One of my top picks of the weekend was the Kollwentz Steinzeiler 2012, which we included in a dinner lineup as part of a gourmet weekend for Falstaff magazine in Austria. The Steinzeiler is the top cuvee of the Kollwentz family in Burgenland. It consists of 70 per cent Blaufränkisch, 20 per cent Zweigelt and 10 per cent Cabernet Sauvignon, which grow on the chalky soils of the Leithaberg.
What excites me about this wine is the combination of intensity and elegance. The 2012 vintage is now at its peak. Yet, nothing about the wine seems ” manufactured”.
The fresh acidity skilfully balances the 14 per cent alcohol by volume. The aroma spectrum ranges from blackberries, cherry, red pepper, dark earth, autumn leaves, lots of tobacco and dark chocolate. Very finely grained tannins. Excellent length with a long mineral finish.
