Stiftsweingut Heiligenkreuz - Freigut Thallern

Thallern 1 2352 Gumpoldskirchen Wine region: Lower Austria/Niederösterreich District: Thermen region Phone: +43 2236 53477 Fax: +43 2236 534775 Internet: www.freigut-thallern.at Manager: Michael Koch Managing director: - Cellar master: Karl Alphart, Leo Aumann, Erich Polz Cultivated area: 30.00 ha

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Contact Stiftsweingut Heiligenkreuz - Freigut Thallern

The „Heiligenkreuzer Klosterweingut - Freigut Thallern” estate is located in the Thermenregion wine growing region in Lower Austria. It has a long tradition, and is one of the oldest wineries in Austria. It is located just outside (2 kilometres) the well-knowen wine-producing town of Gumpoldskirchen. Shortly before his death, margrave Leopold IV. (1108-1141) – son of Leopold III. the Holy – made a donation. He ceremoniously handed the village of Thallern, which at the time was inhabited by fourteen familes, ”for all times” to the Cistercians of the Stift Heiligenkreuz monastery. At the time, the property consisted of six ”Huben”, eight-and-a-half vineyards and 4 farm buildings. The name of the village goes back to the word Tal, or valley, as it is located in a gentle depression. It has been managed by the monastery without interruption since the 18th of October 1141. In accordance with religious regulations, the wine-producing village was converted to a grange (from the Latin word for store-house), and run as an abbey property, with the work done by lay monks. Saint John the Baptist was honoured as patron of the grange’s chapel, which was erected in the main building complex. The Cistericans modelled the estate on the famous example of Clos de Vougeot in Burgundy in France, which leads to associations with this famous wine-growing region. Today, Michael Koch is the responsible manager and cellar master of the Freigut Thallern estate. The vineyards are located at the foot of the Eichkogel hill, the vineyard area totals 33 hectares in some of the best vineyard sites in Austria. These sites include the Alte Ried, Hans-Michl, Hofbreite, Kräftacker, Pfennigacker, Pilzing, Ronald, Student as well as the Wiege, which is first mentioned in 1274. 60% of the area is planted with the white varieties Zierfandler, Rotgipfler, Riesling, Pinot Gris, Pinot Blanc and Chardonnay, the remaining 40% is planted with the red varieties Pinot Noir, St. Laurent and Zweigelt. The premium wines include the Spätrot-Rotgipfler Hofbreite, Pinot Noir Garten, St. Laurent Ausstich Ronald, Messwein (communion wine) Zierfandler Wiege and Chardonnay Pilzing. In addition, bottle-fermented Riesling sparkling wines as well as fruit-based and grappa-style spirits are also produced. The estate also owns property in the Neusiedlersee wine-growing region in Burgenland, in the communes of Mönchhof, Podersdorf and Winde, these have been leased out.

The vintage 2009
What a grand introduction for those newly responsible at this estate with its long tradition. After many years of stagnation with some really poor wines, the 2009 range presented is a demonstration of the potential available here. What is particularly impressive is how uncompromising the focus on varietal character and origin is. Nothing is given away to a false internationalism, the abilities concentrated here serve only to bring out the core values of the wines. Elegance and minerality are given precedence over power and body, character is more important than simple varietal features, nuances are stressed, and the characteristics of the excellent vineyard sites are clearly evident. We can only offer our congratulations on this excellent performance, and look forward to future vintages.
Lower Austria/Niederösterreich
White wine, quality wine, dry, Messwein
	Full description	Request-Form	Very good (81)
White wine, quality wine, dry, Thallern Tradition
	Full description	Request-Form	Very good (84)
White wine, quality wine, dry, Wiege
	Full description	Request-Form	Excellent (87)
Pinot Noir, Red wine, quality wine, dry
	Full description	Request-Form	Excellent (86)
Rotgipfler, White wine, quality wine, dry, Selektion
	Full description	Request-Form	Excellent (87)
Rotgipfler, White wine, quality wine, dry, Student
	Full description	Request-Form	Excellent (88)
St. Laurent, Red wine, quality wine, dry, Ronald
	Full description	Request-Form	Excellent (87+)
St. Laurent, Red wine, quality wine, dry, Selektion
	Full description	Request-Form	Very good (84+)
The vintage 2005
Lower Austria/Niederösterreich: Gumpoldskirchen
Hofbreite, Riesling, White wine, quality wine, dry, Classic, Thermen region, 6.00 €
	Full description	Request-Form	Satisfactory (76)
The vintage 2003
Lower Austria/Niederösterreich: Gumpoldskirchen
Hans-Michl, St. Laurent, Red wine, quality wine, Ausstich, Thermen region, 12.00 €
	Full description	Request-Form	Very good (82)
Pfennigacker, Blauburgunder, Red wine, quality wine, Thermen region, 6.50 €
	Full description	Request-Form	Satisfactory (77)