Weingut Willi Bründlmayer - Grüner Veltliner 1ÖTW Ried Käferberg 2019

Willi Bründlmayer farms 90 hectares of Grüner Veltliner, Riesling, St. Laurent, Zweigelt and Burgundian varieties from an impressive collection of grand cru vineyards around Langenlois. In 2016 Andreas Wickhoff MW  joined the estate and as general manager works alongside Willi in all aspects.

Some of the most geologically diverse terroirs in Europe are here, in the heart of the Kamptal. The Danube and Kamp rivers and the wooded hills of the Waldviertel forest create a climate with large diurnal temperature swings, essential to a long growing season. These rocky, terraced vineyards are not the steep, jagged terraces of the Kremstal or the Wachau; these are larger wider terraces, each creating its own micro climate. The most famous vineyards in the region are located in the village of Zöbing. This small village is home to a number of ‘Grand Cru’ (Erste Lagen) vineyards, including the Zöbinger Heiligenstein, composed of 250 million year old sandstone and the Lamm, at the base of the Heiligenstein, where loess fills fissures and cracks in the sandstone. Bründlmayer has holdings in other top vineyards in the area, including Käferberg, across the Kamp river valley from the Heiligenstein, with marine deposits over primary rock, as well as the Loiserberg and Steinmassl. Bründlmayer has a very high proportion of old vines, with many plantings over 50 years old, and a parcel in the Heiligenstein planted in the 1920s.

Willi has converted some (17ha in total) of his vineyards to the Lyre training system, which he helped develop. Vines are trained low to the ground, to benefit from the warmth of the primary rock soils, then the canes are trained at an angle upward and perpendicular to the row, which doubles the sunlit and aired foliage surface and improves grape ripeness. The well-aired leaves also dry faster, thus reducing the risk of dreaded grape mildew.

As of 2019, Bründlmayer is certified organic by LACON, an outside, objective, certifying body. During harvest, multiple selections through the vineyard are made, as botrytis is never accepted. Grapes are never de-stemmed or crushed, and they are handled as minimally as possible. A tiny portion of grapes are held back, de-stemmed, and macerated for 12 hours; Willi uses these as ‘seasoning’ during blending to add another dimension and tonality to the final wines.

"Flinty reduction on the nose acts as a promise of longevity. The palate, however, presents fresh, ripe green and yellow pear, even hinting at a touch of riper stone fruit. Underneath this youthful charm lies a well of salty, yeasty richness that seems to have immense depth. This is alluring wine that will only get better with age. Drink 2025–2040." - 97 Wine Enthusiast 

"Pungently peppery and herbal, this is an extremely expressive Austrian gruner veltliner that shows why this category has become cool around Planet Wine. A complex, yeasty element, as well as a ton of minerals and some very positive tannins make this a spectacular wine. And so fresh at the long finish. Drink or hold." - 96 James Suckling

"The intensely lime-yellow colored 2019 Ried Käferbeg 1ÖTW Kamptal Grüner Veltliner is deep, pure and intense on the concentrated, rich, calcareous-scented, very elegant and complex nose that shows ripe and elegant white and yellow fruit aromas. Full-bodied, intense and elegant on the palate, this is a dense, firmly structured, minerally fresh and sustainable Käferberg that is quite powerful on the finish but also fine, elegant, vibrantly fresh and salty. The wine has the concentration, grip and vitality for a long road to go. 13.5% alcohol. Natural cork." - 95 Points, Wine Advocate 

Producer: Weingut Willi Bründlmayer

Country: Austria

Region: Niederösterreich

Varietal: Grüner Veltliner

Appellation: Kamptal

Vintage: 2019

Size: 750ml