Lieben Aich

Vineyard and terroir

Lieben Aich comes from its namesake vineyard in Terlan, a southwest-facing slope at 300 m. The site has a mild, breezy microclimate and porous, mineral-rich soils composed of sand and clay mixed with weathered porphyry.

Grapes

100% Sauvignon Blanc.

Vinification

The grapes were destemmed, and the juice and solids—without the stems—macerated in the press for 12 hours to extract aroma and structure from the skins. Fermentation proceeded spontaneously in oak with indigenous vineyard yeasts.

Ageing

The young wine matured for 10 months in oak barrels on the fine lees, allowing its aroma and flavor to develop.

Technical data

The 2023 wine has 13% alcohol, 6.0 g/l acidity after malolactic fermentation, and 0.6 g/l residual sugar. Vineyard yield was 41 hl/ha. Production comprised 5,240 standard bottles and 228 magnums. The wine is biodynamic, Respekt-BIODYN certified, and vegan.

Tasting profile

Scintillating golden yellow. Intense aromas evoke mango, papaya, passion fruit, and other ripe tropical fruit. The palate is full-bodied through its center, then turns mineral and wet-stone-like, with juicy acidity. Flinty notes, ripe fruit, and mineral complexity persist through the long finish.

Serving and pairing

Serve at 11–13 °C in Burgundy glasses. Decanting benefits the wine in its youth. Pair with shellfish and crustaceans, grilled sea fish, or white meat. The optimal drinking window is 2025–2035.

Vintage notes

The 2023 season combined a wet spring, a hot and dry summer, and a fine autumn that supported full ripeness and a balance among physiological maturity, sugar, and acidity. Ripe fruit, a cool character, and moderate alcohol define the vintage. Fully mature, golden-yellow Sauvignon Blanc grapes were harvested in September with yellow-fruit aromas and balanced sugar and acidity.