Leo Alzinger is not just one of the great Wachau producers, he's one of the world's best producers of white wines. Vintage after vintage, Alzinger’s wines have the magical zip that gives great Riesling a sense of life. Alzinger's style is one of perfect balance. His methods preserve natural acidity and keep alcohol in check. Some winemakers like to preserve acidity by picking fruit early, before the heat has reduced acids and increased sugar (and sugar's resulting alcohol). That can force a grower to choose between the fully developed flavors that come with longer hang times, and the loss of freshness overripe fruit can bring.But Alzinger has found another way. He doesn't harvest early; in fact, he often harvests later than his neighbors. Maybe it’s his terroir – steep terraced vineyards, at high elevation and with strong air currents, and sites that don't necessarily get full sun, all day long. Maybe it's all his old vines.Or maybe it’s his winemaking. With his perfectly ripe fruit he isn't afraid of a little skin contact. He crushes whole bunches of fruit, which may help to keep alcohol in check. A short maceration picks up terroir components from the skins as well as the juice, and the big neutral barrels the wines age in offer a peaceful place to rest and harmonize.
What importer Skurnik Wines has to say about this wine...
Region: WachauGrape variety: RieslingVineyard: LoibenbergSoil type: barren primary rock with shallow soilsWine-making: Spontaneously fermented in stainless steel. Elevage in steel with a small amount of neutral Austrian oak.Ried LoibenbergThe south-facing terraces of the Loibenberg store sun all day long and are considered the warmest in the Wachau. Between the first terraces at the foot of the slope and the last ones on the summit there are a good 200 meters in altitude. In addition, many vineyards are located in the shade of protective forests. In addition, ditches open to the north, the air of which allows the climate to cool down noticeably, especially at night. The Riesling is rooted in barren and shallow soils that promote a tighter style.Reflection of its terroir; concentrated and yet elegant at the same time; complex aroma profile – mostly with tropical nuances; velvety, juicy on the palate, yet gripping and lively.
Details
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Grape Variety
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Vintage
2020
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Size
750ml
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Farming Practice
Sustainable
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Style
Elegant , Fruity , Minerally
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Sweetness
Dry
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Body
Full Bodied