Nikolaihof

'Zwickl' Wachau Grüner Veltliner

'Zwickl' Wachau Grüner Veltliner

Nikolaihof Zwickl Wachau Grner Veltliner

Variety: Grüner Veltliner
Region: Wachau
Vineyard: Various sites near Mautern
Soil Type: Loess
Fermentation & Élevage: Long, slow fermentation in stainless steel
Farming: Demeter Certified Biodynamic

This is, in essence, an unfiltered “Hefeabzug,” and you get two wines in the same bottle if you want. How? It’s fallen bright in the top one-third, and if you pour carefully you will have a clear wine. You can then shake the rest of the bottle to mix the sediment and pour yourselves a cloudy glass of tasty atavism. They encourage this!

Nikolaihof’s holdings are some of the farthest east in the Wachau near the village of Mautern on the Danube’s south bank. These are also some of the oldest known vineyards in Europe with sites such as “im Weingebirge” being mentioned as far back as 470AD. Whether it’s Nikolaus biodynamic know-how, his focus on ancestral vinification techniques, or the quality of his terroir, the resulting wines are wildly unique and joyful. They are singular wines; irreplicable anywhere else in the wine making world.

Info

Producer:
Vintage:
2022
Country:
Austria
Region:
Wachau
Appellation:
Wachau
Variety:
Gruner Veltliner
Color:
White
Farming Practice:
Certified Biodynamic

Sizes Available

Full Bottle AT-NIK-02-22 12/750ml

Press & Reviews

James Suckling
Score
91
Date
2023-09-13
VinePair
Score
93
Date
2024-07-16
"It has a slightly reduced nose with some subtle notes of butter and hints of sage. The palate is dry and even with good concentrated fruit depth and good supporting acidity. It's age-worthy and food-friendly."
Vinous
Score
90
Date
2024-02-01
"The 2022 Grüner Veltliner Zwickl Unfiltriert is named after the_ Zwickl_ concept of cloudy, unfiltered beer. Winemaker Nikolaus Saahs Jr. emphasizes that the term refers only to not filtering the wine and is a style that has been made since 2014. Vinified in stainless steel, the grapes are grown in Mautern and Stein, i.e. on both banks of the Danube. Intense leesy freshness and yeastiness rise from the glass. The palate is mild, smooth and rounded, with a white pepper notion and an almost perfumed, floral quality to the yeastiness on the mid-palate. There is lovely freshness on the finish. (Bone-dry)"

REVIEWS FROM PAST VINTAGES