2021 Bründlmayer Grüner Veltliner ‘Käferberg’

The soil of this single vineyard is different than any other site on our estate and similar to Château Petrus in Pomerol. Situated on a rise of marine deposits this exposed soil decomposed over the ages to create sandy clay and produces an extremely potent wine, but is difficult to work. Necessary plowing can be done only during certain periods, when it is neither too dry nor too wet.
The vineyard occupies a warm, sheltered site between 300 and 345 meters above sea level, with a southerly and southeasterly aspect. The soils are variable, depending on the nature of the underlying bedrock: within a small area one can find crystalline rocks such as amphibolite, gneiss, and mica schist, alternating with much younger clay marl, sands, and rare gravels that were deposited in the ancient paratethys sea 16 million years ago.
This vineyard, although perfectly suited for red wine, also bears old Grüner Veltliner vines that produce wines with a unique weight, concentration, and extract sweetness. This wine is usually fermented in used (2 to 3 years old) 300-
liter Austrian oak barrels. For further maturation, it is racked into 2.500-liter casks (also 2 to 3 years old)

Bright yellow, green hints, silver reflections. An inviting bouquet with blossom honey, a touch of mango, hints of kumquat, pineapple and caramel. Juicy and balanced with good complexity, nuances of yellow fruit, lemony notes, a touch of salt and herbs on the finish. Definite ageing potential. 95 points. Peter Moser, Falstaff Nov 2023