Ried Zieregg Kår Sauvignon Blanc, Große STK Lage 2020

The wines from the Ried Zieregg vineyard are the ones that have made the Tement winery world-famous. Ried Zieregg is the Tements' home vineyard, situated at an altitude of 330 to 490 metres and characterised by different types of limestone such as coral shell limestone, limestone weathering and limestone marl, each with quite thin layers of clay. The microclimate of this site, in combination with the soils and the more than 40-year-old vines, produces wines with high and elegant aromas and a unique ageing potential, to which the organic, very elaborate farming methods also contribute. However, since the Ried Zieregg is a large site with different microclimates, soil structures and sun exposures, the Tements also bottle some plots individually. What used to happen here and there has manifested itself with the 2020 vintage, which has to do with the changed site legislation in southern Styria. As a result, the Tements have now divided the mountain into four sites: Ried Zieregg, Ried Zieregg Kapelle, Ried Zieregg Kår and Ried Zieregg Steilriegel.

The Ornamentalegg »Kår« [pronounced Koar - colloquial cold bar] is the original home vineyard of grandmother Edina on Kiesener Berg. The Sauvignon Blanc stands on 1.84 hectares with about 9,000 vines aged 30 years. It is situated at 377 to 440 m above sea level with a slope of 30 to 35 % in west-south exposure and a cool microclimate. The soil is characterised by brown earth on coral limestone and blue limestone marl. The spontaneously fermented wine is aged in large used double barrels.

medium straw yellow with light green reflections

The Ornamentalegg »Kår« offers a fascinatingly clear nose of white currants, ripe gooseberries, some kiwi and lime, pea pods and verbena. There is an irrepressible freshness and coolness with hints of wet chalk and limestone.

On the palate, the Sauvignon Blanc provides a lot of pressure right from the start, but also a silky lining of the mouth. Thus the effect of the Ornamentalegg »Kår« demanding and elegant at the same time. It is remarkable how much power, pressure and pepperiness the wine brings to the tongue and yet can appear so noble. The acidity is dominant, as is the minerality and saltiness. The wine seems firm and grippy in its texture, is slightly smoky, piquantly bitter with notes of lime zest and very long. It definitely needs big glasses and a lot of time. Its potential is enormous - the Tements speak of 30 years plus x.