Pinot Noir 2023

Wine description for Pinot Noir 2023 by Loimer

Colour & appearance

Transparent ruby red — bright, clear, and typically slender for a Pinot Noir with a moderate 12.5% abv.

Nose

Dark-fruited and expansive: mulberry, lingonberry, fig, and pomegranate, accompanied by a hint of sloe and pickled black walnuts. Beneath lies a distinctly savoury note reminiscent of umami and dried meat — a dense perfume with a medium-bodied impression.

Palate

Surprisingly disciplined on the attack: juicy, fresh fruit, a finely chiselled spine of acidity, and a velvety texture with elegantly crafted tannins. Grippy, with good bite — a Pinot that prioritises structure over opulence.

Finish

Cool and radiant, marked by calcareous gravel — the finale bears the hallmark of the Gumpoldskirchen soils and lingers long with a mineral resonance.

Terroir & origin

Two origins, two soils: from Langenlois in the Kamptal come grapes grown on loess soils, while those from Gumpoldskirchen in the Thermenregion hail from sites rich in clay and calcareous gravel. Fred Loimer knows both worlds well — he is based with his estate in the Kamptal, where cool Waldviertel air meets Pannonian warmth; in Gumpoldskirchen, he has run Weingut Schellmann since 2004. The calcareous soils there remind even him of Burgundy.

Grape variety & vinification

Pinot Noir (Spätburgunder) from vines up to 30 years old, farmed biodynamically. Selective hand harvest in mid-September, whole-bunch fermentation with indigenous yeasts in open wooden fermenters at a maximum of 28 °C over four weeks. Twelve months’ maturation in 300-litre oak casks, followed by three months’ rest in stainless steel. Bottled unfiltrated with minimal sulphur addition.

Food pairings

Its savoury, almost meaty spice and cool tension make it a natural partner for duck breast with lingonberries, saddle of venison in juniper jus, or mushroom ragout on polenta. Also a reliable match for mature hard cheese.

Special features

Loimer is a co-founder of respekt-BIODYN — biodynamic practice here is no mere pose but the very foundation. That he applies such rigour to a red wine sourced from two regions is rare: the result is an Austrian Pinot Noir with Burgundian ambition, yet without the Burgundian price tag.