2021 Pittnauer Pitt Nat Rosé

Sparkling wines are vinified according to an ancestral method, with so-called Pét-Nat (pétillant naturel), based – as the name suggests – on a manufacturing process that has been practiced for a long time, but which has only recently become increasingly widespread again. As always, the grapes are fermented spontaneously with indigenous yeast, but with 20-25 grams of residual sugar left in the bottle, the remaining sugar is converted into carbon dioxide and alcohol. Some winegrowers leave it at that, but we disgorge; for this we wait for cool winter nights during which the yeast in the wine freezes and, after carefully opening the crown seal, practically shoots out of the wine. As a result, the resulting shortfall in the Pét-Nat is refilled with a batch of the same wine and encapsulated and has no leesy deposit.  

Beyond the production process, the quality of the grapes is, of course, crucial, and we couldn’t complain in 2021. Although spring and summer were rather cloudy and mixed, a phase of fine weather set in at exactly the right time, which lasted for several months in a record-breaking manner and allowed the grapes to ripen perfectly.  

The 2021 is invigorating, spirited and stimulating. Aromas of wild strawberries, roses, cloves and ripe citrus notes, with well-integrated bubbles. Without residual sugar, it shoots fresh, dynamic and carefree on the palate and leaves further traces of red fruits, ending vertically, vibrating and with verve, and making you want more!  

– Gerhard Pittnauer