Fred Loimer - Brut Rosé Reserve

ROBERT PARKER Rating: 91
Reviewed by Stephan Reinhardt
Issue Date 28th Apr 2016
The Loimer NV Brut Rosé is a pale salmon-colored, very delicate and finesse-full sparkling wine from different vineyard sites in Langenlois (Kamptal) and Gumpoldskirchen (Thermenregion) - both located in Lower Austria (Niederösterreich). This wine is based on Zweigelt (64%) and Pinot Noir (36%) from the 2013 harvest, bottled in July 2014 and disgorged in October 2015 with five grams of dosage. This traditional Österreichischer Sekt offers very delicate cherry and red berry flavors on the fresh and floral-scented nose, with its fine brioche flavors. Medium-bodied, fresh and dry, this lovely Rosé Brut reveals a lovely purity and great finesse, and finishes with grip and fine tannins. This is perfect to drink as an aperitif, but can also match lighter dishes, based on freshwater fish.

Vineyard
Sites: Langenlois & Gumpoldskirchen
Elevation: 250 - 350 m
Soil composition: loess, gneiss, sediments & limestone gravel
Climate: pannonian, continental
Yield per hectare: 25 hl / ha
Cultivation method: biological-organic & biological-dynamic

Cellar
Harvest: selective harvest by hand in 20kg crates middle of September
Maceration time: no
Pre-clarifying: sedimentation 36 - 48 hours

Fermentation: Spontaneous fermentation in stainless steel tanks at 18-20° C, 2 - 4 weeks
Aging: in stainless steel tanks on fine lees for 6 months

Second fermentation
Bottling: July 3, 2014
Lees aging: 14 months
First disgorgement date: September 3, 2015
Dosage: 5 g/l
SO2 addition: 20 mg/l after malolactic fermentation; 0 mg/l at disgorgement
Bottle aging: between 6 & 18 months after disgorgement

Wine
Fine Austrian Grower Sekt has been made in Langenlois for decades. Several established masters of the town's sparkling wine fraternity have lifted and maintained the quality of sparkling wine from the Kamptal. Up until 1998, Sekt was also part of the Loimer portfolio. Now, after a thirsty 17-year long break, we reintroduce traditional method-made sparkling wines which, for the first time, Fred Loimer has made with a little help from Andreas Wickhoff MW who has been assisting in the base wine production, the blending process and the marketing. These wines originate in vineyard sites located in Langenlois and Gumpoldskirchen and have been produced according to the biodynamic guidelines of the winegrowers‘ association Respekt. Three sparkling wines have been produced by the "méthode traditionelle" - the classic second fermentation in the bottle - for now and serve to nicely reinforce the importance of Langenlois as the pinnacle of Austrian Grower Sekt production.

Tasting: Intriguing colour and elegant aroma, reminiscent of fine cherry fruit, some floral accents along with a refreshing red berry note, some leesy notes accompany these fruit and floral characters; refreshing purity in the mouth with lots of liveliness, the rose petal and fine red fruit notes are supported by a crisp acid structure, there is good vibrancy to be found due to a well-judged dosage level and very well integrated mousse all the way to the long and balanced finale. A superbly expressive, yet silky Sekt!
Maturation potential: from disgorgement date up to 2 years
Serving temperature: 8-10°C
Vegan: yes

Data
Origin: Niederösterreich
Quality grade: Österreichischer Sekt g.U.
Vintage: 2013
Grape variety: 64% Zweigelt & 36% Pinot Noir
Alcohol: 12% vol
Residual sugar: 6 g/l
Acidity: 7 g/l
SO2 total: < 30 mg/l
Must weight: 73,1° - 80,9° Oechsle
EAN Code: 9120009727515 | 9120009727539 | 9120009727553
Available in: 0,375 l | 0,75 l | 1,5 l
Control: by Lacon
BIO Status: organic sparkling wine | AT-BIO-402