| In a deed dating from 1245 in the reign of the Hungarian King Bela IV, Deutschkreutz was mentioned for the first time in connection with wine. Bela Rex is a classic blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, with a spicy underlying aroma of Middle Burgenland and elegant style. |
Falstaff Wineguide 2024: 95 points Dark forest berry fruit and orange zest with balsamic notes and nuances of tobacco spice on the nose. Elegant on the palate with tightly knit, firm tannins and a juicy acid structure. Notes of chocolate, cherry and delicate oak spice linger on the finish. Food pairing: Dark meat, game dishes
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The year 2009 began with a relatively cold winter with abundant precipitation, which was fortunately very well distributed in our vineyards. Cold weather remained until the end of March. Unusually warm weather arrived in April and continued until the end of May. After a variable spring, the flowering commenced at the end of May and was completed by June 10th. June proved to be very rainy and at the end of July, high pressure weather finally set in. August made us sweat with record temperatures of around 34 °C (93 °F) and very warm winds.
The harvest began unusually early in the first half of September. Autumn displayed its best side with a marvellous Indian summer. Warm days and cool nights accompanied us during the harvest. The cool September nights allowed Blaufränkisch to ripen perfectly and develop its inimitable spice. As every year, all grapes were selectively picked by hand. By October 14th, all grapes were in our cellar and the red wine harvest was complete. Autumnal weather with many cool and rainy phases followed, providing perfect conditions for our vines before they went into hibernation.
2009 is a superb vintage that will provide abundant drinking pleasure for many years due to its ageing potential.
Soil and Climate
The climate, which is so important for the development of great wines, is defined in Deutschkreutz by sunny days and cool nights. The temperature curve during growing season and into autumn offers ideal conditions for growing wines of great finesse. The proximity to Lake Neusiedl moderates the region's microclimate with Pannonian influences. The relatively warm, dry and moderate annual course of the weather contributes much to the inimitable regional character of the wines. The heavy, deep loamy soils provide good water availability, which has a positive effect, especially in dry years. The calcareous sandstone in the subsoil enhances minerality and spice. Blaufränkisch, Zweigelt, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot thus gain power and structure. The pure and elegant style of Blaufränkisch has drawn particular recognition in recent years. Stony vineyards on the foothills of a former volcano enrich our white wines with fine mineral tones.
The year 2010 began with a relatively severe winter with abundant precipitation. We had to wait a long time for spring and when it finally arrived, it turned out to be very rainy. Due to the cool weather, flowering started relatively late in mid-June, but the cool conditions hindered pollination and caused coulure. With many varieties, we noted a reduced yield of up to minus 40 %. The weather improvement we were hoping for in summer initially remained absent. July began cool and rainy, but August finally brought dry and warm weather, which remained with us until the end of September.
The harvest began on September 21st with ripe St. Laurent grapes, followed by very healthy Pinot Noir. Zweigelt and Chardonnay were the next varieties harvested. The main harvest of Blaufränkisch was very pleasing. After Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon, the red wine harvest was completed on October 19th.Due to the humid weather, we were able to harvest a Beerenauslese with pronounced fruit and good acid structure.
2010 was a vintage that challenged the knowledge and skill of a winemaker. The wines exhibit abundant elegance and abundant finesse.
Soil and Climate
The climate, which is so important for the development of great wines, is defined in Deutschkreutz by sunny days and cool nights. The temperature curve during growing season and into autumn offers ideal conditions for growing wines of great finesse. The proximity to Lake Neusiedl moderates the region's microclimate with Pannonian influences. The relatively warm, dry and moderate annual course of the weather contributes much to the inimitable regional character of the wines. The heavy, deep loamy soils provide good water availability, which has a positive effect, especially in dry years. The calcareous sandstone in the subsoil enhances minerality and spice. Blaufränkisch, Zweigelt, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot thus gain power and structure. The pure and elegant style of Blaufränkisch has drawn particular recognition in recent years. Stony vineyards on the foothills of a former volcano enrich our white wines with fine mineral tones.
