2023 Weingut Prieler, Gemischter Satz, Kalkterrassen, Steinweingarten, Burgenland, Austria.
Tasted this Summer, this wine was seriously delicious with loads of crisp mineral tones, lovely jasmine aromatics, ginger spice, spearmint and a bone dry lighter framed palate that shows off bright citrus, like tangerine, along with tart white peach and quince fruits. Prieler’s Kalkterrassen Gemischter Satz (co-fermented white blend), which was all new to me, is a delightful and fresh dry white wine that has Weissburgunder, Welschriesling, Gelber Muskateller, Sauvignon Blanc and another Muskat clone in the blend. This pale straw/gold hued wine was made with a temperature-controlled fermentation in stainless steel, then saw a maturation in a combination of stainless steel, large wooden cask, and a small part in Amphora (clay vessel) which allows for zesty pre scion and transparency, while also give the wine some substance and textural pleasure. There’s plenty of tangy charm, natural acidity and the florals never over do it and this wine, making it great with a range of lighter cuisine, especially shellfish and or shrimp dishes. Prieler is most notable for the world class Blaufränkisch and Pinot Blanc wines from their Burgenland terroir, this winery is definitely one of Austria’s most accomplished labels. Gemischter Satz is a historic old style wine, found mostly in Austria, which needs to be done as a co-fermented field blend of varietals, that has been re-imagined in modern times and Prieler’s is an exciting effort made from organic vines in the village of Schützen am Gebirge set on classic chalky limestone soils.
The Prieler estate, as mentioned in my prior reviews, was founded in 1972, and is based in Schützen, which sits on the western side of the Lake Neusiedl, in Burgenland, it is a historic old farm, that was once dedicated to many types of agriculture, but now specializing almost solely in grape growing. Georg Prieler is a the second generation Prieler to run this iconic winery and the one that has brought world wide acclaim to this property with his fantastic terroir driven Blaufränkisch and Pinot Blanc wines. Georg’s wife Silvia brings a wealth of experience to the winery with a PhD in biochemistry, international experience including an internship at Domaine Dujac in Burgundy and a precise touch, which explains the class and finesse in the wines. The winery notes that all of the grapes are carefully crushed and fermented at closely controlled temperatures in steel tanks or wooden casks. The character of the variety and the vineyard determines how the wine will be matured and what in. For example, the Primer’s add, the Seeberg Pinot Blanc will aged exclusively in stainless steel to maximize freshness and clarity, while the Blaufränkisch from Johanneshöhe will be raised in large oak casks, and Georg’s top crus like Goldberg will mature in small Burgundy barriques. Prieler’s 20 hectares of vines are cultivated in small parcels between the Leithagebirge, which according to the winery, is the last outpost of the eastern Alps that protect the vines from the western winds, and the Lake Neusiedl, which tempers the hot climate of the Pannonian plain, where there is the most sunshine in all of Eastern Europe. I highly recommend digging deep into the Prieler collection, especially the mentioned wines above, their Rosé and this one, they will certainly impress for their outstanding quality and elegance.
($25 Est.) 92 Points, grapelive