PINOT NOIR Erwin Sabathi
“Fine and silky on the finish – PINOT NOIR – A grandiose new wine from Patrizia and Erwin Sabathi.”
(Jakob Schillinger)
Pössnitzberg is very important for our winery. The conditions are perfect for the French grape varieties Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc and also boasts the best prerequisites for the Burgundian grape variety Pinot Noir. We are almost the sole winegrowers on Pössnitzberg. Our vineyards there show soil conditions that are unique in Austria and very similar to those that allow these wines to grow in their original homeland: extremely poor, chalky soils in combination with other special soil structures that are also prevalent in Burgundy. Due to an inclination of up to 75%, this vineyard needs to be cultivated almost by hand. So it was clear for us, that we fulfilled a personal lifelong dream and planted the magnificent grape variety Pinot Noir. Pinot Noir reacts very sensitively to differences in soil type and microclimate and is therefore particularly suitable for absorbing the specific terroir. And this presents exactly our philosophy: “Our wines reflect our terroir.”
On the one hand, our Pinot Noir is characterised by pressing according to the traditional Burgundian method, on the other hand, it impresses by the noble emblem of Patrizia and Erwin Sabathi on the bottle label: “On the helmet with black and golden blankets, a gold-fringed black cushion, on which two golden lions, red armored and tongued facing and together holding a silver shell.”
Pinot Noir is not integrated in the Südsteiermark DAC system. According to this rule, the origin (Pössnitzberg) is not indicated on the bottle label.
Pinot Noir
10 years and longer
This vineyard is protected by warm winds on the one hand and the cool air stream from the western Koralpe on the other. Significant temperature differences result in an independent and unique aroma development.
Pössnitzberg is located on the southern part of the "West Styrian Bay" of the Styrian Basin. In former times (in the Neogene), several 1000 meter thick marine sediments have been deposited there. These deposits, also called "Steirischer Schlier", are clayey up to fine sandy, gray-green coloured marls including plant fossils and sandstone interstratifications. These scarce and very chalky soils, called “Opok” (chalky marl), are characterised by a humous topsoil formed by weathering, which often does not exceed a height of 20 centimeters, and firm sedimentary rocks.