Judith Beck Neuburger Bambule! 2020
Type: White
Country: Austria
Region: Burgenland
Grape Variety: 100% Neuburger
Alcohol Percentage: 12.5%
Viticulture: Natural Wine | Biodynamic | Certified Organic | Vegan Friendly
Climate: Warm climate defined by the Pannonian Plain to the east and the Lake
Terroir: Neuburger is an old, very traditional white grape variety of Austria. It was not very popular in the nineties and that’s why it almost disappeared. Judith’s parents used to have 25% of their vineyards planted with Neuburger, but there was none left when Judith took over. She decided in 2008 to replant just under one and a half hectares. She now has a small vineyard called Hochraitacker. It is a south-west exposed slope with gravelly soil, very near the Altenberg, on the western part of Gols.
Ageing: The grapes are destemmed and slightly crushed by foot. They are macerated 5 to 10 days on the skins. After that they are pressed in a small basket press and racked into seven, 10-12 year old, neutral, barriques where they did both alcoholic and malolactic fermentation. The Neuburger is kept on its entire lees for about one year, without any stirring of the lees to enhance freshness. The wine is bottled without any fining or filtration or use of sulfites. 2000 bottles produced.
Color: Golden yellow with orange hints
Nose: Aromatic with notes of field herbs, passionfruit and lychee
Palate: Soft tannins on the palate with mild acidity and good length
About the Winery:
The Judith Beck estate is based in the Burgenland commune of Gols, in the Neusiedlersee region, on the eastern – and warmest — side of the Lake Neusiedl. Gols is part of the larger Burgenland region in easternmost Austria, which enjoys a very warm climate defined by the Pannonian Plain to the east and the Lake. Lake Neusiedl’s depth is only 1.5 meters and its water temperature can reach 90 degrees F. in the summer. Indeed, this is Austria’s warmest wine growing area, the first to harvest, and the production centre of its finest full-bodied, dry red wines.
Judith’s parents, Matthias and Christine Beck, founded the family estate in 1976. Judith Beck made her first vintage in 2001 and in 2004 she assumed full control of the winery. After graduating from the Klosterneuburg Viniculture College Judith Beck gained international experience at world-renowned wineries, including Chateau Cos d’Estournel in Bordeaux, Braida in Piedmont and Errazuriz in Chile. Managing the family winery comes naturally to Judith who has an innate “sixth-sense” feel for the regional varieties Zweigelt, Blaufrankisch and St. Laurent.
Judith Beck owns a total of 13.5 hectares of vines in Gols, with holdings in the vineyard sites of Altenberg, Gabarinza, Salzberg and Schafleiten. 85% of the area is planted to red varieties – Blauer Zweigelt, Blaufrankisch, St. Laurent, Pinot Noir and Merlot, with the remaining 15% planted to white varieties – Welschriesling, Pinot Blanc and Chardonnay. In addition, grapes are brought in from another 5 hectares in the communes of Apetlon, Halbturn and Winden, and used in the production of the basic red wines. Vines are planted at high densities of up to 7,000 vines per hectare to limit yields and ensure ripe fruit at harvest time. Soils range from loam and clay on the lower vineyards to limestone, higher up on the ridges. All grapes are hand-harvested.
The Becks built a new modern and functional winery and ageing cellar in 2005. It allows Judith to manipulate her wines as little as possible in the vinification process, resulting in wines that show the pure and vivid expression of the varietal and the unique vintage character. Judith Beck’s wines are at once elegant, fruit-forward and complex expressions of her vineyards.
