2019 Blaufrankisch Ried Maissner

Roland Velich's 2019 Lutzmannsburg Ried Maissner, from ancient vines that were planted between 1908 and 1936 on the slightly south-facing plateau, opens with a deep, clear, fresh and precise, well defined and unique bouquet of ripe and concentrated blue berries, blackcurrant, cranberries, raspberries, crushed iron, limestone and discreet but beautiful toast aromas and strawberries. This is so pure yet also intense and elegant! On the palate, the Maissner is densely textured, round and full-bodied and less charming or seamless than the terrific Kirchberg; on the other hand, the wine is so Blaufränkisch, like no other. Any MW or MS student has to identify it in seconds. This is a mystery in its composition of purity, crushed stones, herbs, flint and dark, tart yet elegant fruit aromas that give a rather coolish impression with alpine floral (rose) notes. The wine is tightly structured, saline and fresh, still a bit austere for many (especially for Napa Cab or Châteauneuf fans), but it represents the wild beauty of the Alps. It's a great, intense and salivating red that has the potential to become one of Austria's greatest red wines in a couple of years. 13.5% stated alcohol. Diam cork. Tasted in April 2023.

Enormously deep and complex wet-earth, wildflower and licorice nose. Very dense and ripe, but with so much mineral freshness that it jolts you in your chair. Stunning, deep tannin structure and enormous intensity at the super-clean finish, where the flowers blossom again. Drink or hold.