St. Laurent 2020

Wine Description for St. Laurent 2020 by Heinrich

Colour & Appearance

Slightly translucent garnet to purple red.

Nose

Initially displays a serious and dark character with notes of sloeberry, tar, damp earth and crushed stone. Over time, nuanced hints of cranberry, blackberry and a touch of smoked meat emerge, lending a captivating tension to the aromatic profile.

Palate

Sinewy, taut and laced with a cool vein. On the palate, crisp dark fruit marries with accents of juniper berry, wild herbs and an ethereal freshness. The vibrant acidity and a pronounced mineral grip ensure an immensely juicy, mouth-watering drinking experience.

Terroir & Origin

The grapes grow on both sides of Lake Neusiedl in Burgenland: on the one hand, from the east-facing Rosenberg site near Breitenbrunn on the Leithaberg, dominated by mica schist; on the other hand, from the barren gravel soils of the Parndorfer Platte and the more humus-rich parcels of the Heideboden.

Grape Variety & Vinification

Single-varietal Sankt Laurent, hand-picked in early September and meticulously sorted. Following spontaneous fermentation over three weeks in wooden open-top fermenters and stainless steel, followed by gentle pressing in a basket press, the wine matured for 20 months in large tonneaux and wooden fermentation vats. At a moderate 11.5% ABV, the winery relies entirely on light-footed elegance.

Food Pairings

Pairs brilliantly with pink-roasted saddle of venison, classic casseroles and stews, or roasted duck with cranberry sauce.

Key Features

Gernot and Heike Heinrich work fully biodynamically (respekt-BIODYN and Demeter-certified). This wine convincingly proves that the often-underestimated Sankt Laurent variety can reveal immense inner density and cool elegance at a moderate alcohol level.