Sauvignon Blanc “Turmalin” 2018
“The Sauvignon Blanc impresses 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. Plus a hint of roughness and coolness reminiscent of mint and fennel coupled with an almost peppery spiciness. One literally has its terroir in the nose. Very round and polished on the palate – a total work of art.”
Maître Sommelier Gerhard Retter
Shelf life: 20 Years +
Alk.: 12,5 % Vol.
Ried Kreuzberg
Sauvignon Blanc "Turmalin" 2018
Ried Kreuzberg, Südsteiermark DAC
Turmanlinic metamorphic weathering rock
Sauvignon Blanc
Late budding, very warm spring with early blooming. Dry summer. Earliest harvest ever, relatively abundant rainfall at the beginning of autumn.
100 percent hand harvest
After spontaneous fermentation 27 months on the fine yeast
Aging 50 percent in wooden barrels and 50 percent in steel tanks
Alk. 12,5 % Vol.
1,1 g/l RZ Dry
5,7 g/l tbS
Highly complex wines like this Sauvignon Blanc harmonize with differentiated cooking methods and sophisticated combinations of ingredients. The tension of the wine enters into a perfect dialogue with haut cuisine, asian and vegetarian cuisine.
In a large Burgundy glass, open 4-6 hours in advance.
Very good drinking maturity: 2022
Optimal drinking maturity: 2023 – 2033 and longer
"Simply a work of art."
Maître Sommelier Gerhard Retter describes this wine
The first act: A balanced impression
The SIGNUM BLANC Sauvignon Blanc captivates with its balance and finesse. The depth of color is medium golden yellow, lemon yellow, it has strong, complex streaks, is clean and pure in tone. 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. The wine is overall very clear, fresh and vibrant, but at the same time ripe, this is what characterizes the goodness of this wine. It is very balanced, has a fine acidity and a very complex structure. In addition, a hint of smokiness and a coolness somewhat reminiscent of mint and fennel, coupled with an almost peppery spiciness. You literally have its origin, its terroir in the nose, 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”, straight, steely, after a few hours in the air it comes out more powerful and punchy on the palate. This enriches the wine tremendously. 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 aging. The yeast and barrel notes show up nicely present in the overall complexity. Acidity, alcohol, body and flavor intensity are medium plus. The wine is still young, of course, but still has tremendous aging 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 and elegance. The wine gains insanely in complexity and melting with time, it seems riper and rounder with air and time. It is a very nice specimen of Sauvignon Blanc that does not deny its origin, remains faithful to it but still has enjoyed a worldly training. 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 wine continued to evolve the next day and it is still stable. It drinks well. Fruit-wise, the fennel flavor has come to the fore a bit, but there remains that coolness, balance and crispness. Not only does it show substance, but also lingering. The wine has a really nice “grip,” it has profile. It is really big, great even. Like its terroir, the steep and proud Kreuzberg in southern Styria.
My drinking tip:
It’s best to take a Burgundy glass for this drop. Through the balloon-shaped goblet, the wine gets more air and can fully develop its aromas. This brings out a bit more peach flavors and it also retains that stoniness, flint and pebble notes on the palate.
