Austrian winegrowers and devotées of their wines can find plenty to be glad about in the 2015 vintage. Wines already tasted are impressive for their deep and ripe fruit, complex aromatics and sense of equilibrium, while wines still maturing in the cellars nurture expectations of top class and great potential.
Vineyard Weather over the Course of the Year
After a period of fair weather in springtime and good conditions during blossoming, an uncommonly hot and dry summer set in. As we all know, one heat wave followed on the heels of the latest… In some places the vegetation process came to a standstill, especially affecting younger vines that could not be irrigated, which suffered from stress. Fortunately, in most growing regions the rains arrived toward the middle of August – just in the nick of time.
Then came a marvellous, even-tempered autumn; numerous sunny days, but with relatively cool nights – this is one basic difference between 2015 and years like 2011 and 2006. The rains arrived punctually this year in September as well and then came again in the middle of October; except for this last, somewhat humid period, the beautiful autumn weather held well into November. So in general, grapes could be harvested at the ideal point in time without hurry or stress, since afflictions from parasites and fungi occurred very seldom – even noble rot developed only in infrequent instances.
Ripeness, Fruit and Elegance
In general, the white wines of 2015 are characterised by solid extract and generous body. While from an analytical standpoint acidity lies in the lower range, this factor is rarely perceived in sensory examination. The characteristics commonly expected from such a hot vintage – for example, high and fiery alcohol with relatively little fruit – are most often not to be found. On the contrary, the white wines show complex and fully ripened fruit aromas, with remarkable concentration. The varietal characteristics expected from individual types of grape are mostly well articulated. And the red wines? A brilliant vintage, one that combines the elegance of 2006 with the opulence of 2011. Almost all regions produced intensely coloured, uncommonly ripe and concentrated wines, which are further distinguished by deep and dark nuances of fruit, confident elegance and a velvety background of tannins.
The 2015 vintage leaves no doubt: very promising!