
Nose
Sour cherries, elderberries and elder wood, complemented by boxwood, festive spices such as cinnamon and star anise, as well as floral notes.
Palate
Vibrant freshness meets fine tannins; the fruit evolves into red berries that underscore the rosé character. Dry and structured, yet eminently drinkable at 12.0% ABV.
Character
A rosé with genuine depth – darker and fuller-bodied than classic quaffing wines, reminiscent of light orange wines thanks to its amphora and wood ageing, yet simultaneously fresh and easy to enjoy.
Pairing
Ideal with creative cuisine: spiced poultry, Asian dishes with sweet-and-spicy sauces, matured hard cheese.
Notes
Six months of fermentation with carbonic maceration in amphorae, gentle hand pressing and four months of sedimentation in small acacia and oak casks. A Demeter-certified top wine from Zillinger’s NUMEN series with minimal intervention in the cellar.
Tasting note
Colour & appearance
A dense purple in the glass, which with its deep black-violet core and slightly bluish rim hardly resembles a classic rosé – rather a very pale red wine variant. Hazy, radiant depth of colour even before the first sip.
Nose
Fresh, dark red berry bouquet: sour cherries and their stones dominate initially, accompanied by elderberries, boxwood and a pinch of festive spice from cinnamon and star anise. A remarkable floral lightness that lends buoyancy to the dense appearance.
Palate
On the palate, a clear contrast to the nose: vibrant acidity, fine yet perceptible tannin, conveying the character of a moonshine-inspired version of Sankt Laurent. The fruit shifts here into the spectrum of red, juicy berries, reaffirming its rosé presence. Always with a touch of spice and a floral undertone.
Finish
A long finish where structure and freshness linger; no dominance of alcohol, always inviting a second glass.
Terroir & origin
Weinviertel, more precisely: limestone-sandstone soils around the south-eastern village of Velm-Götzendorf. Often sheltered by trees and shrubs on the eastern sides of the vineyards – a microclimate well suited to the slow-ripening Sankt Laurent.
Grape variety & vinification
A work of pure trust: six months of amphora fermentation with carbonic maceration, followed by a slow, manual pressing. A four-month resting period in 500-litre oak and acacia casks, without technical intervention. Spontaneous and unfined, a production method unusual in the Weinviertel.
Food recommendations
The perfect partner for creative cuisine: wild mushroom ragout with bacon, Breton oat salad with radishes, Vietnamese rice noodle salad with peanut dressing, or indeed braised aubergines with miso and cashews, all of which equally demand structure and juiciness.
Special features
Johannes Zillinger deliberately challenges the Weinviertel DAC regulations: this NUMEN Rosé carries deep colour, ripe texture and tannin in a vessel that expresses structure rather than fruity flair. An uncompromising, artisanal wine whose character is rendered unique by the use of amphorae and wood.
