Weingut Bründlmayer Langenloiser Steinmassl 2019

The Steinmassl plot lies on the slopes of Langenlois, at the heart of the Kamptal valley, in Lower Austria's wine country. This vineyard, classified as Erste Lage, benefits from well-exposed slopes and cool nights coming down from the surrounding wooded hills. Its soils combine loess deposits with stony, crystalline components, encouraging both ripeness in the grapes and a taut expression of the terroir. In this region shaped by the Danube and the River Kamp, the continental climate brings bright days and temperature swings that favour precise, deep and finely chiselled whites.

The grapes are harvested by hand with rigorous selection, then gently pressed. Fermentation takes place in temperature-controlled stainless-steel tanks. The wine is then aged on fine lees in stainless steel to preserve the aromatic purity and mineral tension specific to the Steinmassl terroir.

This wine reveals notes of yellow apple, ripe pear and lemon zest, complemented by hints of white flowers, white pepper and fresh herbs. A backbone of wet stone and sea salt underlines its mineral character. The palate is broad yet sleek, with a satiny texture and lively, well-integrated acidity, followed by a long, spicy and saline finish. The whole combines concentration, freshness and precision, while retaining remarkable energy at the table.

Over the past ten years and more, Austrian viticulture has made a huge leap in wine quality. Today, Austrian winegrowers no longer produce cheap wines for mass consumption, but refined and complex wines. 65% of Austria's wine is white. Broadly speaking, Austrian wines are more powerful and richer than those of their German neighbour. The great national grape, and the most widely planted, is Grüner Veltliner (a native white variety). Red wine production continues to grow in volume as well as in intensity and quality. In Burgenland above all, producers make the most of an original mix of local grape varieties (blaufränkisch, saint-laurent, zweigelt) and French ones (cabernet-sauvignon, merlot and pinot noir). Austria's climate is essentially continental, with cold winters and hot summers. The country is subject to 4 main influences: to the east, continental influences from Pannonia; to the west, Atlantic influences, but also cold winds from the north; and to the south, Mediterranean influences. The Danube, winding languidly through many vineyards, brings numerous microclimates to them.