The year 2011 began with a relatively severe winter that covered our vineyards in a thin blanket of snow. Mittelburgenland was hit by a slight late frost in spring, but our vineyards were not affected due to higher elevations. May was quite varied and unfortunately we lost around 35 % of the harvest in some vineyard sites due to hailstorms. However, the rest of the year was much more pleasant. After a variable year’s start, flowering began very early at the end of May. June and July brought ideal weather conditions with optimal precipitation. Burgenland was hit by a cool phase at the beginning of August. This allowed vines to absorb sufficient nutrients and enhanced aroma development in the grapes. From the second half of August onwards, the long-awaited high-pressure weather set in, which remained with us until mid-October.
The harvest began unusually early on September 9th with Pinot Noir. The September nights were cool, which allowed Blaufränkisch to mature perfectly and develop its inimitable spice. The harvest was quite relaxed this year since all grape varieties had enough time to reach optimal ripeness.
With the 2011 vintage, there was also an innovation in the harvest process. We had already relied on manual selection in previous years and at the beginning of this harvest, we switched to computer-controlled, automatic optical grape berry selection. Thanks to this method, we are able to remove green material, insects and inferior grapes. This method increased the quality of our wines even further. 2011 is an exceptional vintage that will provide pleasure for many years due to its ageing capacity.
Soil and Climate
The climate, which is so important for the development of great wines, is defined in Deutschkreutz by sunny days and cool nights. The temperature curve during growing season and into autumn offers ideal conditions for growing wines of great finesse. The proximity to Lake Neusiedl moderates the region's microclimate with Pannonian influences. The relatively warm, dry and moderate annual course of the weather contributes much to the inimitable regional character of the wines. The heavy, deep loamy soils provide good water availability, which has a positive effect, especially in dry years. The calcareous sandstone in the subsoil enhances minerality and spice. Blaufränkisch, Zweigelt, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot thus gain power and structure. The pure and elegant style of Blaufränkisch has drawn particular recognition in recent years. Stony vineyards on the foothills of a former volcano enrich our white wines with fine mineral tones.
Without exaggeration, 2012 can be described as a truly great vintage for our wines.
Spring arrived very quickly and ensured early budbreak. A relatively warm May and June enhanced flowering. Unfortunately, late frost came in mid-May, which reduced the quantity somewhat. July brought us more rain than we had had in a long time, which in retrospect proved to be very good for the quality of our grapes.
A long dry period followed the abundant rain and continued until after the harvest in mid-October. Due to the extreme arid conditions in August, the grape berries remained relatively small and the ratio of skin to pulp was excellent. This resulted in deeply coloured red wines with mature tannins. The 2012 vintage brought very juicy, full-bodied red wines with pronounced fruit and abundant tannins.
Perfect weather conditions allowed the harvest to be brought in without delay. We had the dry white wines and red wines in the cellar by October 10th. After maturation in oak barrels, we were happy to see that after the exceptional 2011 vintage, another outstanding vintage followed in 2012.
Soil and Climate
The climate, which is so important for the development of great wines, is defined by sunny days and cool nights in Deutschkreutz. The temperature curve during growing season and into autumn offers ideal conditions for wines of great finesse. The proximity to Lake Neusiedl moderates the region's microclimate with Pannonian influences. The relatively warm, dry and moderate annual course of the weather contributes much to the inimitable regional character of the wines. The heavy, deep loamy soils provide good water availability, which has a positive effect, especially in dry years. The calcareous sandstone in the subsoil enhances minerality and spice. Blaufränkisch, Zweigelt, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot thus gain power and structure. The pure and elegant style of Blaufränkisch has drawn particular recognition in recent years. Stony vineyards on the foothills of a former volcano enrich our white wines with fine mineral tones.
