2014 Pittnauer Pannobile

Pittnauer

Austria / Burgenland / Pittnauer

Blend of Blaufränkisch, Zweigelt and St Laurent from the Altenberg, Ungerberg, Rosenberg and Goldberg vineyards in Austria's Burgenland. Wild yeast fermented, the Zweigelt for 20 days in stainless steel tanks with remontage, the Blaufränkisch and St Laurent for 14 days in open-top fermenters with manual plunging. Matured for 20 months in used barriques. Vibrant purple with ruby tints. Raspberry, rhubarb, earth, firm cherry suggestions, on the nose. On the palate, immediately so incredibly fresh with fruit acids and flavours. Depth of earth and peppery spice, tarragon, tangy cherry right through. Tannin is really fine and fresh and the length is good.

June, 2017

Gary Walsh

The Wine Front

93 points

Raspberry and dark cherry, sweet brown spices, dried flowers and herbs, but quite savoury too with something like a porcini mushroom flavour. Medium bodied, but plump and fleshy, with a mass of fine tannin and crisp ‘minerally’ acidity, and a finish that’s dry, spicy and quite long. Engaging. Wonderful to drink.

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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.