SIGNUM BLANC currently presents 5 wines:
- Sauvignon Blanc "Turmalin" 2018
- Morillon (Chardonnay) "Turmalin" 2018
- Grauburgunder (Pinot gris) "Turmalin" 2018
- Weißburgunder (Pinot Blanc) "Turmalin" 2017 and 2018
SAUVIGNON BLANC “TURMALIN”
2018
Maître Sommelier Gerhard Retter describes this wine:
“The Sauvignon Blanc convinces with balance and finesse. On the nose, delicate notes of elderflower, gooseberry, apple and white currant. A very clear, fresh, vibrant and at the same time ripe wine. Very balanced with a fine acidity and extremely complex structure. In addition, a hint of roughness and coolness, reminiscent of mint and fennel paired with an almost peppery spiciness. You can literally smell its terroir in the nose. Very round and polished on the palate – a total work of art.”
“Simply a synthesis of the arts.”
The first act: A balanced impression
The Signum Sauvignon Blanc convinces with its balance and finesse. The depth of colour is medium golden yellow, lemon yellow, it has strong, complex streaks, is clean and pure-toned. On the nose, this white wine shows delicate notes of elderflower, gooseberry, apple, pear, grapefruit and hints of peach, young mango, pineapple and white currant. The aromas are fine and complex. Overall, the wine is very clear, fresh and vibrant, but at the same time ripe, which characterises the goodness of this wine. It is very balanced, has a fine acidity and a very complex structure. In addition, there is a hint of smokiness and a coolness that is somewhat reminiscent of mint and fennel, paired with an almost peppery spiciness. You can literally smell its origin, its terroir, the mineral scent of the flints, the pebbles, the wet stones in the river, combined with a hint of smokiness. On the palate, the wine is really very round and polished. Simply a total work of art.
The second act: the wine breathes and wins.
At the beginning, the wine is a bit more “barren”, straightforward, steely, but after a few hours in the air, it comes out more powerful and punchy on the palate. This enriches the wine enormously. In intensity, it is “medium plus”, a decidedly complex wine. The primary fruit is clear, with the first beginnings of secondary fruit, which comes from the yeast storage. The yeast and barrel notes show up nicely present in the overall complexity. Acidity, alcohol, body and flavour intensity are medium plus. The wine is still young, of course, but still has enormous ageing potential.
The nice thing is: the Sauvignon Blanc has a very long finish. A sign of quality. A main aroma in the wine, especially at the beginning, is physalis, finesse-rich and elegant. The wine gains insanely in complexity and melting with time, it seems riper and rounder with air and time. It is a very beautiful example of Sauvignon Blanc, which does not deny its origin, remains true to it but has nevertheless enjoyed a worldly education. In style, this is also close to the Loire for me. A very good wine, flawless and crystal clear. It definitely has the necessary substance to stand up to the great Sauvignon Blancs of this world.
The third act: stable enjoyment
The next day, the wine has continued to develop and it is still stable. It drinks well. In terms of fruit, the fennel aroma has come to the fore a little, but there remains this coolness, this balance and this crispness. There is not only substance, but also lingering. The wine has a really nice “grip”, it has profile. It is really great, great even. Like its terroir, the steep and proud Kreuzberg in southern Styria.
My drinking tip:
It is best to take a Burgundy glass for this drop. The balloon-shaped goblet gives the wine more air and allows its aromas to fully develop. As a result, a little more peach aromas come out and it also retains that stoniness, the flint and pebble notes on the palate.”
MORILLON “TURMALIN”
2018
Maître Sommelier Gerhard Retter describes this wine:
“A very young wine with a wonderful acid and tannin structure. On the nose there are fine aromas of acacia, camomile, ripe yellow fruity aromas like pear, apple, quince but also a hint of fresh mint and fennel notes. There are also natural notes of wood ageing like biscuit or brioche. One cannot deny a certain sexiness to the wine. Powerful and powerful, it has a ruby-like stature with a lot of length and a tremendous juiciness.
“The Morillon has a beautiful depth of colour, it is almost golden yellow and shows strong wine tears or “church windows” as they say to the streaks in the glass. It is very clear and clean and relatively aromatic in intensity, but powerful and dry. A clear medium plus. In the expression one recognises primary aromas, but also first secondary aromas. For example, a clear woodiness. The overall impression in terms of quality is: young, but very good to excellent.
It is a very young wine with a very good acidity, medium plus, also with the tannin structure. So you have a bit of “something to bite into”. It is a powerful wine with a relatively high alcohol content, a full, powerful body and a powerful full flavour intensity along with a powerful complex finish. The taste is also primarily fruity, but you can also sense a first ripeness from the yeast and the wood notes in the imprint.