A winter with unusually abundant snowfall for our region brought the last snow on Easter. The long awaited warm spring weather finally arrived in April and led to homogenous budding. A hailstorm on Whit Sunday hit a couple of our vineyards, which ultimately resulted in lower yields of Pinot Noir, Merlot and St. Laurent. We observed the first flowering in our vineyards on June 10th. Summer brought a very long dry spell, with incredible heat of up to 40°C (104 °F). Despite the high temperatures, our grapes found protection in the shade of the vine leaves. The harvest could finally begin at the end of September, about 3 weeks later than in recent years. It was important to us to be able to pick our grapes in dry conditions. The main harvest was completed on October 25th. In the first week of December we harvested the Sämling grapes still hanging in the vineyard, which we had reserved for our popular sweet wines, Beerenauslese and Trockenbeerenauslese.
This year it was all about observation and sensitivity. Winemakers who braved the risk and waited to harvest late were rewarded. Due to the arid August, the grapes had thick skins. This is reflected in the powerful tannin structure and deep colour of the red wines. The cool September preserved fruit intensity and spicy aromas. The white wines exhibit pronounced fruit and spice with appetizing acidity. 2013 brought variable weather throughout the year, but due to its uniqueness, it is an outstanding vintage. The wines have mature tartaric acidity, which results in very long-lasting wines with good ageing potential.
Soil and Climate
The climate, which is so important for the development of great wines, is defined in Deutschkreutz by sunny days and cool nights. The temperature curve during growing season and into autumn offers ideal conditions for growing wines of great finesse. The proximity to Lake Neusiedl moderates the region's microclimate with Pannonian influences. The relatively warm, dry and moderate annual course of the weather contributes much to the inimitable regional character of the wines. The heavy, deep loamy soils provide good water availability, which has a positive effect, especially in dry years. The calcareous sandstone in the subsoil enhances minerality and spice. Blaufränkisch, Zweigelt, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot thus gain power and structure. The pure and elegant style of Blaufränkisch has drawn particular recognition in recent years. Stony vineyards on the foothills of a former volcano enrich our white wines with fine mineral tones.
The year 2014 began with a very mild winter with little precipitation and nearly no snow. Vineyard work could be initiated relatively early under dry conditions. The vegetative period started relatively early compared to recent vintages. Budbreak occurred swiftly and homogenously thanks to mild weather and warm temperatures. We could already see the first leaves sprouting as we walked through the vineyards mid April. Flowering then began at the end of May.
June turned out to be the driest month of the summer. We sweat during the heat wave at the end of the first week of June, but this unfortunately remained the only hot period of the summer. Rain came at the end of July and its persistence caused concern about the health of our grapes.
The abundant rainfall indeed proved to be a real challenge in 2014. The threat of insufficient ripeness and rot caused sleepless nights.
Painstaking labour in the vineyard allowed us to keep rot in check. Our staff were meticulous about selecting and placing only healthy grape material in the picking crates. All grapes showing any signs of rot were immediately discarded. After arrival in the winery, grapes were sorted again with our high-tech optical sorting machine, which ensured that only the very best grapes were selected for vinification.
In the end, we sacrificed 41 percent of our harvest through strict fruit selection in our vineyards and cellar. Early ripening varieties like Zweigelt, St. Laurent and Pinot Noir were particularly problematic during the harvest and demanded meticulous handwork. Fortunately, October showed us its sunnier and, more importantly, drier side. Thanks to these weather conditions, we were able to achieve good results with our leading variety Blaufränkisch as well as with Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot.
Vintage 2014 – hand selected wines
After the first months of maturation, we are able to confirm that the white wines show very clear fruit, pronounced acid structure, intense aroma, and distinct expression. The red wines exhibit deep colour, abundant fruit, and pleasingly lower alcohol content.
Soil and Climate
Deutschkreutz is predestined for the production of great wines due to sunny days and cool nights in which advantageous daily temperature fluctuations continue into late autumn. The proximity of Lake Neusiedl brings mild Pannonian influences to the microclimate. The relatively warm, dry-to-moderate weather conditions throughout the year leave an inimitable imprint on the wines of the region. The soils are predominantly heavy, deep loam with excellent water storage capacity, which is a particularly positive attribute in dry years. The limestone sand in the topsoil imparts minerality and spice to the wines and is advantageous for the power and structure of Blaufränkisch, Zweigelt, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Merlot. The pure, aristocratic style of Blaufränkisch wins increasing international recognition. Rocky vineyards on the foothills of an extinct volcano impart our white wines with elegant mineral notes.
