Ried Zieregg Sauvignon Blanc, Große STK Lage 2019

The wines from the Ried Zieregg vineyard site are those with which the Tement winery became world-renowned. Zieregg is the home vineyard of the Tements, situated at 330 to 490 metres elevation and characterised by various limestone variants such as coral shell limestone, weathered limestone and calcareous marl, each with relatively thin clay overlays. The microclimate of this vineyard site in combination with the soils and vines over 40 years old produces wines with high and elegant aromatic expression and unique ageing potential, to which the biodynamic, very labour-intensive farming methods contribute significantly. The Sauvignon Blanc received two days of skin contact, fermented spontaneously to 1.1 grammes residual sugar with 6.4 grammes acidity and was aged for 24 months in a large neutral oak barrel on fine lees, then bottled unfiltered.

Medium straw yellow with slightly green reflections

Already on the nose, the Zieregg from the exceptional vintage 2019 reveals its elegance and complexity, its fine spice and its intense, yet never loud fruit. This is a Sauvignon Blanc that comes across as cool and stony, with aromas of herbs and foliage, of limequats and lemongrass, of lemon balm, mint and salt lemon, sage and a touch of blackcurrant and gooseberry. All of this seems incredibly dense, complex and yet somehow relaxed and at peace with itself.

On the palate, the Zieregg develops enormous tension, moreover pressure and a smoky minerality of flint and salt stone. Indeed, the salt, this minerality, this vibration that the wine possesses, is already considerable, even though it is still very young and has potential for 30 years and beyond. On the palate there are likewise salt lemons, some light stone and pip fruit, herbs as well as grapefruit notes with bitter and piquant characteristics. All this coolness and minerality revolves around a warm, inviting and charming core and works like its own galaxy in the vast cosmos of the many Sauvignon Blancs in this world. The wine already shows greatness now, but will develop further, and in this vintage there will surely not be many wines from this grape variety that can match it.