Weingut Claus Preisinger - Puszta Libré - Red 2023
Claus Preisinger produces characterful wines from plots located in the heart of the Steppe (Puszta) , on the eastern shore of Lake Neusiedl in Austria . After a stint in California, Claus trained with Hans Nittaus, a pioneer in terroir viticulture and biodynamic farming methods. At the same time, he took his first steps alone on his father's 4 hectares of vines. In the autumn of 2005, an attack of botrytis definitively made him turn to biodynamic viticulture ; for both father and son, spray treatments inevitably led to vine health problems. The estate now covers 19 hectares and comprises 64 plots.
Puszta Libre is a blend of Zweigelt (60%), Saint Laurent (20%) and Pinot Noir (20%) . The must is fermented in steel vats, with 80% of the harvest undergoing semi-carbonic fermentation and the remaining 20% undergoing full carbonic fermentation. The wine is then aged for 6 months, 50% in foudres and the remaining 50% in steel vats. It is bottled without filtration or added sulfur.
Grape varieties: 60% Zweigelt, 20% Saint Laurent, 20% Pinot Noir