2012 Pittnauer Blaufränkisch Dogma

Pittnauer

Austria / Burgenland / Pittnauer

From Blaufränkisch grapes growing in the Ungerberg vineyard's heavy soils with clay. This undergoes spontaneous fermentation and is matured for 12 months in stainless steel. Pittnauer uses absolutely no preservatives or any other additions in the making of this wine.

March, 2014

Andrea Frost

The Melbourne Review

Much easier to drink than it is to say, Blaufränkisch (pronounced blouw-frank-ish) is one of Austria’s three indigenous varieties and expresses similar wonders as Gamay, so much so that it was once mistaken for Gamay, which you might recall from the previous note, was once mistaken for Pinot Noir. Another deliciously perfumed, medium-bodied beauty, at its best Blaufränkisch makes a complex wine offering cherries and red berries, spiciness, pepper and a lovely savouriness. Brigitte and Gerhard Pittnauer of the Burgenland region of Austria, produce a number of excellent single-vineyard Blaufränkisch from their biodynamic estate. Fruit for this wine comes off their best Blaufränkisch site, ‘Ungerberg’. The wine is free of additions, including sulphur. The wine is fresh and vibrant on the nose and tastes of earth, minerals, violets, berries and spice. Featuring a refreshing line of acidity, the palate is medium bodied and very attractive.

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About Pittnauer

It's 20-odd years since Gerhard and Brigitte Pittnauer took over the winery in Gols near Lake Neusiedl in Burgenland, bordering Hungary at the eastern edge of Austria. Over that time they've pushed the boundaries of Austrian red winemaking, in particular with St Laurent and Zweigelt. But then there's the Blaufränkisch and - have you ever tried Burgenland Pinot Noir? You must. In 2001 the construction of the fittingly striking production hall in the middle of the vineyards allowed for a quantum jump in quality and quantity.

About

Pittnauer's wines are elegant, structured, complex and beautifully drinkable - qualities that were highlighted when Gerhard was named 2014 Winemaker of the Year by Falstaff magazine. This, the highest accolade in Austrian wine, shows just how far the Pittnauers have come. It also goes some way to showing what a fiercely gifted individual we have on our hands. But then everything -from the Pitti blend, through the vivid addition-free wines and right up to the devastatingly good single vineyards - will pretty much tell you the same thing.