2023 Brundlmayer, Willi - Riesling Zobinger Heiligenstein (750ml)

Willi Bründlmayer has built his family estate in Langenlois into one of Austria's most respected wine producers, farming close to ninety hectares of Grüner Veltliner, Riesling, Pinot Noir, and other varieties across some of the Kamptal's most storied vineyards. In 2009, Wine & Spirits Magazine named him the best Austrian winemaker of the previous twenty five years. The estate has been certified organic since 2019, and Bründlmayer keeps intervention to a minimum, rejecting any fruit touched by botrytis and handling grapes gently, without destemming or crushing.

This Riesling comes from the Zöbinger Heiligenstein, a south and southwest facing slope built on Permian desert sandstone roughly 250 million years old, laced with volcanic sediment and traces of ancient carbonized vegetation. The vineyard's elevation, between about 230 and 345 meters, and its exposure allow warm days to give way to cool nights, preserving acidity while deepening aromatic intensity. The 2023 grapes were picked by hand in early October, fermented entirely in stainless steel, then rested on fine lees in large old oak casks before bottling.

Expressive aromas of orchard peach, white flowers, and lemon peel lead into a palate built around lemon zest, white currant, and a touch of yeasty richness, all framed by a long, spicy, mineral finish. Pair it with grilled fish, roast chicken, or a classic Wiener Schnitzel.