NUMEN Sankt Laurent Rosé 2021

Wine Description for NUMEN Sankt Laurent Rosé 2021 by Johannes Zillinger

Colour & Appearance

A dense, luminous purple in the glass – this rosé defies every convention. The colour already signals that no inconsequential summer wine awaits here, but rather a serious, characterful representative of its kind.

Nose

The aromatics are multifaceted and unusually complex for a rosé: sour cherries and their bitter pits dominate initially, accompanied by elderberries and the slightly bitter wood of the elder shrub. Boxwood brings a green, herbaceous component, whilst cinnamon and star anise contribute a festive spice. A floral note lends the whole thing a remarkable lightness despite all its intensity.

Palate

On the palate, the true class of this wine reveals itself: vibrant freshness meets fine tannin – a rarity in rosés, yet perfectly integrated here. The fruit shifts towards red berries and thereby underscores the rosé character without losing depth. The texture is juicy, the balance between fruit, structure and freshness impeccable. A wine that seduces you to keep drinking.

Finish

Medium-length with persistent fruitiness and a fine, tannic aftertaste that recalls the unconventional vinification.

Grape Variety & Vinification

Pure Sankt Laurent, crafted according to biodynamic principles. The six-month carbonic maceration in amphorae gives the wine its distinctive structure and depth. After gentle hand-pressing, the wine matured for four months without intervention in 500-litre vessels of acacia wood and oak – a combination that brings complexity without obtrusive oak notes.

Food Pairing Suggestions

This rosé can handle considerably more than light summer cuisine: tuna tataki, pan-fried duck with cherry sauce, lamb rack with herb crust or spicy Asian dishes with star anise and ginger. Also a compelling pairing with aged goat’s cheese.

Special Features

Johannes Zillinger belongs to the vanguard of the Austrian natural wine scene. The name NUMEN – metaphysical activity – is programmatic: this is a rosé vinified with spiritual devotion and one that transcends conventional categories. A wine for the curious, those who value authenticity over palatability.