“From Pinot Blanc,” says Jörg Bretz, “we can achieve even more than from Chardonnay.” In this case, "we" refers to the region between Höflein in Carnuntum and the northern shores of Lake Neusiedl, where the vines for his Weissburgunder thrive. To realize its full potential, Jörg adheres to principles executed with a precision unmatched in Austria.
In essence, these principles are: extensive manual labor, meticulous observation of his vines and terroir, late harvesting of healthy grapes (free of botrytis), and a slow, patient maturation process in wooden barrels. For his 2013 Weissburgunder, this meant 108 months (nine years) spent on the lees, maturing deliberately to find its ultimate form. This timeline varies slightly depending on the vintage, but it’s never significantly shorter. Jörg only bottles his wines—Weissburgunder included—when he believes they’ve reached an initial peak, though this doesn’t imply urgency for consumption. His wines are built for the long haul, starting midway through their potential journey and evolving gracefully over decades.
Style
Rich and dense. An initially soft and creamy mouthfeel is balanced by a vibrant core of acidity, channeling nutty and ripe-fruit aromas elegantly across the palate. Ends with a long, persistent, and layered finish.
Technical Sheet
- Grape Variety: Weissburgunder (Pinot Blanc)
- Harvest: Handpicked
- Fermentation: Spontaneous with wild yeasts; no temperature control
- Aging: 9 years in large wooden barrels
- Filtration: None
- SO₂: <50 mg/l
- Alcohol Content: 13%
- Closure: Natural cork
- Serving Temperature: 10-12°C
- Optimal Drinking Window: From now until 2030
- Content and Price per Liter: 0.75 l (€37.37/l)
All Vinonudo winemakers work their vineyards with compost, organic fertilizers, and natural preparations, strictly avoiding herbicides, pesticides, and synthetic fertilizers.
