Heidi Schröch Biscaya Rosé 2019
When you were a kid, did you have a cousin who let you hang out in their room and listen to John Cougar Mellencamp and Bryan Adams or watch Magnum PI together? That’s who Heidi Schrock is - she’s the cool cousin/older sister/ aunt who introduced you to awesome rock music or bought you your first beer. She is a rockstar in her own right - her accolades will astound you. She’s the 8th matriarch of the family’s 10 hectares estate as well as a champion of her culture and traditions. She is also the founding member and long-time leader of Cercle Ruster Ausbruch, a sweet wine similar to Hungary’s Tokaji that was whipped out by phylloxera. She revived “historic varietals such as muscat-lunel and furmint from Hungary while continuing to work with more classic Austrian varietals such as Grauburgunder, Weissburgunder, and Welschriesling.” Let’s not forget in 2003 Heidi was awarded “Falstaff Vintner of the Year”, making her one of only a handful of women to obtain this distinction. All this aside, she is a down to earth wine producer that creates unique, expressive wines that have become a cult following. Her “less is more equals better quality approach” in winemaking style is what sets her apart, period.
The family estate is located in Rust, Burgenland region, in the appellation of Neusiedlersee. The vineyards have well drained slopes of sand, gravel, clay and limestone. near Lake Neusiedl provides warm and cooling influences as well as the famed botrytis cinerea, the noble rot that creates the most complex of sweet wines. Bingo! Ideal conditions to make the unctuous, prized wines. The wines range from classic to modern cuvées broad mix of varieties - Furmint, Welschrielsing, Grauburgunder (Pinot Gris), Weissburgunder (Pinot Blanc), Furmint, Gelber Muskateller, Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Blaufränkisch and Zweigelt. She makes dry wines but the superstars are the sweet whites, the iconic Ruster Ausbruch.
Heidi Schröck & Söhne Biscaya Rosé 2019 is a blend of Lagrein, Teroldego, Petit Verdot, Syrah, Pinot Noir, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Zweigelt and Blaufränkisch. The sustainably made wine is fermented in acacia, oak and stainless steel, then racked, blended and left on the lees for 4 months.
Brilliant pink color. Vibrant aromas of red currant, strawberry, cherry, melon, hay, forest floor, wet stone, rose, blood orange. Medium bodied with a creamy texture, vibrant acidity with zesty flavors of strawberry, cherry, watermelon, melon, hay, lime, rose, lavender, sage, forest floor, wet stone, blood orange, cream, saline that just lingers every so delicately.
This wine is feminine in quality but has the balls to hold up to a grilled Tuna Niçoise salad, lamb and sweet potato tagine or crusty bread with rustic pâtés. Chill this zesty wine and enter your happy place as I did. Be forewarned, you won’t be able to have just one glass, it’s that good.
