Brut Rosé Reserve

A cool, taut rosé sparkling wine that concentrates its fruit rather than putting it on display: redcurrants and small wild strawberries, along with floral notes and hints of nuts and freshly buttered brioche from the long lees ageing.

The grapes grow in Langenlois in the Kamptal, where cool air from the Waldviertel flows down from the north while Pannonian warmth rises from the south, as well as in Gumpoldskirchen on limestone soils, where Fred Loimer took over the Schellmann estate in 2004.

Pinot Noir, Zweigelt and Sankt Laurent are hand-harvested in early to mid-September into 20 kg crates. Whole-cluster pressing yields 50 litres of juice from 100 kilograms of grapes; after around 40 hours of settling, the must ferments spontaneously at 18 to 22 °C over two to four weeks in steel tanks, where it then rests for more than six months on fine lees. Bottling follows about a year later, then two and a half years sur lattes and hand riddling.

Cool on the attack, then fuller and more mouth-filling, with red and slightly dark fruit, tart as well as sweet cherry and a hint of gianduja. The mousse is fine and lively; the 3 g/l dosage lets the acidity take the lead.

Lightly spiced fried eggs with pumpkin, smoked haddock cakes with leek and potatoes, or courgette gratin with béchamel and parmesan.

Fred Loimer, in charge since 1998, converted the estate to biodynamic farming in 2006 and co-founded respekt-BIODYN a year later, whose standards also apply to the cellar. He has produced traditional-method sparkling wine since 2013.