Due to a mild winter with sufficient precipitation, the work in the vineyard could begin relatively early and in dry conditions. Temperatures did sink to -10 °C (14 °F) around New Year’s, which permitted vines a brief dormancy. Contrary to recent years, vegetation began at the optimal time point at the beginning of April. We observed a rapid and homogenous budbreak, thanks to the mild and warm temperatures. The inflorescences of future grape bunches were visible everywhere in May and the first blossoms could be admired at the beginning of June.
Unfortunately, our vineyards were not spared of hail this year. Ried Fabian and Ried Goldberg were surprised by hail on June 14th, which compromised quantity. Just as the vineyards began to recover, a second hailstorm appeared and affected the same two vineyards on July 27th. Regrettably, this led to another sacrifice in quantity.
When we think back on the summer of 2015, we will certainly remember countless days of temperatures over 32 ° C (90 °F). This heat wave was interrupted only by a few thundershowers, which were also sufficient to provide good water availability in our soils. The high temperatures and intense sun radiation caused grapes to develop thicker skins for heat protection.
The 2015 harvest commenced on September 15th. Through selective handpicking, our team was able to bring in perfectly ripened grape material. The warm days and the optimal ripening period allowed us to harvest fully ripe grapes at the perfect point of ripeness. It was a great joy and simultaneously also motivation to bring such extraordinary quality into the cellar. The harvest of this fantastic vintage was completed mid October.
The white wines exhibit a perfect combination of ripeness, mouth-filling fruit and complexity. They possess both pleasant fruit aroma and well-balanced acidity.
The red wines of this vintage displayed their greatness right from the beginning. They exhibit deep colour and have abundant, ripe and velvety tannins.
2015 – a milestone for our winery
The 2015 harvest is a great milestone for our winery. After intense work, the year 2015 was very special – it is our first year with certified organic wines. After meticulous work in our vineyard and a fantastic 2015 vintage, we are very proud to bottle these wines.
Due to a mild winter with sufficient precipitation, the work in the vineyard could commence relatively early and in dry conditions. The year began with warm temperatures and the first budbreak could already be observed in the vineyards the beginning of April. But the warm temperatures did not continue and we experienced a centennial event, which according to older generations had never happened in their lifetimes. The nights from April 27 to 29 brought temperatures under 0 °C (32 °F). To deal with this, we joined together with our neighbouring vintner colleagues to fill the morning sky with smoke. Burning bales of hay in the vineyard envelopes vine shoots in smoke and protects them from the morning sunshine. We thought that we had reached safety, but the night of April 29 brought an icy surprise. Temperatures below -5 °C (23 °F) froze our young shoots.
This late frost resulted in our vines falling into a state of shock that continued for 21 days. Warm temperatures finally helped our vines come back to life and we observed a second bud break. Luckily the vines survived the icy temperatures, but the new buds had the negative aspect that they developed fewer inflorescences for grape bunches.
The relatively warm June brought a long extended flowering period. Shoots that were not affected by frost flowered at the normal time in the first part of June. Damaged shoots flowered later. The varying stages of flowering indicated that difficult harvest could be expected since grapes in the vineyards would also be in different stages of development.
A warm summer with occasional gentle rains and no weather extremes promoted optimal vegetation in the vineyards. The damage to our vines demanded extremely diligent handwork in the vineyard during these months. It was necessary to remove water shoots growing from vine trunks and curb excessive growth in the canopy to keep it well aerated.
A hot and dry September brought a pleasant surprise; the warm temperatures had supported the fruit ripening process. The few grapes remaining in the vineyard were ripening perfectly. The 2016 harvest commenced on September 20th. We began with meticulous hand selection of St. Laurent and Pinot Noir, followed by Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay and Zweigelt. The cool nights at the end of September enhanced fruit aroma development, in particular for the red wine varieties. We continued with the final spurt on October 10th with Blaufränkisch and Merlot. The harvest came to a close on October 19th with the picking of very healthy and fully ripe Cabernet Sauvignon.
