Leth - Gruner Veltliner Ried Steinagrund 2021
Price: $19.96
| Producer | Leth |
| Country | Austria |
| Varietal | Other White Grapes |
| Vintage | 2021 |
| Sku | 601382 |
| Size | 750ml |
Founded in the early 1960s, Weingut Leth has solidified its status as a prestigious winery within the idyllic setting of Fels am Wagram. At the helm of this winery are Franz Leth, alongside his son Franz Jr. and the entire Leth family. The wine featured from the Leth family is another good ‘winter white.’ It’s based 100% on Gruner Veltliner, Austria’s most widely planted grape. It is thought to be from Veltin an area known now as Valtellina which is in Italy. While it can be a chameleon of a grape ie can be made into many styles, in this case, it’s more of a rich, warming winter style. Fuller textures show up around 12.5% alcohol which this wine has. It’s technically not a Smaragd (level or ripeness akin to a Spatlese) it has the weight of one. Vibrancy with weight as James Suckling said about this particular wine. Gruners are fragrant and can make a worthy substitute for aromatic varieties like Sauvignon Blanc or Viognier.
The winery is nestled within the rolling hills of Fels am Wagram. The terroir here is unique as the region boasts Europe’s most extensive loess formation. This distinctive terroir was made by ancient glacial winds which carried fine particles of clay, sand, and lime with them. The amalgamation of these components is known as loess. Upon their arrival, the loess built up upon the bedrock beneath the ancient course of the Danube river. Over eons, these deposits amassed, layer upon layer, forming depths of loess soil that can reach up to an astonishing 20 meters. The single-vineyard known as Steinagrund is a terraced, fully hillside topography, aptly named "Steinagrund," which, when translated, eloquently signifies "stony ground" which is found underneath its loess blanket.
Fermentation takes place with the guidance of indigenous yeasts, nurtured within temperature-controlled, stainless steel tanks. Five weeks of aging follow, during which a portion of the wine is thoughtfully transferred to separate stainless steel vessels, preserving the primary fruit's quintessential qualities. The remainder is ushered into the embrace of large, neutral Acacia oak barrels, where it rests alongside its fine lees until the moment of bottling in April.
