The Martin Hugl Estate
This is a young family-run winery located in the north-east of Austria, in Ketzelsdorf-Poysdorf. The owners Sylvia and Martin Hugl aim to produce fruity, full-bodied wines that are typical of the region and the soils. They make use of the experience of their parents and combine it with their know-how and modern techniques to create high-quality wines. To keep quality high they limit quantity by cutting back, thinning, and green harvesting. A careful handling of the grapes during harvesting is as necessary, along with a cool fermentation in the cellar.
Total production in 2009 was 340,000 liters: 76% white, 24% red (actually no rose and sparkling wine, production - rose is planned for vintage 2010)
For the European market they use only varietal names and offer two types of wines made from Grüner Veltliner: Weinviertel DAC – a regional brand with specially controlled quality and rules for selling it, and Grüner Veltliner classic as a second type of Grüner.
Names of their Grüner Veltliner single vineyards, and quantities produced:
Zapfersberg: 5,000 liters
Rösselberg: 15,000 liters
Waldberg: 25,000 liters
Unführ: 3,000 liters
Luss: 3,000 liters
Baumfeld: 3,000 liters
Junge Geringen: 10,000 liters
Alte Geringen: 15,000 liters
The Martin Hugl Vineyard
In addition to using the best cellar technologies, they emphasize the work in the vineyards and the soils. Prime south- and south-west-facing hillsides and the loam soil ideally suited for wine growing are the basic conditions for high quality. They own and cultivate 22 hectares of vineyards and cooperate additionally with several partners who are cultivating grapes according to their quality targets. They buy grapes from 25 hectares of vineyards.
Grüner Veltliner is the most widely planted grape variety in Austria, accounting for 37% of the country's total vineyard area, about 50,875 acres. Most of these vines are in the large wine region known as Niederösterreich (Lower Austria), along the Danube River, north of Vienna. It also grows in a few other Eastern European countries, such as Slovakia, Yugoslavia and the Czech Republic, but the variety is most closely associated with Austria, where it has been cultivated since Roman times. Grüner Veltliner is the indigenous variety of Austria.
Despite its relative youth, Zweigelt is actually an Austrian classic. This variety was created in 1922, when Dr. Fritz Zweigelt crossed two grapes - St Laurent and Blaufränkisch. Originally, it was intended for the new variety to be called Rotburger, referring to the place where it was born, Klosterneuburg. But this name never took hold, and instead, Zweigelt was named after the man who was the key in its development.
Today, Zweigelt is the most widely planted red variety in Austria, growing in nearly 9% of this country's vineyards. It is a robust grape, highly resistant to dryness, frost and various diseases.
The wine boasts a pale rosé color, it has plenty of fruity aromas, with red cherry and wild strawberry flavors. It is medium-bodied, but it still have a nice long and pleasant finish with a light cinnamon type of spice to it.
Only the best grapes are harvested with a lot of experience and know-how and further processed. The grapes are fermented directly gently pressed and cooled. The fermentation takes place exclusively in stainless steel tanks.
Perfectly at home on any picnic, delicious with fried chicken, and tames the heat when paired with spicy dishes. There is also a slight watermelon note that makes it perfect for spring and summer. A great pairing with barbecued shrimp.
SALE!
Hugl Zweigelt Secco Rose is made from 100% Zweigelt
Despite its relative youth, Zweigelt is actually an Austrian classic. This variety was created in 1922, when Dr. Fritz Zweigelt crossed two grapes - St Laurent and Blaufränkisch. Originally, it was intended for the new variety to be called Rotburger, referring to the place where it was born, Klosterneuburg. But this name never took hold, and instead, Zweigelt was named after the man who was the key in its development.
Today, Zweigelt is the most widely planted red variety in Austria, growing in nearly 9% of this country's vineyards. It is a robust grape, highly resistant to dryness, frost and various diseases.
Lively, fruity bouquet of strawberry, cherry and floral aromas. Refreshing and beautifully balanced, this is a great wine to enjoy as an aperitif. This is a Secco for the whole day and the whole night
The wine is made of 100% Zweigelt grapes of 15-35 years old (25 years old in avarage).
The soil is mainly loam and loess.
It is made using the Charmat method and the wine is aged for 3 months on the lees in stainless steel tanks.
The wine is slightly filtered before bottling.
Drink by itself as an aperitif, it is also a great picnic or brunch wine and will be a good pick to celebrate any occasion.
Johann Michel Cornas Cuvee Jana is 100% Syrah.
Black raspberry aromas, licorice, sizzled bacon and smoke. Elegant and pure with depth and well-integrated tannins.
Jana is the name of Johann and Emmanuelle's daughter.
Manual harvest, selection of the grapes from the "Chaillot" parcel, full clusters, fermentation in tanks for 3 weeks, daily remontage and pigeage. Malolactic fermentation in oak barrels and aging on the lees for 12-18 months in barrels (new old barrels) The average age of the vines is 11 years. Yield: 25 hl/ha
Review:
"Dark purple. Highly perfumed, oak-spiced black and blue fruits, incense, vanilla and potpourri on the hugely perfumed nose, along with hints of licorice, smoked meat and mocha. Stains the palate with concentrated, spice-laced blueberry, cassis, cherry-vanilla and espresso flavors that turn sweeter as the wine opens up. Broad, polished tannins add shape to a strikingly long, smoke- and spice-driven finish that strongly echoes the floral and blue fruit notes. - Josh Raynolds"
- Antonio Galloni's Vinous (December 2022), 97 pts
There are afternoons with indigo skies when we approach one of the oldest plots of the estate. Our stroll from the winery follows a line of cypress trees to the corner of a path. This angle gives its name to our most exceptional vineyard.
El Picón is the great symbol and the most profound reality. The sum of enigmas in a beautiful, pure fruit. The wine of silence and intimate joy, an eternal taste in which generations, labours and nature’s favors culminate.
Grapes from the plot of El Picón, one of the oldest at the Pago de los Capellanes estate in Pedrosa de Duero.
22 months in 225-litre, extra-fine grain French oak barrels dried over 60 months.
Pago de los Capellanes Finca El Picón is a mature red wine with intense aromas of red and black fruit from the forest accompanied by deep balsamic notes and spicy touches provided by aging. In the mouth it is meaty, deep and very balanced. A medium to full-bodied wine with vibrant acidity and fine, velvety tannins. The finish is long and very persistent.
1.6 hectares of clay loam soil with surface gravel. Very poor fertility and very low vineyard yields.