Tement | Südsteiermark | Ried Zieregg Kår Sauvignon Blanc, Große STK Lage | 2020 | 750ml | bio

Description

Product description for Tement Ried Zieregg Kår Sauvignon Blanc, Große STK Lage 2020 (bio)At just 16, Manfred Tement was forced to take over his parents’ winery following the unexpected death of his father in 1976. As a youngster, the Styrian was already considered a great winemaking talent in the 1980s. “Don’t stand still, keep getting better” was his motto. Over the years, the business grew from two hectares to around 80 today, including the 20 hectares acquired in 2004 on the Slovenian side of the Ciringa (Zieregg) vineyard. This means that today, the Zieregg family is celebrating two weddings. Eldest son Armin has shared responsibility since 2005, and for several years now, second-born Stefan has also completed the Tement trio. The decision to convert to organic viticulture was made jointly. The company has always taken bold steps, and in the humid Styria region, converting such a large operation completely to organic farming is a challenge.

Information about the Wine

The wines from the Ried Zieregg site are the ones that have made the Tement winery world-famous. The Ried Zieregg is the Tements’ home site, situated at an altitude of 330 to 490 meters and characterized by various limestone variants such as coral shell limestone, weathered limestone, and limestone marl, each with quite thin layers of clay. The microclimate of this site, combined with the soils and the more than 40-year-old vines, ensures wines with a strong and elegant aromatic expression and unique aging potential, to which the organic, very complex farming method contributes its share. However, since the Ried Zieregg is a large site with diverse microclimates, soil structures, and sun exposures, the Tements also bottle some parcels individually. What previously happened here and there became apparent with the 2020 vintage, which has to do with the changed site legislation in Southern Styria. This has led the Tements to divide the mountain into four sites: the Zieregg vineyard, the Zieregg Kapelle vineyard, the Zieregg Kår vineyard, and the Zieregg Steilriegel vineyard. The Zieregg “Kår” (pronounced “Koar” – colloquially “cold bar”) is Grandma Edina’s original home vineyard on the Kiesener Berg. The Sauvignon Blanc is planted on 1.84 hectares with approximately 9,000 vines, each aged 30 years. It lies at an elevation of 377 to 440 meters above sea level, with a slope of 30 to 35%, west-south exposure, and a cool microclimate. The soil is characterized by brown earth on coral limestone and blue limestone marl. The spontaneously fermented wine is aged in large, used double-barreled barrels.

Colour

Medium straw yellow with light green reflections

Nose

The Zieregg »Kår« offers a fascinatingly clear nose of white currants, ripe gooseberries, a hint of kiwi and lime, pea pods, and verbena. It displays an irrepressible freshness and coolness with hints of wet limestone and chalk.

Palate

On the palate, the Sauvignon Blanc provides plenty of punch from the outset, but also a silky coating of the mouth. Thus, the Zieregg »Kår« appears challenging and elegant at the same time. It is remarkable how much power, punch, and pepperiness the wine brings to the tongue, yet can still appear so noble. The acidity is distinctive, as are the minerality and saltiness. The wine appears firm and grippy in texture, is slightly smoky, piquantly bitter with notes of lime zest, and very long. It definitely needs large glasses and plenty of time. Its potential is enormous—the Tements speak of 30 years plus.

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Keywords: Tement Ried Zieregg Kår Sauvignon Blanc, Große STK Lage 2020 bio Südsteiermark Austria

Producer website: https://www.tement.at/