Ried Zieregg IZ Reserve, Große STK Lage 2018

The IZ Reserve is among the rare flagship bottlings of Weingut Tement, a rigorous selection from the Ried Zieregg vineyard. The 2018 vintage is dense and profound, maintaining a fine balance between concentration and elegance, with an aging potential extending well beyond ten years.

Ried Zieregg is the heart of the estate, a steep hillside straddling the Austrian-Slovenian border, divided by the family into four parcels: Kapelle, Kår, Steilriegel, and the classic Zieregg. The bedrock is Opok, a calcareous marl slate; in the Steilriegel parcel, the slope gradient reaches 70 percent. The Pannonian-Mediterranean climate of Southern Styria brings warm days and cool nights.

Sauvignon Blanc, hand-picked and carefully selected. An extended period of skin contact lends texture, followed by spontaneous fermentation and long aging on the fine lees in large wooden casks. Manfred Tement co-founded the Steirische Klassik (STK) in 1986; Ried Zieregg is classified as a Grosse STK Lage. The conversion to biodynamic farming began in 2017, and the estate achieved Demeter certification in 2022.

Golden yellow with greenish reflections. On the nose, ripe gooseberry, passion fruit, flint, herbs, and subtle toasted spice. On the palate, a creamy texture is juxtaposed with precise acidity, complemented by a salty minerality and a persistent finish. 13.5% ABV, dry.

Pan-seared turbot with herb sauce, scallops with cauliflower purée, asparagus with morels, sweetbreads, butter-poached lobster, and mature goat cheese.

From three hectares in 1976, the estate has expanded to nearly 100 hectares; on the Slovenian side, the family cultivates an additional 20 hectares under the name Ciringa. Armin Tement has been responsible for viticulture and winemaking since 2005. The winery is a member of Respekt-BIODYN.