Schloss Gobelsburg

23 February 2018

Founded in 1171, the stunning Schloss Gobelsburg Winery is part of the Cistercian monastery of Zwettl and has been managed by Eva and Michael Moosbrugger since 1996 when they took over a lease from Willi Bründlmayer. Ten years after Michael Moosbrugger was voted "Winegrower of the Year" by Falstaff. Today the Winery cultivates roughly 35 hectares of vineyards and the main varieties are Grüner Veltliner (50%), Riesling (25%) and Zweigelt (8%).

With a history of wine making for more than 900 years, Schloss Gobelsburg is not only one of the oldest wineries in Austria but also regarded as one of the best by most. In 1996, Gobelsburg became a member of Austrian equivalent of VDP - Verein der Österreichischen Traditionsweingüter (Association of Austrian Traditional Wineries). VÖT was the first in Austria to classify vineyard locations in Kamptal and Kremstal and Gobelsburg currently sits on these Erste lage vineyards:

• Heiligenstein (Riesling)
• Gaisberg (Riesling)
• Lamm (Grüner Veltliner)
• Grub, (Grüner Veltliner)
• Renner (Grüner Veltliner)

Unlike Germany or Burgundy, the VÖT still only operates with a one level classification. A two level system is underway.

We took a range of the Schloss Gobelsburg wines to the test and this is how we scored them.

Schloss Gobelsburg Grüner Veltliner Tradition 2014
88	Mineral aroma with notes of lemon, lime and nutty hints. Flavor showed green apples, grapefruit, minerals, light oak and skin of pineapple. Medium acid and dry.

Schloss Gobelsburg Riesling Tradition 2014
89	Aroma had peach, lime, fresh pineapple, passion fruit, minerals and white flowers. Flavor had white flowers, honey melon, white peach, grapefruit and tangerine. Soft mouth feel. Medium plus acid and dry.

Schloss Gobelsburg Grüner Veltliner Ried Renner 1 ÖTW 2015
91	Aroma had peach, minerals, white flowers, lime, green apples and melon. Flavour showed minerals peach, honey melon, cantaloupe, lime, floral notes, honey and mango. Medium acid and dry. Very rounded.

Schloss Gobelsburg Riesling Ried Gaisberg 1 ÖTW 2015
91	Aroma had pear, peach, mirabelle, white flowers, lime, lemon, grapefruit and minerals. Flavour showed minerals, lime, grapefruit, honey melon, sweet mango, white flowers and white peach.

Schloss Gobelsburg Grüner Veltliner Ried Steinsetz Reserve 2016
89	Aroma had peach, pear, lime, and pineapple. Flavour had melon, lime, pears, grapefruit, minerals, and floral notes. Medium acid and dry.

Schloss Gobelsburg Brut Reserve NV
85	Aroma had green apples, white flowers, nuts, and oak. Flavour had oak, green apples, lemon, oak, and white flowers. Medium plus acid and dry.

Schloss Gobelsburg Blanc de Blancs NV
88	Aroma had lime and lemon. Flavour had white flowers, lime, and lemon. Medium plus acid and dry.

Schloss Gobelsburg Zweigelt 2011
83	Herbal nose with dark fruit and hints of smoke. Flavour had dark heavy fruit, hemp, herbs, and smoke. Medium acid, medium tannins and dry.

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