Austria
Burgenland
Lake Neusiedel/NeusiedlerseeThe estate is located in the commune of Pamhagen in the Neusiedlersee wine-growing region in Austria. It is run by Angela and Werner Michlitsch. The name is a composite of „M†(for Michlits) and „Einklang†for unison or harmony, as in â€in harmony with natureâ€. The expanded Michlitsch family runs a Pannonian mixed agricultural operation that includes viticulture, fruit farming and general farming. The vineyard area totals 55 hectares, located amongst a lot of small natural lakes with saline water. 70% of the area is planted with the red varieties Zweigelt, Blaufränkisch, Pinot Noir, St. Laurent and Roesler, the remaining 30% is planted with the white varieties Grüner Veltliner, Pinot Blanc, Pinot Gris, Welschriesling and Bouvier. Bio-dynamic principles are implemented in the vineyards, with no lack of modern technology. In this repsect, the estate has been working hand in hand with the Neusiedlersee national park for many years. Work in both the vineyards and cellar is carried out with due reference to the phases of the moon as well as of various stellar constellations. A unique feature in Austrian wine production ist he availablility of an own herd of Angus cattle on the estate. The dung produced by the herd is composted and prepared, and is used as a valuable natural fertiliser for both the vineyards and the other fields used for other types of agriculture. Herbs such as camomile, yarrow, horsetail, dandelion and stinging nettle, as well as horn dung and horn-gravel products are used to prepare teas and plant extracts as spezial protective agents for the plants. The estate has been certified as an organic producer by the DEMETER association since 2005.
Fermentation takes place using exclusively the natural wild yeasts found in the own organic vineyards. The wines are not pumped over in the cellar, both musts and wines are moved only with the aid of gravity. The premium wines include the red blend „Zwerest†(Zweigelt, St. Laurent, Pinot Noir), Blauburgunder (Pinot Noir), Blaufränkisch and Zweigelt. A real speciality is the Pinot Gris „Graupert†(dialect for „wild and unkemptâ€) from the Weißsee site, where the ancient principle of giving the vines maximum freedom is practiced, i.e. the vines are not prunded at all. An innovative addition to the range is the red wine St. Laurent 2006, which is matured in egg-shaped concrete tanks holding 600 litres each, and standin taller than a man, the wine will be released for sale in 2008. The tiny pores in the concrete allow a small and controlled exposure to oxygen (less than in an oak barrel), supporting the development of fruit-driven maturation without any use of oak. In addition, bottle-fermented sparkling wines are produced, as are spirits (ice wine spirits, apple spirits), vinegars (apple, wine) and organic fruit juices (apple, grape).
The vintage 2010 |
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Burgenland |
| Blaufränkisch, Red wine, quality wine, dry |  | Full description | Request-Form |  |
The vintage 2009 |
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Burgenland |
| Blaufränkisch, Red wine, quality wine, dry, 8.60 € |  | Full description | Request-Form | Very good (82) |
| Grauburgunder, White wine, quality wine, dry, Graupert, 13.60 € |  | Full description | Request-Form | Excellent (87) |
| St. Laurent, Red wine, quality wine, dry, 10.10 € |  | Full description | Request-Form | Excellent (85) |
| Zweigelt, Red wine, quality wine, dry, 8.60 € |  | Full description | Request-Form | Very good (81) |
The vintage 2008 |
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Burgenland |
| Weißburgunder, White wine, ice wine, sweet, 20.60 € |  | Full description | Request-Form | Excellent (87) |
The vintage 2007 |
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Burgenland |
| St. Laurent, Red wine, quality wine, dry, Konkret, Lake Neusiedel/Neusiedlersee, 30.60 € |  | Full description | Request-Form | Excellent (86) |
The vintage 2006 |
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Burgenland |
| Grauburgunder, White wine, quality wine, dry, Graupert, Lake Neusiedel/Neusiedlersee |  | Full description | Request-Form | Very good (82) |
| Zweigelt, Red wine, quality wine, dry, Lake Neusiedel/Neusiedlersee |  | Full description | Request-Form | Very good (84) |
The vintage 2005 |
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Burgenland |
| Grauburgunder, White wine, quality wine, dry, Graupert, 11.40 € |  | Full description | Request-Form | Very good (81) |
| St. Laurent, Red wine, quality wine, dry, Lake Neusiedel/Neusiedlersee |  | Full description | Request-Form | Satisfactory (79) |
The vintage 2004 |
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Burgenland |
| Blaufränkisch, Red wine, quality wine, dry, 9.10 € |  | Full description | Request-Form | Satisfactory (76) |
| Bouvier, White wine, Trockenbeerenauslese, 16.70 € |  | Full description | Request-Form | Outstanding (90) |
| St. Laurent, Red wine, quality wine, dry, 9.70 € |  | Full description | Request-Form | Satisfactory (76) |
| Zweigelt, Red wine, quality wine, dry, 8.10 € |  | Full description | Request-Form | Satisfactory (79) |
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