Weingut Dorli Muhr, Blaufrankisch Ried Spitzerberg Kobeln Liebkind 2019

An extraordinary, steep site, the vines are planted on hard limestone and exposed to constant cooling breezes that maintain freshness and minerality in the wines. Harvest is carried out entirely by hand and fermentations and aging takes place in large, traditional Austrian fuders with varying proportions of whole bunches. Samt & Seide is the principal wine of the estate; a pure Blaufrankisch which translates as “Velvet & Silk”. It is a blend of various parcels of vines across the Spitzerberg hill. It is an elegant and invigorating wine that absolutely over delivers on its price. As well a host of other stunning reds, including a straight Syrah, the estate also produces a Gruner Veltliner in limited volumes. It is a textured, savoury, spicy style thanks to some skin contact and a touch of Riesling in the blend.

Weingut Dorli Muhr was established in 2002 in partnership with leading Portuguese winemaker Dirk Niepoort. An early pioneer in the Carnuntum region, Dorli spotted great potential here, particularly of the magical Spitzerberg hill, and set about slowly buying-up and tending old, formerly abandoned plots and planting new vines. In Carnuntum, eastern Austria, conditions are largely warm and dry, and in deciding to focus on Blaufrankisch Dorli has brought acclaim to the region and positioned her small twelve-hectare estate as arguably the finest red wine estate in Austria. In 2015 she converted the estate to fully organic viticulture, and the subsequent appointment of Lukas Brandstatter as winemaker, has seen quality rise to a new level. In 2019, not only did Dorli become the sole owner of the estate, Ried Spitzerberg was finally recognised as an Erste Lage – recognition at last that it is one of Austria prime vineyards.