Tasting note
With the Flora 2023, Olympia Samara and Hannes Hoffmann present the maiden vintage of their new cuvée – and what a vintage it is. On the rare blue Muschelkalk limestone of Roßwag, between centuries-old dry stone walls, a white wine of floral temptation and austere precision is born: light-footed at 10 per cent alcohol, yet anything but simple.
- Colour & appearance
- Luminous golden yellow with orange reflections, distinctly hazy – the colour of a wine that goes its own way.
- Nose
- A festival of blossoms in the glass: apple, almond and cherry blossom engage in an open duel, accompanied by zest of orange, lime and bergamot, grapefruit juice and kaffir lime leaves. A hint of cinnamon and clove hovers above, underpinned by the tart, acidic skin of mandarin. Seductive and exemplary at once.
- Palate
- It confidently delivers on the promises of the nose: lush fruit, yet marked by sour to austere notes. The bitter compounds are perfectly integrated, a fine tannin supports the mouthfeel and lends substance. Nevertheless, this wine never loses its lightness – freshness, drinkability and vitality dominate.
- Finish
- Medium-length and lively, the spicy facets only reveal themselves tentatively in the aftertaste – a quiet, spicy farewell.
- Terroir & origin
- The vines are rooted in blue Muschelkalk limestone, as one would otherwise expect to find in the French Jura – a geological gem in the steep vineyard sites of Roßwag on the Enz. Terraced dry stone walls, altitude and cool nights provide tension and crisp acidity.
- Grape variety & vinification
- A cuvée of 80% Pinot Blanc and 20% Muscat. After harvesting, the grapes are foot-trodden and left on the skins for five days, then pressed in a basket press and vinified and aged with the gross lees in old wooden casks. Unfiltered, only cautiously sulphured – entirely in keeping with the philosophy of the estate, which has been Demeter-certified since 2018, ferments spontaneously and dispenses with any soil cultivation.
- Food recommendations
- The austere freshness and fine tannin call for aromatic cuisine: Vietnamese summer rolls, Thai curry with lemongrass, grilled fennel with oranges or asparagus with hollandaise. Also a winner with sushi and lightly spiced mezze.
- Special features
- A white wine with skin contact and perceptible, fine tannin that gives structure to these inherently light grape varieties. Add to that the first vintage of this cuvée ever: the launch of a new line at Roterfaden, with an aromatic profile that is truly second to none.
