If you say “Sauvignon Blanc” in Austria, in 99 out of 100 cases the response will be “Styria.” The reason it’s not 100 out of 100 is that there is also the Diagonal from the Moser estate. It redefines the variety by Lower Austrian standards and could easily hold its own among the best versions from the south.
With the Diagonal, Niki and Kathi Moser explore the full range of what’s possible. They use mmaculate grapes from their Atrium vineyard, located directly in front of the estate. After a short maceration lasting overnight, the wine is gently pressed and fermented spontaneously—unfined—in used barriques and 500-liter barrels. It then matures for several years, first on the full lees and later on the fine lees. Before bottling, it is neither filtered nor sulfured.
All of these steps, which are quite unusual for Sauvignon Blanc, result in a flavor profile and texture that have little in common with conventional versions. Instead of green, grassy aromas, ripe yellow fruit takes center stage, joined by an earthy undertone and subtle spice. The texture is supple, substantial, and full-bodied, with a creamy, juicy, and very long finish.
Data Sheet
- Grape Variety: Sauvignon Blanc
- Vineyard: The grapes come from the Atrium vineyard on loess soils with conglomerate rock in the subsoil.
- Harvest: By hand
- Fermentation: 1 day of mash fermentation, followed by spontaneous fermentation in used 225-liter and 500-liter oak barrels
- Aging: Aged for over 14 months in the oak barrels used for fermentation.
- Filtration: No
- SO₂: Unsulfured
- Alcohol: 13%
- Closure: Natural cork
- Serving Temperature: 10-12°C
- Optimal Drinking Maturity: From now until 2030
- Volume and Price per Liter: 0.75 l (€49.87/l)
Maxim: All vintners listed at Vinonudo work in their vineyards with compost, organic fertilizers, and natural preparations, and refrain from using herbicides, pesticides, and synthetic fertilizers.
