Moric Blaufrankisch Reserve 2010 / 2018 / 2021

Type: Red
Country: Austria
Region: Burgenland
Grape Variety: 100% Blaufrankisch
Rating: 95 – 96 James Suckling Points

Climate: Hot, continental Pannonian climate
Terroir: 26-60 years old vines planted on limestone soil.
Winemaking: Natural fermentation with indigenous yeasts in open vats and oak for 3-4 weeks on the skins. Aged 24 months in oak barrels 500-3600 litres

Color: Strong ruby garnet, delicate ochre reflections, discreet rim brightening
Nose: Fine herbal spice, blackberries, a hint of juniper, sloes, dark cherries, some graphite, multi-faceted bouquet
Palate: Taut, elegant, ripe red cherries, some sea buckthorn, elegant tannin dress, good freshness, mineral-salty finish, spicy-citric, good length, seems light on its feet

About the Winery:
Roland Velich is the passionate winemaker behind an Austrian red touted to rival Grand Cru Burgundy. While Austria is better known for its whites, Roland had a fascination with the unusual red grape, Blaufränkisch. So he left his family’s estate and set up Weingut Moric (pronounced Moritz) in the lesser-known Mittelburgenland, which is close to the Hungarian Border around an hour’s drive from Vienna. Such was his determination, he paid for the estate using money that he’d saved working in a casino as a croupier. Roland now seeks out high-yielding, old-vine vineyards, and vinifies the grapes as simply as possible, looking to bring out Blaufränkisch’s inherently pure, elegant character.

As a self-professed Burgundy fan, his reds echo the finesse of Grand Cru Pinot Noir, and, rather than try to over-extract fruit flavours like some of his predecessors, Roland’s wines have a cool climate quality more commonly found in fine Nebbiolo or Northern Rhône Syrah. His top wine is a blend of eight different vineyard sites and includes some of the oldest vines that surround the village of Lutzmannsburg. These are unique reds which brilliantly echo their terroir.