From gravelly, chalky-free soils in an open, southwest-facing cru at 510 meters above sea level in Gamlitz (the southeast-facing part is the Welles) and vinified for one year in traditional oak vats, the 2017 Ried Sernau...
From gravelly, chalky-free soils in an open, southwest-facing cru at 510 meters above sea level in Gamlitz (the southeast-facing part is the Welles) and vinified for one year in traditional oak vats, the 2017 Ried Sernau König Sauvignon Blanc opens with a charmingly round and aromatic, cassis-scented bouquet with remarkable phenolic notes of skins and stems. Round and silky on the palate, the König is more generous than the Grassnitzberg, a pure and salty but playful or frisky Sauvignon that is complex and very elegant and benefits from the coolish influence of the Koralpe mountain range. It is very long, with stimulating salinity and tension that comes more from the grip of the skins than, perhaps, the soils. It's a coolish character, and in fact, it's the only vineyard planted with four French clones. Tasted in May 2019. - SR