Winemaker Notes
Ried (single vineyard, cru) Heiligenstein is interspersed with Riesling terraces and is a landmark of Langenlois. Some parts of the Riesling terraces contain the oldest vineyards of the estate.
Professional Ratings
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James Suckling
Rich and succulent but with a firm, almost austere core, this simultaneously ripe and compact Heiligenstein welcomes you with open arms but also demands your attention. Lots of peaches and candied oranges with wild-herb character make this a complex and fascinating wine. Drink or hold.
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Wine Enthusiast
A textural and layered Riesling showing juicy white peach and nectarine, complemented by delicate hints of orange blossom and subtle herbal nuances. The palate is precise yet generous, with bright acidity weaving seamlessly through the fruit. Long and expressive, it balances depth and elegance with effortless clarity.
Riesling possesses a remarkable ability to reflect the character of wherever it is grown while still maintaining its identity. A regal variety of incredible purity and precision, this versatile grape can be just as enjoyable dry or sweet, young or old, still or sparkling and can age longer than nearly any other white variety. Somm Secret—Given how difficult it is to discern the level of sweetness in a Riesling from the label, here are some clues to find the dry ones. First, look for the world “trocken.” (“Halbtrocken” or “feinherb” mean off-dry.) Also a higher abv usually indicates a drier Riesling.
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.