2015 Pittnauer St Laurent Dogma

Pittnauer

Austria / Burgenland / Pittnauer

100% St Laurent from the light, sandy soils of various sites across the Neusiedlersee region of Burgenland. Destemmed, not crushed, with 15% whole bunches included in the ferment. Vinified in stainless steel, with 18 days’ skin contact in total. Aged on full lees for eight months in tank. Nothing added, including sulphur. Bottled unfiltered.
Dark cherry red with violet reflections and a slight cloudiness. Aromas of red berries, plums and lychees with expressive peppery, herbal spiciness. Grippy on the palate, with vivid acidity and a gentle structure. Vibrant and vigorous. Complex and light at the same time. Savoury finish and an animating aftertaste.

August, 2016

Mike Bennie

The Wine Front

91 points

Gerhard and Brigitte Pittnauer work their land biodynamically in Burgenland, Austria. Easy to forget that Gerhard took over the family estate at age 18, and has accelerated ever since. Speed of light. The wines are fragrant, fresh expressions of place but never forget drinkability. This is naturally fermented, lays in stainless steel, bottled unfiltered, bottled without sulphur added.
Liquid cherry jam spiked with cinnamon, cumin spice. Spot on. Cool and refreshing red wine of perky acidity, amaro sweet-sour, pomegranate crunch to close. It’s vibrant, vital, light on, so smashable. It’s not cerebral, nor is it trying to be, it invites you in instead and says ‘lay on the couch with your shoes on’. Welcoming freshness in red wine. Hello summer.

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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.