The 2016 vintage will long remain in our memories and our history books. Things were not as bad as they could have been and it is good to look at the positive side of the year 2106. We lost 50 % of the harvest volume due to late frost, but the quality of our meticulously handpicked grapes was perfect. The first tastings immediately revealed fully ripe aromas across all grape varieties. The red wines exhibit plenty of dark berry fruit, often with extremely deep colour. The wines possess pleasant herbal spice and abundant, very fine and persistent tannins. The low pH value and harmonious acidity promise a vintage with good ageing potential.
The year 2017 began with a very cold and dry January, cold enough to freeze Lake Neusiedl. During this cold period, we pruned the vines to make room for the coming year’s young shoots. An unusually mild March brought early development in the vineyard. Around Easter in mid-April, we could see small buds and a few light green leaves glistening. That nature plays according to its own rules is a fact that we painfully experienced after the Easter holidays. The weather took a turn for the worse and winter returned to our vineyards again on April 19 and 20. Snowfall, storm gusts of up to 80 km/h and temperatures around the freezing point caused us to fear for our valuable crops. To protect our vines from late frost, we joined together with our colleagues from the Deutschkreutz vintner association and burned straw bales to envelope our vines in protective smoke.
After that event, spring was mostly dry with sufficient precipitation for optimal vegetation. Freezing temperatures threatened briefly on the night of May 10, but spring subsequently showed us its best side again.
We experienced just how the year consistently provided surprises in the form of extreme rainfall in July and tropical temperatures in August. Grapes develop thick skins to protect themselves in these conditions, which results in intense colour and abundant soft tannins. Conscientious canopy management is extremely important when temperatures are high. Meticulous, gentle leaf plucking in the grape zone is essential to retain enough protection for grapes against sunburn. Brief intermittent thunderstorms provided our vineyards with sufficient water during the heat wave. Competent green cover management allows water to be stored to provide vines with sufficient moisture.
We initiated the harvest on September 11, earlier than in recent years. We had to interrupt picking for a few days when the first September weeks showed us their worst side: 77 mm rain fell within only 5 days.
The long-desired Indian summer finally appeared in the last week of September and we could continue to harvest our grapes in beautiful, sunny, and above all, dry weather. We concluded the main harvest on October 17 with perfectly ripened Cabernet Sauvignon grapes. On December 22, shortly before Christmas vacation, we harvested a small, but very promising quantity of Trockenbeerenauslese.
The vintage 2017 brings white wines with a fruity, crystal clear style that exhibits exotic fruit, ripe grape aromas and lively acid structure. Due to the small-berried grape bunches, our red wines are deeply coloured and have appetizing aromas and soft tannins. They stand out with concentrated body and elegance on the palate.
The year 2018 began with a very cold and dry January. Winter peaked with an extremely cold March with temperatures sinking down to -15 °C (5 °F). Last year’s wood was pruned from the vines during the cold period to make room for new shoots. All the way up until the Easter holidays at the beginning of April, spring still showed no signs of awakening. Immediately after Easter, beautiful, nearly summery weather finally appeared. Temperatures frequently reached up to 26 °C (79 °F), allowing budbreak to advance rapidly. While walking through the vineyards mid-May, one could observe the first grape varieties flowering.
We experienced again this year just how intertwined we are with nature and how dependent we are on it. A mild May was followed by a very rainy June. A heavy hailstorm on June 12 affected many of our vineyards. As in recent years, summer showed its best side. The hot weather in July and August was interspersed with occasional thunderstorms, which supplied our vineyards with the optimal quantity of water. The hot and dry weather ensured early ripening of the grapes.
