Leth
Gruner Veltliner Ried Scheiben Erste Lagen – 2019
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.
Reviews
94 Points
This wine is rather shy nose does and not want to reveal much. It is on the body that the smooth, peppery, citrus freshness begins to unfold. This is unobtrusive, elegant and quietly fizzing away, with so much freshness and peppery verve.
Wine Enthusiast, March, 2021
90 Points
A generous, ripe gruner with just enough acidity to keep it on track. Nice, creamy texture and crowd-pleasing, ripe pear and apple aromas. Drink now.
jamessuckling.com, September, 2020
16 Points
In the centre of Wagram, on gently sloping terraces, south-east facing, loess. Screwcap. Lovely open fruit profile of pear and citrus, even a touch of apricot. On the palate, more tension than I expected after the rich aroma, leaner and stonier yet well balanced and persistent. Stony dry finish. 2021 – 2024
JancisRobinson.com, September, 2020
93 Points
From sandy-loam soils dropping a mighty layer of loess, the 2019 Ried Scheiben 1ÖTW Grüner Veltliner opens with a deep, complex and calcareous-scented nose of ripe white fruits, tobacco and crushed stones. Very elegant and refined on the balanced palate, this is a rich and full-bodied, firmly structured and sustainable Scheiben Veltliner that is more dramatic and grippy than the generous Roter Veltliner from the same site. The finish reveals stimulating and gastronomic grip yet indicates that the wine should be cellared for 2-3 more years. 2024 – 2037
© Wine Advocate, December, 2021
