Leth 2023 Grner Veltliner Steinagrund Wagram is a vibrant and terroir-driven Austrian white that captures the hallmark balance of freshness, spice, and mineral depth for which the region is known. Sourced from a single hillside vineyard, the wine combines crisp citrus, orchard fruit, and classic Grner peppery lift with a refined texture and stony backbone. Bright, precise, and exceptionally food-friendly, it stands as a quintessential example of modern Wagram Grner Veltlinerstructured enough for serious wine lovers yet effortlessly drinkable.
Origins & Craftsmanship
The wine is produced by Weingut Leth, a family-run estate based in Fels am Wagram in Lower Austria, where the Leth family has been cultivating vineyards since the 1960s. The estate is a member of Traditionsweingter sterreich, a group dedicated to preserving Austrias classic vineyard sites and regional identity.
The Steinagrund vineyardwhose name translates to stony groundis a fully terraced hillside site in the Wagram DAC known for its gravelly soils covered with loess. These soils provide both drainage and mineral expression, contributing to the wines distinctive clarity and structure.
Key vineyard and winemaking details include:
- Single-vineyard origin: Ried Steinagrund in Fels am Wagram
- Altitude: roughly 220240 meters above sea level
- Soils: stony gravel layered with loess
- Average vine age: about 30 years
- Sustainable farming: no herbicides used for over 25 years and no insecticides for more than a decade
Grner Veltliner is Austrias flagship grape variety and is widely known for producing mineral-driven wines with bright acidity and distinctive savory spice.
The 2023 Steinagrund bottling emphasizes purity of fruit and vineyard expression, resulting in a wine that is both precise and layered.
Critics Reviews
James Suckling 91 Points
James Suckling awards the wine 91 points, describing it as cool and citrusy, showing notes of orange rind, lemons, nectarines and wet stones with medium body and transparency.
Tasting Profile
Nose:
Orange zest, lemon peel, nectarine, green apple, and subtle white pepper.
Palate:
Medium-bodied with vibrant citrus, orchard fruit, and a mineral-driven core supported by lively acidity.
Finish:
Clean and persistent with stony minerality, citrus oils, and a delicate peppery lift.
Quick Overview
Recommended Service
Serving Temperature:
Serve chilled at 4650F (810C).
Decanting:
Not necessary; allow the wine a few minutes in the glass to release its aromatics.
Food Pairings:
Exceptional with schnitzel, roast chicken, freshwater fish, asparagus dishes, sushi, or light Mediterranean cuisine.
