Rogers & Co. says you haven’t had Grüner like this before!
“Hirsch, one of the biodynamic pioneers of modern Austria, has again bottled one of the finest collections of grands crus you can find along the Danube river. His wines are moderate in alcohol, lovely, pure and tension-filled, and show a stimulating finesse and salinity.” -Stephan Reinhardt on 2014 at Weingut Hirsch, Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate, April 2016
Weingut Hirsch HEILIGENSTEIN Grüner Veltliner ($24.95, LCBO 484980) is available in limited quantities at the LCBO Vintages.
The vineyards that line the banks of Austria’s Danube River are the starting point for some of the world’s great expressions of Grüner Veltliner. Of those wines, Weingut Hirsch’s are hailed as some of the most exciting. Johannes Hirsch is a young, visionary, (self-admittedly) headstrong winemaker with a deep attachment to this region. He takes immense pride in working some of the region’s best vineyards, and is willing to take educated risks.
This is a farmstead managed by the same family for five generations since it was acquired in the 19th century. It was also the first winery in Austria to commit to screw-cap, and is fully committed to biodynamics. It’s a winery with spine and conviction and creativity with deep roots: In the 1990’s, when demand for red wine boomed in Austria and vineyards were swapping white vines for red, Johannes watched his father, Josef strike a principled course. He made the notable decision to work only with Grüner Veltliner and Riesling, understanding where the land’s true potential lay. Today, Johannes is fully dedicated to producing light, enchanting, terroir-driven wines made solely from these two varieties.
If you’d like to get to know the Hirsch style (and you should, really), consider the Heiligenstein a first step: A vibrant, racy wine made from biodynamic Grüner Veltliner grown in mineral-rich soils. It is driven and fresh, with stone fruit and white pepper. There’s a luxurious texture and length that you may not expect from Grüner, with the food-friendly ease you do. It’s Hirsch through-and-through.
“Flinty overtones signal the freshness of the wine which has yet to show its true colors. But the tight, taught, focused and zesty palate promises lots of refreshment. There is a generosity here between zest and pepper, with concentrated pear and citrus. Superclean finish.” – 92 points, Anne Krebiehl MW, Wine Enthusiast, September 2015
Weingut Hirsch is represented in Ontario by Rogers & Company. If you’re new to Rogers & Company: Welcome! Wines are sold in unmixed cases of 12, 6, or 3, depending on the item. Some wines are available by the bottle at the LCBO. Delivery is easy: We can bring the wine to your door, or you can stop by our office to pick up and meet the crew and the company dog. To learn more about Hirsch’s wines, or place an order: rogcowines.com.
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