Leth
Gruner Veltliner Ried Brunnthal Erste Lagen – 2021
Region: Austria - Wagram
Leth
Established in the early 1960s, Weingut Leth has become a renowned winery in Fels am Wagram in just three generations. The Leth family are members of the Traditionsweinguter Osterreich (association of traditional wineries in Austria), and believe it is their obligation to express the characteristics of their region, their soils, their climate, their grape varieties and cellars in their wines. Franz Leth, Franz Jr. and the entire Leth family are committed to these ideals.
The Wagram region of Austria is home to Europe’s most extensive loess soil formations. The region formed when glacial winds blew fine particles of agglomerated clay, sand and lime – loess – onto the prehistoric bedrock of the ancient course of the Danube river. The layers are up to 20 meters deep, and enable vine roots to delve deeply and absorb water and nutrients from the mineral-rich subsoils. Combined with the benevolent climate and wide temperature variation from day to night, perfect conditions combine to create unique terroir wines.
The Wine
Vineyard Profile
Ried Brunnthal vineyard is at the top of the hillside of Fels au Wagram.
- Altitude: 300 meters
- Exposure: South
- Soils: pure Loess, rich in limestone
- Huge diurnal temperature swings provide intense fruit aromas
- Vine age: 35 – 50 years
- No herbicides for over 25 years
- No pesticides for over 10 years
- Loess terroir and green cover crops eliminate need for irrigation and fertilizer, following organic standards
Harvest Notes
- Hand harvested with strict berry selection
- Gentle whole cluster pressing by pneumatic press
- 3 hours skin contact
- Settling for 12 hours
- Clear juice fermentation in temperature controlled large Acacia barrels using selected yeasts
- Wine racked in January with fine lees into fresh large Acacia barrels
- Aged on lees approximately 9 months
- Bottled in August
Winemaker's Notes
Medium green-yellow. A layered bouquet of yellow apple and apricot with delicate notes of tobacco, herbal and peppery spices. Full bodied and complex with passion fruit and pepper supporting a firm mineral structure. Displays finesse and character, authentic in style, reflecting the chalky terrior.
Wine Summary
100% Gruner Veltliner; alcohol: 13%; single Brunnthal “Erste Lagen” vineyard at top of Fels au Wagram hillside; pure Loess soils; vines 35 – 50 years old; no herbicides, pesticides, irrigation or fertilizers; hand harvested; gentle whole cluster pressed; 3 hours skin contact; fermented in temperature controlled Acacia wood barrels; racked in January with fine lees in fresh Acacia barrels; aged 9 months on lees; Certified Sustainable Austria wine.
Technical Information
- 100% Gruner Veltliner
- Alcohol: 13%
- Total Acidity: 5.7 g/l
- Residual Sugar: 1.4 g/l
- Certified Sustainable Austria wine
Reviews
93 Points
Attractive nose of tobacco leaves and dried herbs with a hint of pineapple. Ripe and generous, but gentle and elegant, this is a very easy top gruner veltliner to enjoy. Almost silky, long finish. Drink or hold. Screw cap.
jamessuckling.com, October, 2022
16.5 Points
Loess. Screwcap.
Generous quince aromas, ripe pear and a refined, herbal touch. The lithe palate reveals mirabelle and Golden Delicious apple coming together with a fine and lingering pepper spice in beautiful balance. 2022 – 2027
JancisRobinson.com, October, 2022
92 Points
Next to the corresponding Riesling, the 2021 Ried Brunnthal 1ÖTW Grüner Veltliner is convincing. The wine shows a very clear, elegant and rather cool nose with notes of limestone. Intense and powerful on the palate, it’s elegant and slightly salty, with well-structured length, but it’s already a bit loud in its ripe fruit core and alcohol content. 13% stated alcohol. Screw cap. Tasted in Grafenegg in September 2022. 2022 – 2038
© Wine Advocate, December, 2022
General Info
| Country | Austria |
| Region | Niederösterreich |
| Appellation(s) | Wagram |
| Proprietors | Franz Leth Family |
| Founded | 1960 |
| Winemaker | Franz Leth Jr. |
| Annual Production | 25,000 9L cases |
| Farming (Sustainable, organic, biodynamic) | Sustainable |