Zweigelt 2016
Regular price
$64.00
Sale
Zweigelt, one of the most exciting Austrian varieties combines the best qualities of its parents St Laurent x Blaufrankisch. Think of the spice character of Syrah and the floral notes of Malbec. Stunning complexity, wonderful vivid acidity - a flavour powerhouse with elegant structure and a lingering finish. Built to last…
Vintage 2016+
We picked our 2010 Zweigelt on the 10th of April at a very low yield of less than 1kg per vine. This is Austria’s most widely planted red grape variety created in 1922 by Dr Zweigelt from a crossing of the grape varieties St. Laurent and Blaufrankisch.
Hans' Winemaking Comments+
The Zweigelt spent 21 days on the skins progressing to a natural wild yeast fermentation. After gentle pressing the wine was transferred into French Barriques (40% new) where it progressed to the natural malolactic fermentation and matured on its fine lees for 18 months. No fining. No filtration.
Tasting Notes+
The wonderful dark purple colour of this wine is a tastebud sensation! Sweet and savoury like a ‘Black Forest Gateau’ in a bottle! Wonderful aromas of dark chocolate, juicy ripe plums, sweet Damson plums and prunes with spicy undertones. There is a hint of black pepper, tobacco, Mediterranean herbs and liquorice. A flavour powerhouse and a highly complex wine with a great lively acidity, structure, soft tannins and a lingering finish. This is a wine built to last….
Technical Data +
| Variety | 100% Zweigelt |
| Rootstock | 3309 |
| Vine Planted | 2003 |
| Soil | Shallow (<45 cm). Excessively drained. Developed from stony alluvium. Mixed even within the rows (sandy, gravelly and patchy clay-sand layers). |
| Planting Density | 5,500 vines/ya |
| Yield | 2.5t/ha |
| Alcohol | 14% |
| Residual Sugar | <1 g/l |
| Ageing Potential | 15+ years |
| Bottles Produced | 1,321 |
Food Matching Suggestions+
Great wines for flavourful food or charcuterie. An excellent match to pork belly! The vibrant acidity cutting perfectly through even richer foods.
Industry Reviews+
“Austria's most-planted red grape variety appears to thrive on Marlborough soils if this full-flavoured wine is anything to go by. Richly-textured, silken zweigelt with plum, dark berry, raspberry, rhubarb, and fresh herb flavours. An appealing wine with promising bottle development potential.” Bob Campbell
“Mid to deep garnet. Generously aromatic with spicy dark-red fruits as well as plenty of oak spice and sweetness but the oak does not overwhelm the fruit. Chewy but smooth texture and a really good balance between fruit sweetness, freshness and firm but polished tannins. Plenty of varietal character and there's no great hurry to drink this though there is a hint of something leathery and a note of dried cherries that show the start of the characteristics that come with bottle age. It may age longer but I think generally Zweigelt is better when there is still plenty of fruit flavour.” Julia Harding