About this wine
Vineyard and terroir
The grapes come exclusively from Vigna Kastelaz above Tramin, a traditional Gewürztraminer site at 350 m. The vines occupy narrow terraces on a very steep, south-facing slope and are Guyot-trained at a density of 7,500 plants per hectare. The soils combine chalk and clay. Yields are very limited, and the fully ripe grapes are selected carefully and picked by hand in two passes.
Grapes
100% Gewürztraminer.
Vinification
The crushed berries receive six hours of cold maceration before pressing. Refrigeration and natural sedimentation clarify the juice. Fermentation is initiated with selected yeasts and controlled at 18 °C, after which the young wine rests on its lees for several months.
Ageing
The wine spends four years ageing in bottle in a former silver mine in the Ridnaun Valley. The bottles rest in complete darkness and isolation, approximately three kilometres inside the mountain at about 2,000 m elevation. Humidity is 95% and air pressure is very low. The argentum bonum name—“silver gold”—and the project pay homage to the Schneeberg mine, whose silver was praised in a document signed by the Counts of Tyrol in 1237.
Technical data
The 2017 has 14.0% alcohol, 5.0 g/L total acidity and 7.8 g/L residual sugar. Bottle format is 0.75 L.
Tasting profile
Intense golden yellow. The layered bouquet brings together dried fig and apricot, fresh rose petals, honey and herbal nuances recalling Mediterranean scrub. The palate is juicy, fresh and inviting, with rosemary and laurel-like spice. Depth and density are balanced by elegance, youthful freshness and considerable development potential.
Serving and pairing
Serve at 11–13 °C. Pair with shellfish, crab, lobster, Asian cuisine or blue cheese.
Vintage notes
The featured release is 2017. A note concerning the 2015 explains that this earlier release spent eight years ageing in the former silver mine.
