Why it matters
The producer
In Langenlois, Willi Bründlmayer leads the family estate with Edwige Bründlmayer, Thomas Klinger and Master of Wine Andreas Wickhoff. Grüner Veltliner is the principal grape, while Riesling also has a central place. Chardonnay and Burgundy varieties are specialties.
Synthetic fertilizers have been excluded since 1979. The vineyards have been farmed biologically and organically with LACON certification since 2015. When old vineyards are cleared, the fields can remain fallow for several years so the soil recovers. The oldest vines are more than 90 years old.
Place and vineyards
Where the wines begin
Langenlois is the main town of the Kamptal region, and the vineyards lie mostly nearby. Riesling grows particularly well on the poor rocky soils of Steinmassel and Heiligenstein. The estate owns 12 hectares in the centre of Zöbinger Heiligenstein, where the soil is approximately 270 million-year-old Permian desert sandstone.
Wines to know
The range in view
The range includes the single-vineyard Ried Heiligenstein 1ÖTW Riesling, Grüner Veltliner Kamptal Terrassen from several terraced vineyards, and Grüner Veltliner bottles from Ried Spiegel 1ÖTW Vincent and Langenloiser Alte Reben.
Ried Heiligenstein Riesling 2023 carries the 1ÖTW Erste Lage and Kamptal DAC classifications. It smells of yellow tropical fruit, peach and candied orange zest. The palate is juicy and lively in acidity, with fruit sweetness and blossom honey on the finish. It is already ready to drink.