Winemakers in Carnuntum have a point to prove when it comes to their single vineyard Zweigelt. Simon asks, is this really the style we want from this grape variety?
Winemakers in Carnuntum have a point to prove when it comes to their single vineyard Zweigelt. Simon asks, is this really the style we want from this grape variety?
A big and broad wine from one of the hottest sites (climactily speaking) in the region, with quite soft, mealy tannins. The fruit feels almost overripe, and lacks some energy. There is berry fruit and fruit acid, but it’s getting buried in oak and lactic notes right now. I hope they harvest earlier in the
Creamy tannins (quite chunky), ripe and silky textured fruit. There’s a feeling of ripeness, with quite sappy raspberry and cherry fruit, but a surfeit of oak blunts the expression and the finish. The alcohol also sticks out a bit. Lacks balance or harmony at the moment. Selected yeasts. Fermented in open vats, after destemming and
Upfront and expressive strawberry and cherry fruit, with a charming and typical character on the nose, but rather extracted and fierce as it hits the palate. Quite spicy, feels typical of the variety but lacks elegance or finesse. The woody tannins and the extraction are a bit of a distraction. 50 year old vines. Fermentation
Ripe but attractively spicy and smooth textured. Quite dense and extracted right now, but with nice sappy tannins, raspberry fruit and a salty mineral note on the finish. The wine is marked by some cinnamon and fresh bread notes at the moment. Fermented in stainless steel, then aged in 225lt barrels (mix of new, second
Spiced raspberry and strawberry fruit on the nose, good freshness and expressive fruit, but with some distracting wood and christmas spice on the finish. Some lactic notes too. Fermented in 1500lt wood fermenters. Destemmed but not crushed. 12-14 days ferm. Pressed into 500lt barrels (25% new) 32ha. 65% red wines. Organic since 2016 (cert 2018).
Very lively roasted plum and black cherry fruit with great tension and tingling acids. The fruit really leaps out of the glass. It’s vibrant, and just the right side of overripe – there’s a the faintest hint of caramel or kirsch. Tannins are chunky and a little woody, but totally ripe and add a great
Well structured, with sweet cassis and cherry compote on the nose. Juicy berry and cherry fruit dominates the palate, and there’s a tiny hint of kirsch or maraschino too. Balanced, with a very open and creamy structure. It’s clear that this was a hot vintage, but there is real harmony and fruit focus here. A
Ripe black cherry and cassis aromas with some laurel and pepper. Tight and focused fruit character, with black berry fruit and great structure. Lovely spicy character. This is a wine that’s just beginning to open up, definitely worth cellaring for a year or two as it has more to give. Spontaneous fermentation. 12ha total vineyards.
Very expressive dark berry fruit, bilberry, ripe black cherry with fine structure and a nice subtle grip on the finish. Slightly mealy in the middle, but juicy and fresh on the finish. Elegant and nicely judged with the oak. Destemmed but not crushed. Pressed and then into used 500lt barrels. Spontaneous fermentation. Loess soils.