Winemaker Notes
Lively and pure aromas of citrus, pears and fresh apples as well as a bouquet of flowers, some yeasty element in a younger state of ripeness, then fine string of minerals on the palate and typical peppery spice; completely dry and also therefore medium bodied, with again sappy fruit, not opulent yet dense in structure , a very long and elegant mineral finish. A classic single vineyard Grüner Veltliner of primary rock.
Professional Ratings
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Wine Spectator
A powerful and racy style, with notes of anise, citrus, glazed apricot and spice. Very stony and minerally, with notes of chamomile, on the taut finish. Needs some time in the cellar. Best from 2010 through 2015. 2,667 cases made.
Fun to say and delightfully easy to drink, Grüner Veltliner calls Austria its homeland. While some easily quaffable Grüners come in a one-liter—a convenient size—many high caliber single vineyard bottlings can benefit from cellar aging. Somm Secret—About 75% of the world’s Grüner Veltliner comes from Austria but the variety is gaining ground in other countries, namely Hungary, the Czech Republic, Slovakia and the United States.
Climbing north and slightly east of the Kremstal region, Kamptal has very little vineyard area bordering the Danube River (unlike Wachau and Kremstal, whose vineyards run along it). The region takes its name from the river called Kamp, which traverses it north and south. Kamptal’s densely planted vineyards represent eight percent of Austria’s total.
The area experiences wide diurnal temperature variations like the Wachau but with less rain and more frost. Its vast geologic diversity makes it suitable for various experimentations with other varieties besides Grüner Veltliner and Riesling, such as Chardonnay, Pinot Blanc (Weissburgunder), Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Noir, St. Laurent and Zweigelt.
But the region is probably most noted for the beautiful and expansive terraced Heiligenstein, arguably one of the world’s top Riesling sites, as well as some of Austria’s most extraordinary Grüner Veltliner vineyards. Kamptal’s soils, which are mostly loess and sand with some gravel and rocks, make it suitable for Grüner Veltliner, so much so that actually half of the zone is planted to that grape.