Hannes Sabathi - Gamlitz Grauburgunder 2021

Vintage: 2021
Varietal: Pinot Gris
Appellation: Südsteiermark DAC
Sulphur (SO2): 114ppm, 50ppm free
Sugar: Dry
Acid: 5.5 g/L
Production Size: 3,000 btls
Altitude: 350m (1148.29ft)
Vineyard Age: 4-12 Years
Residual Sugar: 1.1 g/L
Tannin: None
Alcohol %: 13.5

This year began with a long winter with a lot of snow and rain. The grapes were nearly perfect with a nice fruitiness and good acidity. Overall the yields were 1/3 less than average, but the quality was excellent! All in all 2021 was a great vintage with good ripeness, a pronounced freshness and huge flavor variety. All grapes were hand harvested as dictated by the landscape.

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

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 6 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 Pinot Gris to be stand out here. Pinot Gris is known as Grauburgunder in Austria, a synonym it also has in Germany. The Gamlitz Grauburgunder is equivalent to a village level wine in Burgundy or an Ortswein in German VDP classification.

Tarte Tatin, Cauliflower Steaks, Chicken Pot Pie, Sunchokes, Vol-au-Vent, Potatoes, Onion Soup, Baked Potato with Cheese & Bacon, Apple Pie

• French, American, Austrian, Alsatian, German