Description
Salomon Undhof is a family-owned winery established in 1792 in Stein on the Danube River, Austria.
The vineyard area is 30 hectares, and the Salomon family owns vineyards planted with Riesling and Grüner Veltliner in equal amounts, as well as a small amount of Gelber Traminer.
The winery uses gravity throughout the winemaking process, with hand-harvested grapes going directly to the de-stemmer or press for 3-12 hours of skin contact for single vineyard wines.
All grapes are harvested traditionally by hand only.
Salomon Undhof produces about 12,000 dozen bottles of wine each year, with a range of wines that have great power and complexity, yet with lovely finesse and a striking mineral personality.
Kremstal wine region is a fascinating and historic wine-growing area in northern Austria, one of five wine regions extending on either side of the Danube river.
The vineyards are centered around the town of Krems, downstream of Wachau DAC and boast ancient monastic vineyards and ruined thousand-year-old terraced vineyards on the slope of the valley plunging into the Krems river, joining the Danube river just east of town.
This region is one of the most challenging and rewarding wine-growing areas in Europe and has been the heart of the wine trade in Austria.
Kremstal wine region is Austria’s smallest wine area, with only 2250 hectares of grapes accounting for 5% of Austrian wine production.
The terrain and environment allow vines to perform to their full potential, with Gruner Veltliner accounting for around 60% of the vineyards in the Kremstal wine area.
Riesling is another noteworthy grape in the region, accounting for 10% of output and being distinctive and rated the best in Austria.
Gewurztraminer, Pinot Gris, Zweigelt, Chardonnay and Pinot Noir are among notable varietals.
The Kremstal wine region has a rich history dating back over a thousand years, with winemaking and viticultural tradition.
UNESCO has declared Krems’ old town as a World Heritage Site.
Located in Kremstal, Austria, the Pfaffenberg wine area is renowned for producing some of the best Riesling wines in the country.
The wines from this area are known for their great purity and long-term aging potential.
The Pfaffenberg is considered one of the best places for Riesling in the entire country due to its ideal soil and climate conditions.
The urgestein (primary rock) soils in the vineyards of Pfaffenberg are perfectly suited to Riesling, resulting in wines with a striking mineral personality.
Austrian Riesling is a world-renowned white wine grape variety that is highly prized in the wine-growing regions along the Danube river and its tributaries.
The earliest documentation of the name was in 1435 in Rüsselsheim and the variety was probably taken from wild vines on the Oberrhein (the Upper Rhine).
Riesling is a late-maturing variety, yielding highly ripe grapes in premium vineyard sites, especially in the wine-growing regions of Wachau, Kremstal, Traisental, Kamptal, Wien (Vienna), Wagram and Weinviertel.
The vineyard area for Riesling increased steadily between 1999 and 2020, making it the second most important white wine variety in Austria after Grüner Veltliner.
Riesling is a demanding grape in the vineyards, sensitive to grape stalk necrosis, stalk rot and grape Botrytis.
However, when grown successfully, Riesling is known as the king of white wines, with flavors of lime, lemon and grapefruit and a signature vein of acidity that makes it unique.
The Salomon Undhof Riesling Pfaffenberg 1ÖTW Kremstal DAC Reserve Alte Reben 2021 is a bright green-yellow wine with silver reflexes.
On the nose, it offers yellow stone fruit nuances with subtle herbal spice, a hint of rosemary, notes of anise and delicate notes of ripe tangerines, all underpinned by smoky minerality.
On the palate, it is complex and close-knit, with fine fruit sweetness and lively acidity.
Notes of ripe peach are present and the wine has good persistence, secure development potential and great length.
The fruit was hand-picked, crushed and macerated for 12 hours, then cold-settled for 36 hours.
Wild-yeast fermented for 10 weeks in stainless steel, the wine was then matured over winter on fine lees.
This wine is an excellent example of the quality and complexity that can be achieved from the Pfaffenberg wine area in Austria.
The Finer Details Style – White Wine Varietal – Riesling Country – Austria Region – Kremstal Vintage – 2021 Bottle Size – 750ml ABV – 13.5%
