Ried Steinmassl Riesling 1.ÖTW 2022

A dry Riesling from the Kamptal that carries power and coolness along the same line. The fruit is ripe and clearly defined, the frame saline and firm.

The Ried Steinmassl vineyard spans 240 to 340 metres above sea level and faces from south-southeast to southwest. The crystalline bedrock consists of paragneiss and mica schist, joined by dark amphibolites and light granite gneiss. Its strong weathering has produced brown earth soils, in some spots up to a metre deep, laced with numerous stones and a slight lime content. Fred Loimer took over the winery in Langenlois in 1998, converted to biodynamic farming in 2006, and co-founded respekt-BIODYN with colleagues a year later.

Riesling, selectively hand-harvested in early to mid-October. After 12 to 24 hours of skin contact, the must fermented spontaneously, half in stainless steel tank and half in wooden barrel. Fermentation lasted four to six weeks, after which the wine rested eleven months on full lees in oak barrels, then a further eight months on fine lees in stainless steel tank after racking. It was bottled unfiltered in August 2024.

The nose leads with apricot, nectarine and quince, joined by small yellow pears, a touch of butter cake and wet chalk. The entry is precise and clear, almost razor-sharp, the juicy, ripe fruit sitting exactly within the minerality. With its chalky, gripping texture, the wine builds pressure, rich in extract and with saline tension. The finish stays saline and cool.

The Ried Steinmassl vineyard is classified as a First Growth (1.ÖTW). The long lees ageing gives the wine substance without sacrificing clarity. 13.0% vol.