Blaufränkisch, “Ried Joiser Altenberg”, Leithaberg

This single-site offering comes from the Altenberg vineyard outside the village of Jois in the Leitha hills. Anita and Hans own a parcel of 30-year-old Blaufränkisch on these slopes of slatey limestone, which yield a wine of remarkably fresh yet deeply penetrating minerality and gorgeously vivid blue and black fruits. This ages for 18 months in used 500-liter Stockingers before being bottled with minimal sulfur. Though it is undeniably charming in its youth, Altenberg is easily capable of 15 or more years of aging.