The 2018 harvest began on August 27, the earliest harvest ever at the Gesellmann estate. After hail on August 24, picking commenced with the early ripening varieties Sauvignon Blanc, St. Laurent and Pinot Noir. Grapes damaged by hail were discarded through meticulous hand selection in the vineyard to ensure that only 100 % healthy grape material arrived at the winery. The harvest was interrupted from August 30 to September 4 due to heavy rainfall. 100 litres of rain per m² fell within these few days. There was more rain during the vegetation period than in recent years. Up until the beginning of October, we had 630 mm of precipitation compared to the average 450 mm for an entire year.
After September 6, the harvest continued in dry conditions. Due to the extremely high temperatures in September, grapes could only be harvested from early morning until midday. The picking of perfectly ripened Cabernet Sauvignon grapes on October 4 was a worthy finale to the harvest.
The vintage 2018 brought fruity, crystal clear white wines with exotic fruit and ripe varietal aromas highlighted by lively acid structure. The vintage’s small-berried black varieties resulted in deeply coloured red wines with appetizing aromas and ripe tannins. They are distinguished by full body and an elegant palate.
The year 2019 began with a relatively mild winter in which we did our annual pruning. The warm month of March made it possible to tie the vines to the trellis relatively quickly. Due to the mild temperatures in April and heavy rain in May, the vineyards experienced marvellous flowering at the beginning of June.
We planted new vines in spring. There is a particularly exciting new planting in Hochberg, our top site. We created a new vineyard in this site over the last two years, a complex undertaking in the form of terraces. Twenty terraces were laid out transversely with the help of excavators. These terraces were planted with around nineteen thousand Blaufränkisch and Chardonnay vines in the Easter week.
Summer 2019 began very early with hot temperatures and almost no rain in June, which made both us and our vineyards sweat. With the recurring hot summers, it is particularly important to have strong biodiversity in the vineyard. On the one hand, we pay attention to green cover in the vineyards to promote the vitality of beneficial organisms in the soil. On the other hand, good foliage management is essential to ensure a loose, well-aerated canopy that protects grapes from sunburn. When plucking leaves from the grape zone, the side exposed to the sun is deliberately kept somewhat denser.
The cool month of May slowed the rapid development of the vines, which led to a normal harvest beginning date on 13 September 2019. Beautiful autumn weather accompanied us during the next weeks, allowing our grapes time to ripen perfectly.
Our most important goal is and remains the pursuit of vinifying top wines in harmony with nature. All our grapes have always been harvested by hand, with the first selection taking place in the vineyard where all grapes are carefully scrutinized. The second selection of grapes happens upon receival of grapes in the winery. By means of optical sorting equipment, only perfect grapes are vinified in our cellar. The entire harvest was brought in under dry conditions and every grape variety was harvested at its optimal point of ripeness.
On October 14th, exactly 26 days after the start of the harvest, picking was completed in bright sunshine.
Due to high temperatures and the resulting drought, harvest volumes were naturally reduced. The grapes remained relatively small, which led to intensive colour accumulation and a soft tannin structure. From August onwards, the nights became cooler, which enhanced balanced aroma development in the grapes.
With the 2019 vintage, one can certainly say that the vintage belongs to the series of great vintages ending in 9.
Due to the cool nights, the white wines exhibit intense fruit with a balanced acid structure. The red wines are deep in colour with robust structure. They offer tremendous juiciness and a pleasant tannin structure.
The year 2020, a year that we will probably remember forever due to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, we would like to reflect on the aspects of the wine year and how the circumstances in the vineyard were.
The year 2020 began with a mild, dry winter, during which we did the annual vine pruning. The warm, almost summer-like temperatures with plenty of sunshine and little precipitation allowed us to begin tying our vines to the trellis relatively early in mid-March. The spring-like temperatures stimulated the vine growth and allowed the first buds to break. At the beginning of June, we could marvel at the flowering of the vines in many locations.
A uniform summer brought us warmth with alternating rainy days. This summer we were spared heavy thunderstorms and hail. Because weather that alternates between hot days and rainfall poses a threat for our vineyards, we were particularly attentive with canopy management to protect our grapes from fungal diseases.
This year's harvest commenced on 17 September. Beautiful autumn weather with sunny days and cool nights accompanied us over the next weeks.
