Brut Réserve
Schloss Gobelsburg, 750 ml
| Grape variety: | Pinot noir, Riesling, Grüner Veltliner |
| Producer: | Weingut Schloss Gobelsburg |
| Origin: | Austria / Niederösterreich |
Description
The Schloss Gobelsburg team proves with its sparkling wine that it masters the "méthode traditionnelle" based on the Champagne model. It was not for nothing that GaultMillau voted it "Sparkling Wine of the Year 2017" in 2017. Apricot, some quince, acacia blossoms, warm brioche and a fine note of yeast with a hint of honey form its bouquet. The mouth-filling mousse feels creamy and soft. An expressive mineral astringency supports the ripe fruit aromas and extends to the finish. Conclusion: it doesn't always have to be champagne!
Falstaff Sparkling Special: 92 Points
The Schloss Gobelsburg winery scored 92 points on the Falstaff Sparkling Special 2021 with the Brut Reserve NV sparkling wine.
Attributes
| Origin: | Austria / Niederösterreich |
| Grape variety: | Pinot noir, Riesling, Grüner Veltliner |
| Label: | Vegan |
| Ripening potential: | 1 to 3 years after purchase |
| Drinking temperature: | 6 to 8 °C |
| Food Pairing: | Apéro riche, Cakes, biscuits, pastries, Smoked fish, Sushi, Sashimi, Ceviche, Oysters |
| Vinification: | fermentation in steel tank, pressing the whole grape |
| Harvest: | hand-picking, strict selection, in small boxes |
| Maturation: | in large wooden barrel/foudre, on the yeast |
| Maturation duration: | 36 months |
| Volume: | 12.0 % |
| Note: | Contains sulphites |
Weingut Schloss Gobelsburg
The first written evidence of Schloss Gobelsburg dates from 1074, but it was in 1171 that the Cistercian monks from the Zwettl monastery obtained the first vineyards at Heiligenstein and at Gaisberg in the Kamptal. Visitors entering the baroque-style complex built on a slight mound sense this tradition, this spirit, this experience accumulated over the centuries. The view takes in all the surroundings, from the village of Gobelsburg to the vine-covered hills of Heiligenstein. Inside, near the parish church where couples say yes for life, when the weather is pleasant, the pretty and romantic garden invites all to rest for a while.
Grüner Veltliner and Riesling cover most of the countryside, while Zweigelt, Pinot Noir, St. Laurent and Merlot occupy about a quarter of the surface. Production guidelines are strict, and the winegrowing has adapted to the latest developments while still respecting the methods practiced by the monks. Wines are vinified and aged exceptionally gently. The Gobelsburg team tries to obtain authentic wines which respect and express their origin’s personality and individuality. Michael Moosbrugger’s ingeniously simple idea illustrates this quest for progress: casks on wheels use gravity to avoid damaging the wine through pumping. The casks are made from wood from nearby Manhartsberg and not from popular French or American oak.
Pinot noir
Blueprint of the terroir
No other variety expresses its terroir as precisely as Pinot noir. It is a sensitive, fragile grape. But when it succeeds, it gives the world some of its very greatest wine plants. It especially excels in Burgundy, where it has been cultivated for at least 700 years. Even in the middle ages, it was considered so precious that it was kept separate from other grapes so as to not diminish its value. The finest examples are delicate and fragrant with aromas of cherries and red berries. With maturity, notes of forest floor, leather and truffles enter as well. An irresistible fruity sweetness still shines through, even after several decades. The Pinot noir does well in cool locations: in Switzerland and in Germany, where it is known as Blauburgunder and Spätburgunder respectively; in Alsace and in South Tyrol, in Oregon, New Zealand and Tasmania. Not least, it yields fantastic champagnes. It is a wonderful culinary companion. With its soft tannins and charming bouquet, it meshes with everything, from Güggeli and cheeses to fried fish.
Riesling
The cold-weather king
The Riesling is the flagship of the German wine industry. It grows from north to south in all growing areas. It is also comfortable in the neighbouring Alsace region and in Austria. Its specialty is being vinified to a variety of degrees of sweetness, from bone-dry wines to ice wine. Moreover, thanks to its spirited acidity, it ages better than many reds. The typical Riesling smells of citrus, peach and apricot, shows hints of flint, and with maturity develops an idiosyncratic petrol note. It reflects its terroir like hardly any other white variety. Thus, it often gets fuller and more aromatic in Austria than in Germany. In Alsace, in turn, it has a particular mineral taste. Riesling is a wonderful culinary companion. It fits well not only with fish and shellfish, but also takes the heaviness from hearty meals. And with a fine sweetness and acidity balance, it works wonders for Asian cuisine.
Grüner Veltliner
From Austria to the world
With the Grüner Veltliner, the Austrians have conquered the world. In New York bars today, people order "a glass of Gruner" as nonchalantly as if they have never drunk anything else. Despite its name, it has nothing to do with the northern Italian region of Valtellina (Veltlin in German). It is a natural cross between Traminer and a grape Methuselah with a unique DNA profile, found in Sankt Georgen in the Leitha Mountains. As far as is known, this is the only stock of its kind. Grüner Veltliner demonstrates exceptional versatility. It yields fresh, lively whites with the typical “pfefferl” – a spicy, piquant note – as well as dense, mineral top wines. Sparkling and sweet wines are also pressed from them. In total, it occupies almost two-thirds of Austrian vineyards. It achieves its best along the Danube, around the Kamp Valley, in Kremstal or in the Wachau.
Niederösterreich
Lower Austria: crus near and far from the Danube
Austria's largest state is also its largest wine region. 46,000 hectares are planted with vines in Lower Austria. It is a heterogenic wine region, consisting of eight wine growing areas. While white varieties like Grüner Veltliner and Riesling dominate in the areas north and west of Vienna, red varieties set the tone in the south and in the southeast (Thermenregion and Carnuntum). The internationally famous white crus from Grüner Veltliner and Riesling develop in the picturesque Wachau and Kamptal.
Austria
Austria – Sumptuous culture, accessible to all
Austria is characterized by unbelievable topographical diversity. A flat steppe in the east, forests and hills in the Alpine regions, wetlands and Mediterranean landscapes in the south. This in addition to a rich tradition and even greater love. It’s no surprise that the Romans found joy on this patch of Earth and cultivated wine growing. Austrian wine is not abundant, but it is high quality.
