Salzberg 2018

Wine Description for Salzberg 2018 by Heinrich

Colour & Appearance

Deep, intense ruby red with an almost opaque black core – a visual promise of concentration and substance.

Nose

This Salzberg demands patience and rewards it generously. No superficial charm, but rather aristocratic restraint. Concentrated dark fruit dominates: heart cherries, plums and mulberries meld with earthy, almost mineral notes. Beneath this, forest floor, freshly turned earth, dark chocolate and espresso. Exotic spices such as black cardamom and tonka bean hint at the complexity this wine will unfold in years to come.

Palate

On the palate, the Salzberg 2018 currently presents itself more as potential than as a finished symphony. Forceful, with enormous inner tension, yet always transparent and silky in texture. The tannins recall fine-grained sandpaper – present but elegantly structured, with an invigorating dry astringency and notes of dark chocolate. The acidity acts discreetly in the background, yet effortlessly holds together the powerful architecture. A wine that demands large glasses and generous decanting.

Finish

Long, concentrated and of impressive persistence. The dry astringency lingers sustainably.

Terroir & Origin

The Salzberg vineyard site lies in pure southern exposure directly above the Heinrich winery on Lake Neusiedl. The dry, sun-blessed terroir with its variety of soil formations – from clayey-silty through chalky to sandy-gravelly – produces small-berried, thick-skinned grapes of extraordinary aromatic intensity and extract richness.

Grape Variety & Vinification

Blaufränkisch with a proportion of Merlot, hand-harvested and spontaneously fermented. Three weeks of skin contact in wooden fermentation vessels, gently pressed with a basket press. Maturation took place over 48 months in 500-litre barrels, bottled unrefined and unfiltered – an uncompromisingly natural approach.

Food Pairing Suggestions

Venison loin under a nut crust with pepper cherries, turbot in a pumpernickel crust on celeriac mousseline or smoked beetroot with rye bread crumble – the Salzberg pairs equally well with powerful, earthy flavours as with subtle smoke notes.

Special Characteristics

A vineyard site wine with impressive ageing potential. Still closed now, it will reveal its true greatness in 5-10 years. Patience becomes a virtue here.