Striving to vinify top wines in harmony with nature. Remains our central focus We have always harvested all of our grapes by hand, with the first sorting taking place directly in the vineyard, where all the grapes are carefully selected and checked for quality. The second sorting takes place when the grapes are delivered to the winery. Optical sorting equipment ensures that only perfect grape material is vinified. Each grape variety is harvested at its optimal time of ripeness. The harvest was completed on 19 October, in brilliant sunshine with perfectly ripened Cabernet Sauvignon grapes, exactly 21 days after the harvest began.
The white wines of the 2020 vintage shine with intense fruit aromas, balanced body and vibrant acid structure, which we owe to the cool nights from the end of August onward. Due to the dryness in spring, the black grape varieties were initially rather small-berried, but this was compensated by sufficient rainfall in summer and the grapes were of optimal size at harvest. The red wines of the 2020 vintage are deeply coloured, fruity, and have a juicy tannin structure.
The year 2021 began with a mild winter with little snow. Pruning laid the foundation for the new year. As we finished pruning quickly, we were able to start tying the vines in mid-February. So there was nothing in the way of budding.
Due to the warm spring temperatures, budding started already in April. The long-awaited rain came in May and stayed with us throughout the month. Rain and the spring-like temperatures caused our vines to sprout, and the flowering started on June 10th.
June and July were marked by hot temperatures. Careful canopy management is important in such high temperatures. Targeted, gentle defoliation of the grape area protects the skin from burns. August brought us many rainy periods and cool nights. This was optimal for fruit and acid formation.
The cool nights in September promoted physiological maturity and intensified the fruit flavors enormously. This coolness gave Blaufränkisch its unmistakable spice.
As late as it has been for a long time, we started harvest by hand on September 23rd with Sauvignon Blanc, followed by Chardonnay and our “hochberc weiss” (field blend).
The red wines started with St. Laurent, Pinot Noir and Zweigelt. In mid-October Blaufränkisch, Syrah, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon arrived in our cellar. Harvest was completed on October 26th with perfect Blaufränkisch hochberc grapes.
Despite the late harvest and the high ripeness of the grapes, the wines show an elegant structure, perfect fruit and strong tannins.
The most important factor in our company is still the pursuit of top quality in harmony with nature. This requires intensive manual work that accompanies us throughout the year.
In autumn, the grapes are harvested exclusively by hand. The first selection takes place in the vineyard. In the cellar, the grapes are sorted again using an optical selection system. This means that only perfect grape material gets into our cellar.
This vintage will go down in history.
The year 2022 started with a very mild, dry and snowless winter, which we used for our pruning. This is the foundation of each vine for the entire year.
The pleasant spring temperatures ensured regular budding and a great blossom, which started on May 28th with Chardonnay. From May to July, our soils were provided with sufficient rainfall for the upcoming summer.
The summer brought hot temperatures, which caused a lot of change in the vineyard. The grape zone was carefully stripped of leaves and the miser shoots erupted. Canopy management is one of the most essential tasks in the vineyard during the summer months. The combination of rainfall and the warm temperatures increases the disease enormously. Thus it was very important to carry out a optimal biological-organic plant protection and to achieve good ventilation of the canopy.
After a bumpy start in mid-September, the harvest really started after a few rainy days. Afterwards, sunny and warm temperatures accompanied us throughout the main harvest. A golden autumn like out of the picture book. In harmony with nature and intensive harvest by hand we received beautiful, healthy grapes. On October the 18th, harvest was finished with wonderful Cabernet Sauvignon grapes.
On December the 7th, we were able to harvest a small amount of Sämling 88 (Scheurebe) for our Beerenauslese. After 13 years, on December the 13th, we once again had the chance of harvesting a very small quantity of ice wine.
The year 2022 is marked by drought. We received only a small amount of rainfall throughout the year, with most the rainfall between May and July.
The careful waiting during the vegetation and also during the harvest was rewarded with perfect, healthy grapes. Through meticulous harvest by hand, only healthy grape material arrives in our cellar. In the cellar all grapes go through the inspection of our optical selection machine. Only healthy, ripe grape material is used for further processing.
