2015 Pittnauer St. Laurent Dorflagen

Pittnauer

Austria / Burgenland / Pittnauer

100% St Laurent from various plateau sites around Gols: Salzbergacker, Goldberg, Zwickelacker and Edelgrund. Soils are generally gravelly with iron content. Yields of 4 tonnes per hectare. Wild yeast fermented and matured for 6 months in used barriques. 12% alcohol.
Reminiscent of cru Beaujolais on the nose; cherries, sweet spice, earth and whole-berry ferment notes, plus a hint of smoked charcuterie. Palate impression is immediately pure, with spiced cherry and brambly fruit, carried on a silky and slinky feel. Definitely opens up too, with deceptive depth. Finishes with a nice twist of more savoury spice and Earl Grey tea, but with lively red fruit, too. Delicious.

April, 2017

Mike Bennie

The Wine Front

91 points

Almost too light, but you forgive the wine for its bright, frisky, gulpable feel. Scents of red cherry, sweaty herbs (in a positive sense), game meat, white pepper, amaro. Palate is in the cranberry spectrum with the same chalky feel. It dances on the tongue with perky red cherry fruits, savoury-meaty stuff, herbal character, a pleasing sour-bitter twist to finish. I absolutely wanted to nail my glass. And another.

June, 2016

Richard Hemming MW

jancisrobinson.com

16.5/20

Faint, slightly reductive nose. Bright purple colour and juicy blackcurrant fruit on the nose. Akin to beaujolais in its lightness and refreshment. Finishes with gentle spices.

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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.