Falstaff Weinguide 2007/08

Press

This is what really makes great winemakers: “Whether a small vintage or a terrific year, you can always rely on them.

And for years now you can count on the Kollwentz family at every tasting – dealing with whatever style and variety. At the white burgundy tasting organized by Falstaff Magazine in summer, the tasters clearly were in agreement about one wine. And that is why the winner of the “Burgundy Barrique Trophy 2006“ was the Kollwentz family from Großhöflein as in the years before. This time, the panel opted for Ried Gloria, last year Tatschler won.

The category of classic Chardonnays of the 2005 vintage was won by the Chardonnay vom Leithagebirge. While in 2005 the Cabernet Sauvignon triumphed over its varietal competitors at the Falstaff Red Wine Award, this year the jurors selected Kollwentz´s Blaufränksich Point 2003 as the best wine of the Reserve Trophy.

Anton Kollwentz – the senior – is the pioneer of Cabernet Sauvignon in Austria, having triggered a real Cabernet boom by his Falstaff awards in 1984 and 1985. Andi Kollwentz – the junior – is the decathlete among Austria’s vintners, being a dab hand at the most diverse disciplines and ranking on top in every category. The Kollwentz red wine range is dominated by Blaufränkisch and Zweigelt.

The traditional Blaufränkisch grape, with its vigor and spice, forms the spine of the cuvees Steinzeiler and Eichkogel, yet also produces first-class varietal wines like the Blaufränkisch “Vom Leithagebirge” and that labeled “Point”. The latter scored 95 points at the recent Reserve Trophy. Zweigelt, with its dark-berry fruit, elegance and suppleness, produces multi-layered reds, both as the varietal wine “Föllikberg” and as blends, where it constitutes the harmonizing element.

Worthy of particular note is the Sauvignon Blanc from the single vineyard Steinmühle, whose flintstone soil offers the optimum conditions for this savory variety. From the latter as well as from Chardonnay and Welschriesling, small quantities of refined noble-sweet wines are crafted year after year, which can be traced back to the 1963 vintage in the Kollwentzes’ private library