Ebner-Ebenauer
Gruner Veltliner Alte Reben Reserve – 2018
Region: Austria - Weinviertel
Ebner-Ebenauer
Deep in a four hundred year old cellar, a quiet, studious man weighs careful decisions to create exquisite wines from each of the special parcels in the Weinviertel. He asks his accomplished, exuberant wife to join him in crafting the perfect blends that reflect their passionate partnership.
Once upon a time…this is how fairy tales usually begin. But sometimes real life is a fairy tale, and that is the case for Marion and Manfred Ebner-Ebenauer. While the Ebner-Ebenauer label was born in 2007, when the two winemakers decided to share their lives, the history of winemaking in Manfred’s family stretches back fourteen generations. Today Ebner-Ebenauer is a mixture of old and new. The 400 year old cellar and modern style of the careful winery renovation. Traditional winemaking, gravity fed, gentle pressing. Using new methods when appropriate. “Respect the traditions but change if not useful.”
The Wine
Vineyard Profile
- Ried Von den Luessen vineyard
- Vine age: more than 60 years old
- Soils: Gravel and loess
Harvest Notes
- Hand harvested in October in state of high Auslese ripeness
- Strict triage in vineyard, harvested into 20 kg bins
- After brief settling, spontaneous fermentation in used oak casks without temperature control
- Bottled in May
Winemaker's Notes
A profound and seemingly ‘dark’ aroma of yellow fruits; ripe apples, melons, a bit of grapefruit and fresh herbs. Authoritative on the palate and full-bodied, with a prominent core of sweet fruit, luxuriant with a delicate hint of tobacco. Rounded but very fresh from the acid interplay.
Wine Summary
100% Gruner Veltliner; Von den Luessen vineyard; vine age: more than 60 years old; gravel and loess soils; 13% alcohol; brief skin contact; spontaneous fermentation in used oak casks without temperature control; bottled in May.
Technical Information
- 100% Gruner Veltliner grapes
- Alcohol: 13%
- RS: 1.9 g/L
- TA: 5.3 g/L
Reviews
93 Points
A subtle nose combines fresh pear, ripe Mirabelle plum and fine yeast. The palate unites these but adds a very welcome notion of citrus zest. Bit by bit spicy pepper appears, followed by juicy red apple. The longer you taste, the more is revealed. A wonderfully layered, rounded Grüner.
Wine Enthusiast, March, 2020
92 Points
Very nicely defined and detailed nose and palate. Tightly coiled with fresh aromas of apples and pears, leading to a pastry-wrapped palate that carries a fresh, smooth grip at the finish. Drink over the next five years.
jamessuckling.com, December, 2019
90 Points
For 50-year-old vines with gravel and loess soils, the 2018 Grüner Veltliner Alte Reben opens with a clear, fresh and slightly flinty bouquet that shows a nice spiciness and nuanced purity without being too demanding. Full-bodied, rich and powerful on the palate, this is a structured and slightly sweetish-tasting Veltliner with charm and grip and an intense and warm finish. 13% alcohol. Tasted in January 2020. Drink 2020 – 2028
© Wine Advocate, March, 2020
General Info
| Country | Austria |
| Region | Niederösterreich |
| Appellation(s) | Weinviertel |
| Proprietors | Marion & Manfred Ebner-Ebenauer |
| Founded | 2007 |
| Winemaker | Manfred Ebner-Ebenauer |
| Annual Production | |
| Farming (Sustainable, organic, biodynamic) | Organic/biodynamic |
