St. Laurent 2020

Wine Description for St. Laurent 2020 by Heinrich

Colour & Appearance

Garnet to purple-red, with a delicate translucence – a wine that doesn’t boast of darkness, but whispers of depth.

Nose

The nose displays serious, almost ascetic complexity: tar and sloe open the proceedings, followed by earth and crushed stone. Then, like a quiet breath, a hint of sweetness – lingonberries, blackberries, a touch of yeast. To this is added something aged and smoky, almost charcuterie-like. A nose full of tension and inner logic.

Palate

On the palate, the promise of the nose is confirmed: sinewy, taut and carried by a vibrant, precise acidity. The texture is cool and mineral, the fruit – sloes, dark berries, juniper berries – crisp and clear. Herbs and ethereal notes along with fleshy accents weave together with stone and minerality into a palate that finishes juicy and mouth-watering. Not a superfluous gram of fat, no sugar serving as distraction.

Finish

Long, fresh and characterised by persistent minerality. The acidity carries the wine cleanly across the finish line – precise to the very last moment.

Terroir & Origin

The grapes come from two characterful vineyard sites on either side of Lake Neusiedl: the Rosenberg in Breitenbrunn on the Leitha Mountains – an east-facing slope marked by mica schist – as well as the stony Parndorf Plateau and the humus-rich Heide soil east of the lake. This combination explains the wine’s mineral tension and earthy depth.

Grape Variety & Vinification

St. Laurent, harvested in early September by hand with careful sorting. Spontaneous fermentation over three weeks in wooden fermentation vats and stainless steel, followed by slow pressing in a basket press. Maturation over 20 months in wooden fermentation vats and used tonneaux. The wine, with a mere 11.5% alcohol, is remarkably light-footed and owes its structure to terroir, not oak.

Food Pairing Suggestions

Ideal with game dishes, grilled lamb or duck breast with root vegetables. Also a convincing choice with aged hard cheeses or a rustic charcuterie board.

Special Characteristics

A St. Laurent that showcases the grape variety in its coolest, earthiest expression – far removed from obliging fruit sweetness. Winery Heinrich from Burgenland proves once again that this often underestimated variety is capable of truly serious wine culture.

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