Strohmeier TLZ Sonne Nº9 2020

Strohmeier is run by Christine and Franz Strohmeier in western Styria, the green heart of Austria, where they farm eight hectares with the aim of expressing their terroir as naturally as possible. The TLZ Sonne, short for Trauben, Liebe und Zeit, or grapes, love and time, is a Sauvignon Blanc grown on the cool, high-rainfall slopes of the region, where slow ripening and firm acidity define the fruit. The wine is made with light skin contact, a gentle maceration on the grape skins that gives texture, a faint amber tone and a touch of grip while keeping the variety clear and fresh. It then spends eleven months in oak barrels, where slow oxygen exchange and lees contact add breadth without heavy oak flavour, leaving the wine bright at a modest 12 percent alcohol. The colour is pale gold. The nose shows green apple, lemon, white peach and white flowers, with a herbal, grassy edge true to Sauvignon. The palate is dry and fresh, the light tannin giving grip to a clean, saline finish. Serve at 10 to 12 degrees. It pairs with white fish, roast chicken and fresh goat cheese.