Moric Burgenland Blaufrankisch 2023

Description

It isn’t often that someone can be credited with putting a wine growing region on the map but that is exactly what Roland Velich did when he started his Blaufränkisch ‘project’ in Großhöflein in Austria’s Burgenland. Roland comes from a Burgenland winemaking family based in Apetlon, to the east of lake Neusiedlersee, but initially stepped away from his winemaking destiny to work as a croupier. The calling of the vineyard was too strong though and in 2001 he kicked off the now legendary Moric ‘Project’ focussing on the indigenous Blaufränkisch variety.

Working with seriously old vines, that perhaps no one believed in quite as much as him, Roland set about changing the narrative of both the Burgenland & Blaufränkisch. His zeal for this terroir and the Blaufränkisch grape has mercifully been matched by vision and skill that has seen the range of wines expand from a sole lone ranger Blaufränkisch that was released in 2001 to the full suite of wines that paint a detailed picture of the complex tapestry of soils that make up the Mittelburgenland, which is also known as Blaufränkischland such is the strength of the relationship between the grape variety and the land.

This wine has been produced from 8- to 50-year-old vines from soils of limestone, primary rock, and loam in Lutzmannsburg, Zagersdorf and St Georgen and the Föllig in Wulkapodersdorf. The clarity of this wine is reinforced by its length and structure, which give it balance and ageing-potential. Harvested at a yield of 25 hectolitres per hectare, it is fermented with indigenous yeast over 17 to 21 days in stainless steel and open vats. Natural MLF and élevage in 600-4500 litre casks for 13 months. No fining, filtration or additives, except tiny quantities of sulphites. As a result, all Moric wines are vegan-friendly.

93 points, James Suckling “Supervibrant and energetic for an entry-level blaufrankisch, this knocks you back in your chair in the nicest possible way. With a little aeration in the glass, Amarena-cherry, forest-berry, clove and licorice aromas unfurl. Lovely velvety tannins on the refined, medium-bodied palate. Very clean, polished finish. Drink or hold.”

92 points, Gary Walsh, The Wine Front “Sour cherry, blackberry, dried herbs, five spice, a little sooty, peaty and peanutty too. It’s medium-bodied, has something of a sweet and sour cherry and chocolate cake flavour, a blood orange tingle to acidity, sooty tannin, feels kind of raw, but also wholesome in that way. Raspberry pip, sarsaparilla and earth closes out a lively finish of good length. It’s also quite ‘minerally’ as is the way with many Austrian reds. Distinctive and good.”

RRP $67  Our Special Price $56.99 when you buy 6 or more of this wine.