Goldenits Zweigold Zweigelt, Burgenland

The Zweigelt grape is a fairly recent variety, being a cross of the St Laurent and Blaufränkisch varieties; it only began to be widely planted in the 1960s. The grapes are grown in mature vineyards, some over 30 years old, in the Lake Neusiedl sub-region of the Burgenland wine region, on black soils mixed with some stone and gravel. Much of the fermentation of the hand-harvested grapes takes place in large wooden casks, the wine also undergoes a few months ageing in similar barrels. Ruby-garnet in colour, the wine shows cherry and dark fruits, a note of violet and a touch of spice. (x)