Weingut Moric Kirchberg Lutzmannsburg 2020

Weingut Moric Kirchberg Lutzmannsburg 2020

Moric
$98.00

Grape: Blaufränkisch
Vintage: 2020
Type: Red

This single-vineyard red wine is a focused expression of old-vine blaufränkisch from the Ried Kirchberg parcel in Lutzmannsburg. Winemaker Roland Velich utilizes low-intervention protocols on the limestone-heavy soils to maximize site transparency. The hand-harvested grapes undergo spontaneous fermentation with ambient wild yeasts in open-top wooden vats, minimizing mechanical extraction. The liquid matures for several months in large neutral oak casks to naturally refine its fine-grained structure.

It pours a translucent ruby color, opening with aromas of wild dark cherries, blueberries, dried thyme, and violet petals. On the palate, the athletic, medium-bodied frame pairs pure fruit flavors with a firm backbone of chalky tannins. A vibrant wave of natural acidity cuts through the center, keeping the profile beautifully fresh. A characteristic saltiness develops nicely as the texturally clean mouthfeel expands across the tongue. Overall, it cleanly finishes long, dry, and persistent.

Moric is Roland Velich's project in Burgenland, and one of the estates most responsible for restoring Blaufrankisch to serious conversation. Instead of treating the grape as a simple, fruit-driven red, Velich approached it with the sensitivity usually reserved for Burgundy: old vines, specific villages, restrained extraction and aging that emphasizes structure over gloss. The wines come from places such as Lutzmannsburg and Neckenmarkt, where limestone, schist and old vine material give Blaufrankisch depth, spice and nerve. Moric's best bottles are savory and transparent, proving that Austria's great red grape can be both intellectual and deeply pleasurable.