Weingut Bründlmayer Riesling Ried Steinmassl 1ÖTW 2024

The Weingut Bründlmayer - Riesling Ried Steinmassl 1ÖTW comes from the Kamptal, in Lower Austria, near Langenlois. Mentioned in the archives in 1396, the Ried Steinmassl is one of the emblematic terroirs of the valley. This south-facing vineyard is laid out in terraces on steep slopes of metamorphic rock and gneiss, between 240 and 340 metres above sea level, under the influence of warm days and cool winds coming down from the hills.

The estate, certified organic, practises cover cropping, lyre training and hand harvesting. The grapes are fermented with native yeasts, then the wine is aged in large oak vats (foudres), which respects the tension of the Riesling and the precision of the terroir. The length of ageing has not been disclosed by the estate for this vintage.

This wine reveals notes of yellow fruit, redcurrant, lime zest, fresh pineapple, apricot, aromatic herbs, white flowers and flint. The palate, medium-bodied but finely woven, is structured by lively acidity. It keeps lovely tension right through to a mineral, delicately spicy finish.

Austrian viticulture has made enormous strides in wine quality over the past decade. Today, Austrian winemakers no longer produce cheap wines for mass consumption, but rather refined and complex wines. Austria produces 65% white wines. From a general perspective, Austrian wines are more powerful and richer than those of their German neighbor. The major and most widely planted national grape variety is Grüner Veltliner (an indigenous white grape). Red wine production continues to increase in volume, intensity, and quality. In Burgenland, in particular, producers are making the most of a unique blend of local grape varieties (Blaufränkisch, Saint-Laurent, Zweigelt) and French varieties (Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Pinot Noir). Austria's climate is primarily continental, with cold winters and hot summers. The country is influenced by four main weather patterns. To the east, continental influences from Pannonia; to the west, Atlantic influences as well as cold winds from the north; and to the south, Mediterranean influences. The Danube, meandering languidly through numerous vineyards, brings a variety of microclimates to the vines.