Located about an hour west of Vienna in Kamptal, this hillside vineyard was first mentioned in the Zwettl abbey register of 1280 as “Hellenstein”, or hell stone, because it was a mountain on which the sun “burns like hell”. It was later renamed Heiligenstein, or “holy rock”. The Heiligenstein is a unique geological formation – a geological island – within Europe, dating to the Permian period some 250 to 270 million years ago, comprising an extrusion of desert sandstone with volcanic and carboniferous conglomerates.
Medium yellow green. Fine nuances of ripe apricot, a hint of yellow apple, delicate herbs and spices, mineral Touch, hints of candied orange zest. Juicy, elegant, fine stone fruit, touch of finesse acidity, salty minerality in the finish, remains long, already well to drink.
meat, seafood
". - Anne Krebiehl MW"
- Wine Enthusiast (February 2020), 93 pts
"A hint of dried pear and dried lime zest plays before juicier lime speaks. The palate has a similar tension between ripe, almost dried fruit richness, while zestiness tones it all down into taut slenderness. This is exciting, textured, juicy and totally moreish. There is something concentrated and pervasive that hits several pleasure buttons at once. Drink now–2035. - Anne Krebiehl MW"
- Wine Enthusiast (March 2019), 95 pts
"Scents of buddleia, gentian, thyme and lavender immediately hint at the site in which this grew, and there is corresponding inner-mouth perfume to delightfully complement luscious apple and white peach on the satiny, palpably extract-rich palate, as do also a glowing piquancy of pits and pips and Veltliner-like savor of blond tobacco. The buoyant and profoundly protracted finish here leaves behind a soothing and intriguing carpet of flavors while not forgetting its first duty to refresh. - David Schildknecht"
- Antonio Galloni's Vinous (November 2015), 93 pts
"Distinct dried pear, apricot and sultana notes signal some evolution in this wine. The same, rich dried fruit notes are accented with zesty grapefruit freshness on the dry, concentrated palate. It finishes with pithy bitterness and a moreish streak of lemon. Rather advanced for the vintage but still evolving. Drink now–2022. - Anne Krebiehl MW"
- Wine Enthusiast (July 2017), 90 pts
"The first vintage from Georg Leindl’s new estate, this is exotically ripe, with notes of guava and kiwi scented with honeysuckle and smoke. The structure keeps it firm enough to age for a few years while it’s charming enough to enjoy straightaway."
- Wine & Spirits Magazine (Year's Best Austria, February 2017), 90 pts
Georg Leindl has been in the wine industry for nearly 30 years. After studying food and biotechnology, he went on to be a researcher at the Federal College for Oenology ...
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