semicolon ; Gewürztraminer 2020

Wine Description for semicolon ; Gewürztraminer 2020 by Nikolaihof

Colour & Appearance

Unfiltered and naturally cloudy, this Gewürztraminer presents itself in luminous orange with amber-coloured reflexes – a visual statement that already announces a radical departure from conventional Wachau white wines.

Nose

Forget the perfumed lychee clichés of classical Gewürztraminer. Here unfolds an earthy, stony and smoky character of surprising intensity. Dried grasses, rose petals, green pepper and orange peel combine with yeasty-spicy notes to create a purist, almost meditative bouquet. The freshness is remarkable for a skin-contact wine.

Palate

Precise, bone-dry and challenging. The fine tannins from eight months of skin contact lend structure and grip, whilst citrus and apple skin spice provide vibrant tension. At only 10.5% alcohol, it displays a rare elegance and drinkability. This is not a wine for casual sipping – it demands attention and rewards it with vibrancy and depth.

Finish

Long, spicy and of mineral precision. The tannins remain present without dominating, leaving behind a saline, herbal aftertaste.

Grape Variety & Vinification

100% Gewürztraminer, fermented entirely on the skins and aged for eight months in used wooden barrels. Without fining, stabilisation, filtration or sulphur additions – an uncompromising natural wine from biodynamic pioneer Nikolaihof. The semicolon project by Katharina Salzgeber and Nikolaus Saahs deliberately questions traditional Wachau stylistics.

Food Pairing Suggestions

This wine calls for creative, spice-intense cuisine: king oyster mushroom and sprout salad with wild strawberries, parsnip and fig gratin with Gorgonzola or pan-fried foie gras with wild raspberry coulis. Also an exciting choice with fermented dishes, miso preparations or Moroccan tagines.

Special Characteristics

An intellectual wine that uses the semicolon as a metaphor: it submits to no rulebook, but appeals to the discerning, curious drinker. For purists and traditionalists a provocation – for natural wine enthusiasts a revelation.