Claus Preisinger - Bonsai Red Austria Weinland 2023 750ml (11.5% abv)

only got 6 bottles!

Claus Preisinger’s winery is nestled in the village of Gols by Lake Neusiedlersee in Burgenland. Claus first started making wine with this father as a hobby, but after working with Hans Nittnaus, a neighbouring winemaker for a few years, decided that wine was his true calling. In 2004 he was one of the founding members of the Pannobile group of winemakers, a group that uses respect for the land and terroir to preserve traditions in Burgenland. His first vintage was in 2000, and since then he has expanded his father’s 3 hectares to the 17 hectares of vines he cultivates today. His vineyard work is meticulous and he is deeply in touch with his land. He uses a mixture of techniques including homeopathic teas, compost from cattle and horses and works strictly from Steiner philosophies. His vines are spread across 58 parcels and are largely planted to indigenous varieties such as Zweigelt, Blaufränkisch and St. Laurent

The grapes for this wine are from tiny vines that remind one of 'Bonsai' trees, hence the name. This is a stunning and ethereal version of Blaufrankisch. Its short whole bunch maceration has made a wine more reminiscent of jura pinot.

from morenaturalwine.com:

With the idea to make a VERY light Blaufränkisch with complexity, the barrels were marked as Bonsai before the wine name was found, then someone added the Japanese translation... someone asked Claus what he will call the wine and he replied "Well... the name is already there!" pointing to the barrel.

This is Claus Preisinger's attempt to make Blaufränkisch as light as possible whilst still being complex, inspired by his love for Jura Poulsard.

 Expect blackcurrants and sour cherries, alongside mild suggestions of sage and hints of earth. We actually blinded it to some winemaker friends in Jura.. and they guessed Poulsard!

  the tiny vines on the small Ried Rosenberg (limestone and gravel soil) used to look like bonsai trees thanks to their stock culture planting style, and needed to be farmed only by horse.

cassis, strawberry, herbal, pomegranate. a hint of smoke, gentle tannins, crunchy & lipsmacking, between light and medium bodied, delicate and complex, enjoy slightly chilled 

farming/cellar: organic, certified biodynamic, Spontaneous fermentation and vinified in amphora, then moved and Aged six months in large neutral barrels. unfined and unfiltered. low so2.