The nose has: acacia, chamomile, ripe yellow apple, juicy pear, ripe quince, citrus notes, some mango, melon, pineapple and a hint of fresh mint. The wine has less flinty notes like the Sauvignon, more the association with those cool, wet stream pebbles. Plus, of course, there are notes that come from the wood aging. Almost like sponge cake, toasted toast or brioche notes, like sourdough flavours. There is also a delicate hint of vanilla on the nose, very fine and subtle, like a light kiss. On the other hand, there is also clove, nutmeg, toast and cedar, all that smoky aroma that comes from toasting the wine in wooden barrels.
You can’t deny the wine a certain sexiness, because it has a fine spiciness that almost reminds you of candied ginger. And it is still powerful and mighty. A wine that can be said to have a rubens-like stature, that is, a bit expansive, with curves, that has something on its ribs. In addition, there is an enormous amount of length and a tremendous juiciness.
My drinking tip:
Further bottle ageing is really highly recommended for this wine from the 2018 vintage, otherwise you need to decant it for two to three hours. As a glass shape, I would also advise “a Burgundy glass here. It’s a very good wine, with a bit of alcohol and strong wood flavours. Sexy!”
GRAUBURGUNDER (Pinot Gris) “TURMALIN”
2018
Maître Sommelier Gerhard Retter describes this wine:
“Initially reserved on the nose, with a little air and time, the Pinot Gris shows yellow-fruited aromas of ripe apple, quince and peach with a certain smokiness. A good concise acidity, tautness and freshness characterise this wine. In addition, there are delicate hints of brioche, coconut and a touch of vanilla. Punchy, tight and precise with a wonderful balance and a long finish.”
“Already visually, the Pinot Gris is a real gem. It has a beautiful golden yellow colour and is very clear, clean and pure. At the beginning, it still has a relatively discreet nose and delicate, fine aromas. Youthful, but still fully ripe. It is dry, has a good structure, a complex body, medium acidity, no tannin and is relatively powerful in terms of alcohol. It is a complex, very aromatic wine, very punchy on the palate with a long finish.
The wine shows a really refined interplay of flavours. You taste ripe apple, a hint of quince and a touch of peach. And the longer the wine breathes, the more its fine yellow-fruity aromas develop. In addition, there is a certain interesting smokiness and a very small hint of nutty aromas.
Flawless and polished
The Pinot Gris is well suited as a variety here, but it is fine, polished, has a relatively good incisive acidity and a wonderful freshness. You can taste its origin, its terroir, the stony soil with its spicy quartz aromas. There is also a nuance of biscuit, toast and brioche, a little coconut, almond and a hint of vanilla. The Pinot Gris is very punchy on the palate, but still very tight, precise and perfectly balanced. It is a very fine Pinot Gris with a balanced and complex wood note, a really delicious wine with an extremely long finish that flatters the palate. And you can recognise not only its beautifully stony terroir, but also quite clearly the signature of its winemaker, as with the Sauvignons or the Morillons.
Multifaceted and rich in stones.
When the Pinot Gris is kissed by the air, it develops even more facets. The yellow-fruity aromas of pear and apple slowly come to the fore and the wine develops a very delicate, slightly salty, caramel note. It wins with every breath. It is a very good wine, a first-class Pinot Gris. Really cool. Just wow!
My food tip for Pinot Gris:
What goes well with Pinot Gris is roasted poultry like guinea fowl or pheasant, roasted veal and also like roasted or baked sweetbreads. Liver pâtés and terrines with nuts and pistachios are also a wonderful food accompaniment. Or a hearty pasta with salsicia. A great combination is also sterz made from corn or buckwheat. If you like fish, combine it with baked carp. For vegetarians, cauliflower à la polonaise (Polish style), spicy mature hard cheese or mushroom dishes such as morel à la creme and baked porcini mushrooms are a good choice. An interplay with a lot of enjoyment! “
WEISSBURGUNDER “TURMALIN”
2017
Maître Sommelier Gerhard Retter describes this wine:
“A cool and very precise wine with an elegant and straightforward style. Dry, with a nice freshness and fine, elegant aromas of nashi pear, hawthorn, mirabelle plums, oranges and a hint of nuttiness. A certain steeliness on the palate and a slight saltiness on the finish. This Pinot Blanc is carried by an elegance and balance that distinguishes it alongside its complexity. A multi-faceted wine and congenial food companion that is a pleasure to drink.”
