2017 Franz Hirtzberger Grüner Veltliner Rotes Tor Federspiel

Franz Hirtzberger

Austria / Wachau / Franz Hirtzberger

According to myth the Rote Tor (red gate) is part of the old town wall which was saturated with blood, during the Swedish Wars. We grow GV grapes in the vineyards below, in both quality levels - Federspiel and Smaragd. The soil-type consists of gneiss, mica and schist and brown soil. The wine is fermented and matured entirely in stainless steel. Alcohol 12.5%; RS 1.5g/L; total acidity 5g/L.

April, 2019

Mike Bennie

The Wine Front

93 points

Fragrant white of sweet fruit character, ripe citrus, ginger, honeysuckle notes, fresh yet generous in bouquet. Palate is slippery and textural, inviting and lightly chewy, shows concentration of citrus and green melon flavours, a touch of tropical fruit, light vanilla note and faint nuttiness. Lots going on here, lots to like.

October, 2018

Stuart Pigott

jamessuckling.com

91 points

Ripe yet lively, this is an elegant, mid-weight Grüner Veltliner with red-apple, sage and parsley notes. Very pure finish. Drink now.

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About Franz Hirtzberger

The Hirtzberger family purchased its first vineyards in the village of Spitz in the late 1800s. The winery is situated at the western end of the Wachau - the part that's coolest and closest to the mountains. The terraced Singerriedel vineyard has brought the family near legendary status for its Riesling, while the Honivogl has done the same with Grüner Veltliner. Such sites, allied to an approach that’s simple in the extreme, lend the wines an often astonishing transparency and complexity.

About

"In every walk of life the best results are obtained as a result of care," says Franz Hirtzberger, adding, "this is especially true when it comes to the vine." He and his son, also Franz, now share responsibilities in the vineyard and the cellar in order to give the vine and its fruit all the time and attention possible in their quest for great wine. Wines are fermented in stainless steel and then aged in old oak barrels and sit stylistically somewhat apart from the rest. Spicy, exotic and perfectly poised, they nevertheless combine the opulence of FX Pichler with Prager’s racy purity.