IN THE VINEYARD:
REGION: Niederosterreich.
VINEYARDS: Mountain vineyards around the tiny village of Neudeggerhof. 1,000 ft. altitude.
VARIETALS: Blauer Zweigelt 100%
FARMING PRACTICES: Certified organic; dry farmed; rows seeded with clover, buckwheat & radish; no pesticides used (herbicide, fertilizer, additives, etc); only compost for fertilization.
PLOUGHING: The soil cover is maintained. Annual ploughing.
SOILS: Deep Loess soils
WEATHER: Continental Weather
VINES: 4 - 45 year old vines. Traditional Trellis.
HARVEST: Early October.
IN THE CELLAR:
FERMENTATION: Traditional, in small stainless steel tanks
TREATMENTS: No chaptalization and acidification at all. The idea is to stay natural as much as possible.
PRESSING: Traditional.
MALOLACTIC: Spontaneous, if any.
LEES: Approx. 2 months lees contact
FINING/ FILTRATION: The wine is allowed to settle naturally by gravity and is only minimally fined or filtered.
CHEMISTRY: Alc. 12%. 5 g/L Total Acidity.
WINEMAKER: Stephan Mehofer.
PHILOSOPHY: Low intervention. We believe that the best wines are born in the vineyard.
TASTING NOTES: Aromas of cherries and kirsch. Red berry flavors on the palate with subtle toasted notes. Well balanced with a long, elegant finish.