This gorgeous, fresh, vibrant, broad Grüner Veltliner comes from the Kremstal region in Austria and is what some might call a "Somm wine," with its zippy, food-ready acidity. It's a fresh and bright, mouth-watering style of Grüner that begins to show more culinary herbal characteristics so associated with this variety, like aromas of papayas, orange pith, grapefruit and nutmeg, and a wild and flavorful palate, with some salty elements, a medium body and a fun and juicy finish. It's a superb all-rounder of a white that is delicious with a very wide range of cuisine.
Winemaker Michael Malat comes from a winemaking family with roots in Kremstal all the way back to 1722. Malat, believes in the natural purity of wine, thereby not changing the profile of the grape. He uses no irrigation, planting his vines intensively, minerality coming from the terroir. He uses no Botrytis, and if present he will take it out. Natural fermentation needs cloudiness, nutrients and yeasts -- this can't be done with botrytis. An abundance of small tanks in the winery allow all blocks to be fermented separately.
Located in the Kremstal region, the Malat Estate sits on the hillside of Gottweiger Berg where the vineyards benefit from a microclimate regulated by the Danube River, with hot days and cool nights. With its soil composition of loess, gravel and primary rock, the Malat estate has plots of vineyard that express the different terroir and flavour profiles of the Gruner Veltliner and Riesling grapes. Crazy Creatures Gruner Veltliner comes from vineyards around the village of Palt from organically farmed grapes.
The harvest is handpicked. Fermentation is done in steel tanks. Maturing occurs in large, used wooden barrels.
