Description
Weingut Gesellmann Blaufränkisch hochberc 2022 – a powerful, refined and terroir-driven Austrian Blaufränkisch.
Weingut Gesellmann is a family-owned winery located in the town of Deutschkreutz, in Austria’s Mittelburgenland region. The family has been cultivating vines here since 1719, but it became more widely recognised in the 1970s. Engelbert Gesellmann was one of the pioneers of Austria’s red wine revolution. He was among the first in Austria to experiment with barrique ageing and international grape varieties, creating the iconic “Opus Eximium” and “Bela Rex” wines. In 1992, the winery was taken over by his son Albert Gesellmann, who further focused on expressing the potential of Blaufränkisch and producing high-quality red wines. Since 2015, the estate has been organically certified. Today, Gesellmann owns around 50 hectares of vineyards, the majority of which are planted with red grape varieties.
“Hochberc” is one of Gesellmann’s flagship expressions of Blaufränkisch, showcasing the depth, structure and ageing potential. The wine comes from carefully selected vineyards from Mittelburgenland. Here, the Pannonian climate provides warm, sunny conditions that encourage full ripening. Moreover, the region’s diurnal temperature variation helps preserve freshness and aromatic complexity.
Made from 100% Blaufränkisch, the wine combines ripe fruit concentration with the characteristic freshness and spicy complexity of the variety. The 2022 vintage was marked by a mild and dry winter, a warm spring and a hot summer. Rainfall during the growing season provided the vines with sufficient water reserves, while the harvest was completed under predominantly sunny and warm conditions. The wine is spontaneously fermented and aged for 24 months in 500-litre wooden barrels, allowing the fruit, tannins and oak to integrate gradually while preserving the character of the variety.
Tasting Notes:
The wine displays a deep ruby-garnet colour with a dark core and vivid purple reflections.
The nose is intense yet refined, revealing fresh forest berries, sour cherries and ripe red cherries, complemented by blackberry confit, candied orange peel and delicate floral notes reminiscent of violets. Subtle herbal spice and carefully integrated oak add further complexity.
On the palate, the wine is juicy, powerful and multifaceted, with beautifully ripe red and dark fruit supported by vibrant acidity and a refined tannic structure. Ripe cherries dominate, accompanied by forest berries, blackberry and delicate spicy nuances. The tannins are velvety and well integrated, while subtle notes of nougat add richness and depth. The finish is long, precise and distinctly saline, leaving a lingering mineral impression. Falstaff awarded the 2022 vintage 97 points, highlighting its finesse, complexity, supporting tannins, saline character and ageing potential.
Serving:
Weingut Gesellmann Blaufränkisch hochberc 2022 is already approachable, but its concentration, acidity and tannic structure give it excellent potential for further development in bottle.
We recommend serving it at 16–18°C in a large Bordeaux-style or spacious red wine glass. Decanting for approximately 1 hour is recommended when serving the wine young, allowing its layered fruit, spice and mineral character to open fully.
It pairs beautifully with SOMM Beef antrecote, slow-cooked beef cheek, venison, game, lamb, duck, grilled or roasted red meats, truffle dishes and mature hard cheeses. Its combination of ripe fruit, freshness and firm but polished tannins makes it particularly well suited to rich, intensely flavoured dishes.
More Information:
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