“The first impression: a light scent of fresh yeast, with a hint of fennel. The 2017 Pinot Blanc is cooler and more precise than the 2018 Pinot Blanc, with a very elegant, straightforward style. It is very clear, tightly woven and pure. Dry, with a beautiful freshness. And it also impresses with fine, elegant fruit notes of Japanese nashi pear, hawthorn, mirabelle plum and oranges, which become more intense the more air reaches the wine. In addition, there is a slight hint of nutty notes. And here, too, you can taste its terroir, the light pebble aromas. The wine has almost something steely and shows a slight saltiness in the finish. All of this is carried by the elegance and balance that characterises Pinot Blanc alongside its complex expression. A very finesse-rich wine and ingenious food companion that gives a lot of pleasure. Simply great craftsmanship. A very good wine, I take my hat off to it. Chapeau!
My food tip for the Pinot Blanc:
A great complement to Pinot Blanc are vegetables such as stuffed kohlrabi or colourful carrots with passion fruit, melon with ham, risotto of asparagus and actually all light asparagus dishes. Poultry, sushi, fresh sheep’s or goat’s cheese and crunchy salads such as Caesar salad are also nice. For fish lovers, steamed fish such as halibut, sole, cod or poached trout actually go well with the white wine. And of course all kinds of crustaceans like lobster, lobster and scallops. A perfect taste experience!”
WEISSBURGUNDER (Pinot Blanc) “TURMALIN”
2018
Maître Sommelier Gerhard Retter describes this wine:
“On the nose, the Pinot Blanc is clear and elegant with slightly smoky flinty hints. Perfectly balanced and underpinned with yellow fruity aromas reminiscent of pear, hawthorn blossom and some citrus. The palate presents a creamy smoothness with a simultaneously vibrating cool freshness. A finely fruity, dry Pinot Blanc with a balanced character.”
“The first nose already shows how clear, fine, polished and elegant this Pinot Blanc is. There are also slightly smoky, flinty hints. It is very fine, very delicate and perfectly balanced, with yellow-fruity aromas reminiscent of pear and hawthorn blossom. On the one hand, the wine has a beautiful creamy smoothness on the palate and, at the same time, a vibrant, cool freshness. It is a composition from one cast, from the first nose to the finish. Very animating and quaffable in the best sense of the word. Fine-fruited, dry, pointed, an absolutely spot-on Pinot Blanc. Light-hearted, but with ambition. The more air the wine gets, the more its almond aroma and the scent of white flowers, citrus and pear develop. At the same time, the wine remains absolutely stringent and stable. The Pinot Blanc is a really strong and complex wine and a great food companion. And it is a drop that should get even better in the next five years and that you can certainly store for ten years. Simply brilliant!
My food tip for the Pinot Blanc:
A great complement to Pinot Blanc are vegetables like stuffed kohlrabi or colourful carrots with passion fruit, melon with ham, risotto of asparagus and actually all light asparagus dishes. Poultry, sushi, fresh sheep’s or goat’s cheese and crunchy salads such as Caesar salad are also nice. For fish lovers, steamed fish such as halibut, sole, cod or poached trout actually go well with the white wine. And of course all kinds of crustaceans like lobster, lobster and scallops. A perfect taste experience!”
Drinking pleasure
Chilling the bottle
24 h in advance
Open and give air
Carafe or bottle
Correct choice of glass
Burgundy glass
Drinking temperature
Pinot Blanc & Morillon: 10-12 degrees
Pinot gris & Sauvignon blanc: 12-14 degrees
Re-tasting
one to several days later
Work in the vineyard and cellar
Special wines grow in special locations.
SIGNUM BLANC wines grow exclusively on the steep slopes on the south side of the Kreuzberg in Leutschach. The vineyards have been cultivated for decades by Thomas and Toni Rothschädl – as nature intended and without the use of copper.
The steep slopes are spoiled by the sun. The angle of sunlight is particularly favourable here, creating the best conditions for wonderful grapes. An experienced harvesting team hand-picks only ripe and healthy grapes in successive attempts. Immediately after the harvest, the grapes from the respective harvest batches are gently pressed and fermented separately in steel tanks and wooden barrels.
From this, Thomas and Toni Rothschädl develop their wine with a lot of love, sensitivity and consideration for sustainability, which reflects the ingenious terroir in the glass: The tourmaline-rich rocky soil and the precious old vines that have enjoyed the Mediterranean-Illyrian climate for months.
“I follow the wine with feeling, patience and time.”
Thomas Rothschädl, winemaker
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