2021 Weingut Pfaffl Sonne Riesling

2021 Weingut Pfaffl Sonne Riesling is a crystalline, mineral-driven white that showcases just how refined Austrian Riesling can be. Sourced from the stony terraced vineyard Sonnleiten in the Weinviertel region, it delivers remarkable purity, tension and fruit clarity. With old vines, low yields and a consistently top-rated portfolio, Pfaffl has become one of Austria’s benchmark producers, frequently celebrated by leading international wine critics.

Tasting Notes
In the glass, this Riesling is pale lemon with silvery-green highlights, signaling freshness and youthful energy. The nose is precise and vibrant, offering upfront notes of ripe apricot and mandarin zest layered over crushed wet stones, lime peel and a subtle floral touch. On the palate, Sonne Riesling is dry, focused and elegantly structured, with juicy stone-fruit flavors wrapped around a core of citrus and minerality. Think apricot, white peach and tangerine, balanced by a bright, mouthwatering acidity and a clean, almost saline finish. The wine feels very pure and linear rather than opulent, with a lingering note of lime and cool river stones that invites another sip. Enjoy it now for its fresh, expressive fruit, or cellar for 5–7 years to allow the minerality and tertiary nuances to evolve further.

Production
The grapes for Sonne Riesling come from the Sonnleiten vineyard, a series of stony, sun-exposed terraces in Stetten, just north of Vienna in the Weinviertel (Niederösterreich). Here, older vines over 30 years of age dig deep into poor, rocky soils, naturally limiting yields and concentrating flavor while preserving a racy line of acidity. Harvest is typically carried out by hand to ensure careful selection of only healthy, optimally ripe Riesling bunches. In the cellar, Pfaffl focuses on a gentle, minimalist approach: careful pressing, cool temperature-controlled fermentation to lock in aromatics, and maturation on fine lees to add texture and finesse, all while keeping the profile clean, precise and true to its mineral terroir.

Food & Serving
This Riesling is a versatile partner at the table, shining with fresh seafood (oysters, grilled prawns, ceviche), sushi and sashimi, as well as light poultry dishes and crisp salads with citrus dressings. It also pairs beautifully with aromatic Asian cuisine—think Thai, Vietnamese or lightly spiced Chinese dishes—where its acidity and citrusy fruit cut through rich sauces and lift delicate flavors. Serve well-chilled at around 8–10°C (46–50°F); decanting is not essential, but a brief 15–20 minutes in the glass allows the stone fruit and mineral notes to fully open up.

Producer
Weingut Pfaffl is a family estate rooted in Stetten in the Weinviertel region of Niederösterreich, Austria. When Roman and Adelheid Pfaffl took over the farm in 1978, it was focused on grain, potatoes and livestock; in just a few decades, they transformed it into one of Austria’s leading wine estates, now recognized for its precision-crafted whites and expressive reds. Today, Pfaffl is widely regarded as a top ambassador for the Weinviertel, consistently earning high scores across its range from major critics, including some of the highest overall ratings in The Wine Advocate. In 2022, Pfaffl was named Best Austrian Producer by the Frankfurt International Trophy and received the same honor from Mundus Vini, confirming its status as a reference point for quality Austrian wine.

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