PRODUCER
MARKUS ALTENBURGER
COUNTRY
AUSTRIA
REGION
BURGENLAND
GRAPE VARIETY
CHARDONNAY
VINTAGE
2018
VITICOLTURE
BIODYNAMIC
TASTING NOTES
PALE GOLD COLOUR, STONY, CHALKY NOSE & FRESH PEACH AROMA, THE PALATE HAS SALTY MINERALITY WITH A DENSE STRUCTURE & VERY SOFT TANNINS
CURIOSITY
MARKUS ALTENBURGER’S 10 HECTARES OF VINES ARE PLANTED ON THE SLOPES OF THE LEITHABERG IN BURGENLAND. THE REGIONAL LIMESTONE LEITHKALK SOIL PRODUCES HIGH ACID, MINERAL WINES. THE LACK OF NUTRIENTS IN THE SOIL FORCE THE VINES TO BURY DEEPER INTO THE GROUND, DEVELOPING COMPLEX ROOT SYSTEMS AND GIVING THE WINES OF THE LEITHABERG THEIR SIGNATURE MINERALITY. IN 2006 MARKUS TOOK OVER THE FAMILY WINERY, AND TO THIS DAY SOLELY FOCUSES ON THE VARIETIES THAT BEST EXPRESS THIS UNIQUE TERROIR AND PRODUCE AUTHENTIC AND HONEST WINES. HIS WINEMAKING METHODS ARE VERY NATURAL, NO ARTIFICIAL YEASTS OR ENZYMES ARE USED, AND THE LOW YIELDS AND NATURAL TREATMENT OF THE VINES AND SOIL GUARANTEE STRUCTURED, LONG-LASTING WINES. THE GRAPES HAVE BEEN HANDPICKED AT THE BEGINNING OF SEPTEMBER. AFTER DESTEMMING AND MACERATION ON THE SKINS FOR 18 HOURS, THE GRAPES WERE PRESSED AND THE JUICE FERMENTED WITH THE NATURAL YEAST PARTLY IN STAINLESS STEEL TANKS, CONCRETE EGGS AND FRENCH OAK BARRELS.