Tonsur 2023

Wine Description for Tonsur 2023 by Pranzegg

Colour & Appearance

Straw yellow with delicate orange reflections and a silken, matt shimmer – a first, subtle hint of the skin fermentation that defines this wine.

Nose

Restrained and meditative, the Tonsur unfolds on the nose – true to its name. With time, waxy yellow apples, orange blossom and chopped sweet almonds emerge, underpinned by mild kitchen herbs such as chervil and lemon balm. Not a loud entrance, but a quiet, concentrated whisper from the high plateau of the Ritten.

Palate

The entry is juicy and carried by creamy texture, the palate characterised by a fine, powdery grip. This wine eschews fruity ornamentation and instead focuses on structure, extract and tactile sensation. Fruit and floral notes reveal themselves almost exclusively on the retro-nasal, embedded in a dense, taut body. The phenolics – a legacy of the six-day skin fermentation – provide an aromatic, pleasantly warm bass that elevates this wine into its own category.

Finish

Long, aromatic and carried by vibrant freshness. The fine tannin structure keeps the finish fresh and inevitably demands another glass.

Terroir & Origin

The grapes come from the Oberplatten vineyard site on the Ritten near Bolzano, a high plateau at the border between alpine and Mediterranean climate. The volcanic soils impart a mineral depth and tension to the wine that clearly distinguishes it from more approachable South Tyrolean white wines.

Grape Variety & Vinification

A field blend dominated by Müller-Thurgau (approximately two-thirds), complemented by Pinot Blanc, Chardonnay and Silvaner. The grapes were harvested crisp, destemmed with 50 % whole bunches and fermented on the skins for six days. Subsequently, the wine matures until April on the lees in concrete vessels – minimalist, precise, without frills.

Food Pairing Suggestions

A wine for the table, not the sofa. Excellent with risotto with mountain herbs, grilled char, goat’s cheese or an appetiser of vitello tonnato. Also an exciting choice with Asian-inspired dishes with ginger and lemongrass.

Special Features

The name Tonsur – the shaved spot on a monk’s head – is the programme: this wine is ascetic, concentrated and of quiet depth. Marion and Martin Gojer of Pranzegg are among South Tyrol’s most exciting natural wine producers. With 11.5 % alcohol, the Tonsur remains light-footed without losing its seriousness – a wine for the curious.