The white wines of vintage 2022 impress with a balanced fruit – acidity.
The red wines are very colorful with a pleasant acidity and beautiful tannin structure.
The 2023 vintage was characterized by its variability and rainfall patterns reminiscent of earlier times in winemaking. During the dry winter, which saw little precipitation and some cold spells, we took the opportunity to clear our vineyards of the previous year's wood. This cut wood was not wasted; instead, it was chopped and incorporated into our organic compost, contributing to our sustainable vineyard management practices.
The mild weather in March allowed us to begin tying the vines earlier than usual. This year's vine bloom commenced slightly later than expected, starting on June 5th. The dry temperatures that prevailed in the early summer months ensured an even blooming process across our vineyards.
From spring through to the beginning of summer, we experienced significant rainfall. This abundance of water was beneficial, as it allowed the heavy clay soils to store ample moisture for our vines. Midsummer temperatures persisted well into the harvest season, creating some concern. However, relief came at the beginning of August with widespread rainfall, which provided the vineyards with the necessary water for a successful harvest. Further rainfall at the end of August proved particularly crucial for the final stages of grape ripening.
We initiated the 2023 harvest on September 21st, beginning with perfectly ripe and healthy Sauvignon Blanc grapes. Our harvesting team was blessed with a golden autumn, enjoying ideal conditions in the vineyard. The consistently stable autumn weather allowed us to harvest all grape varieties in excellent health, with pleasant acidity levels and high ripeness. We concluded our harvest on October 21st with impeccable Cabernet Sauvignon grapes.
From the outset, the wines displayed a very balanced structure and a juicy, flowing character on the palate. The Blaufränkisch grapes were particularly noteworthy, characterized by small berries and loose clusters. This resulted in dense wines with a deep, dark color and the typical spicy notes characteristic of Blaufränkisch.
Lifeblood – the red wines of Albert and Engelbert Gesellmann are in their concentration, intensity and expressiveness inseparably tied to their creators in one cycle. Strong characters create wines that require unwavering commitment every day anew. The wines thus emerging are in turn the motivation to further for the wine.
A fascinating arc of flavours is created by two outstanding liquid personalities: Opus Eximium and Bela Rex count among the undisputed Austrian red wine legends. Building on the ground-breaking decisions of his father Engelbert, who was a pioneer in turning towards international wine grapes and French barrique casks, Albert continues to write the history of the winery in deep-red ink: our cuvée "G" plays a leading role. Composed from the indigenous grapes of Blaufränkisch and St. Laurent, it delights with autochthonous clarity, refinded profoundly through ninety-year old vines. Since 2005, hochberc has been vinified - a pure Blaufränkisch that subtly condenses winemaker, variety and region in itself.
Gravity does not hamper agility, but makes it even more alluring, Albert says and so encapsulates his passion: red wines by Gesellmann are no lightweights, but grown-up, matured characters that do not cautiously prance around the palate, but fully convince in a passionate character dance.
The vinification method is state of the art: maceration and malolactic fermentation for perfect tannin structure and ideal conditions for maturation, with the support of the latest cellar technology.
Also for the genesis of white treasures, the sites of the Gesellmann vineyards offer ideal conditions: stony vineyards in the foothills of a former volcano infuse our Chardonnay Steinriegel with a broad range of aromas with fine mineral touches. Also the traditionally vinified Chardonnay shows clear glimpses of the winemaker's passionate dedication to producing wines typical for the grape variety. The wines taste just as they were made by the weather, soil and vintner. On a northerly slope, perfect for this grape, our Sauvignon Blanc grows under ideal climatic conditions that assert the archetypical characteristics of this wine.
A mighty, classic blend of grapes grown together from old vines, up to fifty years old, is hochberc weiss. A mature white wine indigenous to Burgenland, with an exciting character.
The white wines by Gesellmann are expressive and profound partners for delightful moments and mature in barriques (new and used) or steel tanks.
