FX Pichler Gruner Veltliner Klostersatz 2023 9120017362517

“The 2023 Gruner Veltliner Klostersatz is from the sites of Danubian gravels directly surrounding the winery. It comes with a creamy, smooth, yeasty aspect on the nose, with crushed green foliage of woodruff. The palate is light but has a translucency, a green freeness that echoes with fine white pepper, and a smooth, mellow, savory aspect before tapering into freshness on the finish. (Bone-dry) Drinking window: 2024-2034.

Lucas Pichler remembered a “cool, rainy spring with sufficient rain until flowering.” It was still cool during flowering, but the summer was “hot and dry,” while rain at the end of August relieved some dry stress. Harvest started in the second week of September and only took four weeks “under blue skies and sunshine.” Pichler said he remembers most how “late budburst was” and “that we barely had to sort.” He avoids botrytis, even overripeness, and wants to harvest when the grapes are ripe to favor site expression, but he works with skin contact. As of this 2023 vintage, the wines are certified organic, which is not yet stated on the labels. As always: stainless steel wines are sealed with screw caps and oak-made wines with cork.”