2022 Weingut Grassl Carnuntum St. Laurent

90% Sankt Laurent, 10% Pinot Noir, all certified organic and farmed on stony, lime-rich gravel soils up to 35 years old. Fermented with native yeast and aged in a mix of stainless steel tanks and old oak barrels. 12.5% alcohol.

Medium bodied and soft, this super-smooth wine is a versatile wine at the table. It pours a deep, dark color and shows off notes of fresh red cherry fruit, blackberry, clove and pepper.  Dry, with light tannins and fresh acidity.

Since its origins in the 18th century, wine has always been a part of the Grassl family’s endeavors. The first recorded bottling occurred in the 1950s, though it wasn’t until the 1970s that wines of any quality emerged. However, it wasn’t until after 2006, when young Philipp Grassl took over, that the winery would ascend into the ranks of truly serious producers in the region.  Today, the estate remains family-run, with the Philipp’s parents still at the winery and a small enough team that everyone does a bit of everything. The family farms 66 acres, focusing on Zweigelt, Blaufränkisch and St. Laurent.

Grassl’s vineyard philosophy is simple and direct: Let the vineyard speak, as Philipp puts it. They have been certified organic since 2015 and utilize biodynamic preparations. Grassl vineyards are dry-farmed and employ cover crops like legumes and clover to deliver nitrogen to the soil’s organic matter and protect the soil from both sun exposure and erosion. Unsurprisingly, Philipp’s approach in the cellar mirrors his philosophy in the vineyard—maximum low intervention, as he says. The focus is entirely on pure fruit: No yeast, bacteria, enzymes, or fining are employed. A tiny amount of sulfur is used for protection but applied as minimally as possible.