The South Palatinate winery Leiner and the Sattlerhof from Styria have become members of the winegrowers association respekt-BIODYN.
A virtual press conference with a small tasting was held today—an excellent opportunity to catch up with many friends and colleagues, at least via zoom. And of course to taste some exciting wines, even if the bottles from Sattlerhof stuck in the COVID parcel flood.
respekt-BIODYN was founded in 2007 and is based in Austria. The biodynamic winegrowers association has twenty-five members in Germany, Italy, Austria and Hungary now. The total vineyard area of the farms is about 850 hectares.
The 17-hectare Leiner winery in Ilbesheim fits well with the small but exquisite association, which is fully committed to biodynamics. The winery is located at the foothills of the Kleine Kalmit nature preservation area. The family has been practising organic viticulture there for about twenty years, and biodynamic management for nearly ten years. The two wines showcased were excellent: the 2019 Weisse Burgunder Kalkbruch from Sven Leiner is grown on limestone with loam layers.
Extended lees contact in traditional oak barrels, spontaneous fermentation, and no filtration. The result is a focused, multi-layered terroir wine—precise acidity, citrus, pear, some mirabelle plum, herbs and a mineral-salty finish.
The 2018 Pinot Noir Kalkbruch is also an own distinct, lime-driven personality, sourced from the slopes of the Kleine Kalmit. Traditional maceration in open vats followed by maturation 500-litre wooden barrels. Fresh, funky, red and dark berries, spice notes, very defined, polished tannins. Very good length and persistence.
Description of Sattlerhof wines will follow when they are delivered.
