Puszta Libre! 2024

Puszta Libre! is a young natural red from Claus Preisinger in Burgenland, on the Austrian shore of the Neusiedlersee. It is made from the native Zweigelt and Saint Laurent, both light-coloured, perfumed varieties suited to the warm but lake-moderated climate of the region, where the large shallow lake tempers the heat and lengthens the ripening season to keep acidity fresh. Preisinger farms biodynamically and organically, and the wine is made naturally with minimal intervention, vegan and bottled young to capture its fruit and energy. With no extended ageing and only 12% alcohol, the focus is on freshness rather than structure, the gentle, low-extraction handling keeping the tannins soft and the colour bright. It pours a vivid, light ruby and shows fresh strawberry, cherry and red currant with a peppery, herbal lift and a faintly earthy edge. The palate is light, juicy and vibrant, the tannins barely there and the finish clean and thirst-quenching. Serve cool at 13 to 15 degrees, with charcuterie, grilled pork, roast chicken or a tomato-based dish. It also drinks happily on its own.