Muster Gräfin 2020

Muster Gräfin comes from Sepp and Maria Muster, pioneers of biodynamic farming in southern Styria, in south-east Austria near the Slovenian border. They work a 10-hectare family estate with a philosophy of minimal intervention, letting the wine evolve naturally to preserve the character of the grapes. The Sauvignon Blanc grows on the region's slate and limestone soils, where cool nights and steep slopes give the fruit a firm acid line and herbal definition far from the tropical style of warmer Sauvignon. The grapes have extended skin contact, which transforms the variety, extracting phenolics and tannin that give the wine grip and texture, while the natural, low-sulphur winemaking and slow ageing add a savoury, faintly oxidative depth. The colour is light amber. The nose shows white peach, orange peel, dried herbs and beeswax, with chamomile and an earthy note in place of the usual green Sauvignon aromatics. The palate is dry and textured, the cool-climate acidity holding the skin grip and stone fruit through a savoury, herbal finish. Serve at 12 to 14 degrees in a wide glass.