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Tegernseerhof 2019 'Ried Höhereck' Grüner Veltliner Smaragd, Wachau, Austria
The historical roots of Tegernseerhof go back over 1000 years. Holy Roman Emperor Henry II granted the Benedictine monastery of Tegernsee two oxgangs of land in Wachau. In 1176, Tegernseerhof was built and named after its owner. Today, Tegernseerhof is owned by the Mittelbach family. The winery has been in their possession for five generations. The name has been preserved, like the ancient knowledge of viniculture, passed on from one generation to the next.
Winemaker: Martin Mittelbach
Farming: Sustainable
Variety: Grüner Veltliner
Terroir: Replanted in 1951, Tegernseerhof’s Ried Höhereck is the Grüner Veltliner parentage of many vines in the area. A rare Grüner Veltliner planted almost exclusively on the acidic metamorphic rock, gneiss, rather than the sandy, nutrient-rich and water-retentive loess, typical for this variety with a beneficial southeast exposure inside and just popping out of a ravine with great access to mountain winds and an early summer and autumn sunset, Martin says that the most important element of Höhereck is its genetic heritage. This half-hectare (1.25 acre) vineyard has been a growing field for centuries for ancient Grüner Veltliner biotypes, thus contributing to the complexity of this wine and Martin’s entire range of Veltliners, with all new plantations made with genetic material from this hill.
Soil: The soils are mostly composed of the great acidic bedrock (which they refer to as “primary rock”) gfogel gneiss, and a bit of loess.
Vinification: Grapes are harvested by hand in small bins, and are whole cluster macerated 6-36 hours. Primary fermentation lasts between 1-2 months and is kept below 23 degrees C. The wines sometimes make natural malolactic fermentation.
Aging: Stainless steel for 6-9 months on the lees, filtered but not fined before bottling.
Tasting Notes: Höhereck produces dynamic wines that still manage to show great restraint. The wine benefits from air and time. As charming as it is serious juice, with precise nuances of yellow and white peach, cherimoya, lemon curd, baking spice, bright green herbs eventually take center stage. It’s a lovely wine with immense depth.
Critical Acclaim:
- 94 points – Wine Enthusiast
- 96 points – Wine Advocate
