Vinschgauer Weißburgunder Alto Adige DOC 2023

Tenuta Falkenstein | South Tyrol
Tenuta Falkenstein | Schlossweg 19 | IT 39025 Naturns

01170123 · 0,75 l · 25,20 €/lavailable immediately

The Vinschgau is the driest valley in the Alps – less than 500 millimetres of rainfall per year, intense sunshine, dramatic temperature fluctuations between day and night. Not an obvious place for great wine. And yet: Franz Pratzner has believed in it since 1989 – when he gradually transformed the family fruit-growing business above Hochnaturn Castle into a vineyard. Today, Falkenstein is regarded as one of South Tyrol’s most distinctive estates. The Pinot Blanc grows on dry, ancient porphyry soil, on steep south-facing slopes between 550 and 900 metres – austere, mineral, uncompromising. Hand-harvested in mid- to late September. Then comes the estate’s hallmark: fermentation in large acacia wood casks, ten months on the coarse lees. No stainless steel neutrality, no barrique influence – acacia gives the wine a delicate, creamy texture without detracting from its freshness. This is followed by around twelve months’ bottle ageing.

Straw-yellow with golden highlights. The bouquet is initially reserved and flinty, then, with a bit of air, reveals notes of golden apple, pear, citrus, liquorice and herbs. On the palate, it is juicy and supported by lively acidity – complex and spicy, with a long, salty-mineral final. The Vinschgau in a glass: rugged and delicate at the same time. SUPERIORE.DE

"A medium, bright straw-yellow colour with pale highlights. On the nose, aromas of pear, white peach and grapefruit, underpinned by almonds and lime blossom, with a hint of smokiness. On the palate, it is firm and full of vigour, with a lively mouthfeel and a long final featuring a surprising hint of saltiness." Falstaff

"The 2023 Pinot Bianco is a blend of spicy and sweet notes, with a herbaceous opening contrasted by crushed apples and hints of mint. It is dense yet fresh, with ripe fruit and a strong mineral undertone. The 2023 leaves a finish of candied citrus and camomile, ending with fantastic length." Vinous

"Zesty and mineral. Notes of citrus, grass and flint with an exuberant palate of juicy stone fruits and a long lively finish." Decanter

"A reductive and fragrant style with aromas of peach and grapefruit, dairy notes and stone fruit. Light to medium-bodied and bone-dry, it displays crisp acidity and a silky texture with no obvious yeast-induced cloudiness. A firm but refined finish." James Suckling

"Sometimes a wine transports you so completely that you can feel the altitude in your bones. This wine captures the moment when you finally reach the summit: cool mountain air swirling amongst damp stone, whilst wild herbs catch the breeze. You take a bite of the apple you’ve been saving for this view, and everything falls perfectly into place. The flavour reflects the landscape, where precise angles create something profound rather than austere. It serves as a reminder that true beauty often stems from nature’s architecture, not its gentleness. A wine that makes you understand why people climb mountains in the first place." Wine Enthusiast