Riesling Heiligenstein Alte Reben 2006

Beginning in the 1920’s, wine terraces of natural stone were laid without the help of mortar. Original Riesling vines of the Heiligenstein have been bred throughout the decades by cloning and layering. Today the old vines average 45 years of age with the oldest reaching as many as 75 years.

The Bründlmayer family owns 10 hectares on the "Zöbinger Heiligenstein". 9 hectares are planted with Riesling, the remainder with Cabernet. About a quarter of the vineyards are trained in the Lyre system. Other Heiligenstein vines are trained in the traditional Guyot method on wire trellises with the small berries hanging 50-60 centimeters above the soil.

From a geological point of view the Zöbinger Heiligenstein is not only the oldest but probably also the most interesting site of our estate: the soil consists of about 270 Mio years old desert sandstone with volcanic inclusions, providing an ideal precondition for growing outstanding wines.

Older vines are less productive, forming fewer and smaller grapes that profit from a well-developed root system. This root system reaches deeply into the ground and supplies its fruit with potent nourishment. Consequently, wines of these vineyards are extremely flavorful with enormous concentration.

Yield: 2500 liters per hectare

Alcohol: 14,0% Vol.

Tasting note:
White Flower and apples, peaches, pineapple, and honey as well as mineral slightly smokey flavors; still very youthful on the nose, although its complexity is already shown, on the palate very concentrated and rich in extract; full-bodied and potent but balanced with some fresh acidity and extract, pineapple dried apricots and white peaches on the palate, very opulent and powerful though pure and precise, very good structure, very long finish, and enormous potential, has to mature.

Food pairing:
Classic Austrian cuisine, well-seasoned fish and white meat, Asian food, duck in different styles. A more mature sample would do very well with fish in cream sauces, etc.