Markus Altenburger rot - About the closing of circles
“Those grapes were heroes” With this quote there was a new title born for a new wine, which you can still find on the back label auf the “Markus Altenburger red Leithaberg DAC”.
Our heroic saga has a good outcome, but the way there was not so easy. When people think about the vintage 2014, they always think about the immense rainfall in September, which forced the wine makers to harvest. The rain was not the only problem in Jois, there was a hailstorm, which swept across Gritschenberg and most of Ried Satz (more about this vineyard you can find on our blog “Blaufränkisch vom Kalk”). Also, the young vines on Jungenberg were harmed and therefore we had no chance to produce the most important single vineyard wines. We did not destem the grapes and fermented them as a whole, because we did not want to torture them anymore. In this way we got to know a new technique and use it since then for our premium Blaufränkisch.
Next to the “Helden” on the label you can also find the official BIO-/organic logo for the first time. We could make the most out of the sensational vintage 2017 and produced powerful wines with expression, moderate alcohol, drinkability and enjoyment. The 2017 vintage of Jungenberg, Gritschenberg (find the blog entry here) and the terroir cuvée from the four vinyards “Markus Altenburger rot” belong to the highlights of the last 10 years.
If you ask yourself, where the Leithaberg DAC with its beautiful blue capsule disappeared, we have to strike out a little bit:
From 2014 to 2016 we had two wines in the same price category: the wild, tumultuous whole berry fermented “Helden”-Blaufränkisch-Landwein and the more serious, classy, typical dark cherry Leithaberg Blaufränkisch. In the vintage 2017 we melted them together.
The winery developed: headwords like organic agriculture, low intervention wine making, whole berry fermentation and purism are getting more and more important. You could call the style and the orientation postmodern. However, there were a lot of changes in the Leithaberg association at the same time.
Innovative wine makers and an open attitude towards wines which are not like the traditional ones make it possible for a wine like the Helden Blaufränkisch to get an official approving number. There is no need to bottle wines separately and with the vintage 2017 we are now closing the circle.
A wine law approved, creative individualism? Yes, that is possible in our region!
Here you can find the Markus Altenburger red in our online shop!
