Hannes Sabathi - Gamlitz Chardonnay 2018

Vintage: 2018

Varietal: Chardonnay

Appellation: Südsteiermark DAC

Sulphur (SO2): 104ppm (50ppm free)

Sugar: Dry

Acid: 5.4 g/L

Production Size: 3,000 btls

Altitude: 350-500m (1158-1640ft)

Vineyard Age: 20 years old

Residual Sugar: 1.7 g/L

Tannin: None

Alcohol: %13

Soil Type(s): Jägerberg: chalky base with sand and loam, facing south; Kranachberg: chalky base with sand and loam, facing south



Vineyard Notes

2018 was a challenging and labor-intensive year. From spring until the end of June it was very rainy and humid. It was dry until the end of August, but in the beginning of September 200 liters per square meter of rain (almost 8 inches) fell in just three days. Luckily the weather turned perfect in the middle September. It was one of Sabathi's most selective harvests ever with the number of harvesters increasing almost daily. All grapes were hand-picked and hand-sorted as dictated by the landscape.

Production Notes

Fermentation took place with the use of native yeasts in old 1500L barrels. The wine was then matured in neutral barrels on their full lees without sulfur addition for 15 months. The wine was then racked, sulfured, and matured on its fine lees for 2 more months. Before being bottled, the wine are fined one last time through a rocky substance called kieselguhr trapping any left solids in the micro-crystalline rock structure. The resulting wines are absolutely flawless with diamond-like brilliance to the eye.

Grapes are grown organically on the sides of steep mountain slopes in the southern corner of the country. Styria (Steiermark) produces just 5% of Austria's wine, but even that number is impressive considering just a generation or two ago there was almost no grapes being grown here. In the past, people tried to plant grapes on the flat valley lands. Due to the humidity, these had bad rot problems. After the anti-freeze scandal of the mid 80s, folks began experimenting in the region. This led to vineyards being planted on mountain slopes at high elevation to combat humidity. A strong focus on international grapes has led Sauvignon Blanc to especially stand out here. The Klassik Sauvignon Blanc is equivalent to a Regional level wine in Burgundy or a Landwein in German VDP classification.

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