2019 Velich ‘Tiglat’ Chardonnay

Having been originally planted by his father Helmut in 1959 (thinking he was planting Pinot Blanc!), it was with the famous ‘Tiglat’ Chardonnay that Heinz initially forged his reputation as an up and coming winegrower in the early 1990’s.

As was commonplace at the time, such was the demands of the market, there was an overwhelming attraction to using a little too much tricked up oak in the early days but Heinz quickly realised that is was ‘place’ that really mattered and set about redefining what was possible with the worlds most planted white grape when grown in the unique environment in the Seewinkel.

The combination of old vines, strict selection in the vineyard and a conviction about expressing place, ‘Tiglat’ is now rightfully regarded as one of Austria’s greatest & most unique white wines.

Following the same path to bottle as the ‘Darsho’ Chardonnay, spontaneously
femented in old oak and 2 years on full lees, ‘Tiglat’ steps up a level in intensity and in power. But much like the ‘Darsho’ it remains energetic and taut and once more shows the typical saltiness that is a feature of all the Velich wines. Singular, complex, confident, yet somehow remaining understated, this is a tour de force of a wine from a truly brilliant, if somewhat single minded grower that deserves the plaudits that are often bestowed upon it by those that have been lucky to imbibe in its undoubted greatness.