Hefeabzug, Grüner Veltliner trocken 2013

A mature Grüner Veltliner from the Wachau, released in 2024 as an Archive Release. The colour displays deep yellow tones, approaching pale copper-gold. On the nose, tertiary notes set the tone: distinctive aromas of candied lime and lemon, alongside undergrowth, moss, hay, dried grain, roasted hazelnuts, and pumpkin seeds.

A significant portion of the fruit is grown in the Steiner Goldberg vineyard, with a smaller parcel in Mautern. The Steiner Goldberg site was first documented in 1302 and is situated at an elevation of 300 to 380 metres above sea level overlooking Krems, with south-eastern, southern, and eastern aspect slopes. Beneath the deep-trenched loamy-sandy soil with a high proportion of stones lies crystalline bedrock of paragneiss, mica schist, and quartzite. The soil is dry, well-draining, lime-free, and acidic; only in the southern part of the vineyard is loess present. In Mautern, deep-worked soils with loess and loam predominate.

Single-varietal Grüner Veltliner with 12.0% ABV. In the Roman vaulted cellar of Nikolaihof, the musts ferment spontaneously and mature in large Slavonian oak casks, some for a decade or even longer. This is also home to the 350-year-old wooden beam press crafted from solid oak.

The initial impression is shaped by a subtle touch of sweetness, an old-school residual sugar charm. This renders the wine remarkably refined, complete, and creamy—round and endowed with an effortless drinkability that empties the glass far quicker than anticipated.

Nikolaihof stands upon the foundations of the Roman fort Favianis, dating back to 63 BC. The Saahs family has cultivated the 22-hectare estate since 1894, operating biodynamically according to Demeter guidelines since 1971 as Austria's first Demeter-certified winery.