LECHBURG | Neuburger | 2019
neuburger

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Today we are going to review a single-varietal neuburger wine from the relatively cool Lechinta wine region of Transilvania – Neuburger 2019 by Lechburg. Neuburger is a quite rare yet popular, indigenous austrian crossing between Silvaner and Roter Veltliner. This grape variety is capable to deliver excellent wine quality, yet it still cannot really compete with Grüner Veltliner. Neuburger is susceptible to a wide range of vine diseases, particularly the grapevine fanleaf virus, which threatens survival of the vines, however, vines of this variety have very strong shoot growth and are able to tolerate dry, meagre soils. Being a relatively late-ripening grape variety, Neuburger is also highly sensitive to spring and winter frosts, and is quite prone to botrytis fungus, due to the compact grape cluster, and therefore is an ideal variety for sweet wine production. This particular wine was made by applying the principles of the organic farming, without the use of synthetic chemicals, but rather a range of natural ingredients, that have the role of starters in harmonization of the biological processes in the soil, where they stimulate microbial life. But enough theory, that said and without further ado, let’s move on straight to our tasting results.
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Take a look at the tasting notes below and our detailed assessment of the wine:

//Visual
color: deep pastel yellow color
clarity: clear yellow hues on the rim

//Olfactory
intensity: rich & herbal
fruit profile: sweet fruits | citrus fruits | stone fruits
__sweet fruits: yellow apple | yellow pear | dehydrated quince
__citrus fruits: lemon peel
__stone fruits: apricot
fruit character: overripe & dried

//Flavor
non fruit: herbal | other
__herbal: hay | straw grass | chamomile | daffodil | meadow
__other: white pepper | hazelnut | cashew | oxidative hints
primary layer: fruity-herbal

//Palate
sweetness: dry
acidity: medium
alcohol: high
tannin: medium-
__grip: ripe
balance: fair
__dominant: alcohol
body: angular | medium+

//Taste
fruit profile: yellow fruits
fruit character: overripe & dried
non fruit: herbal
finish: medium
aftertaste: bitter-seedy

//Scoring
LECHBURG | Neuburger | 2019
variety: neuburger
country: Romania | Transilvania
region: Lechinta | Saniacob
rating: 90.8

//Conclusion
maturity: past its prime | on the decline
verdict: nice | enjoyable wine
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This is definitely a nice wine of Romania and with a total of 90.8 points scored, this wine is right there, among the best wines we’ve rated so far. Check our complete database on the wine rating page, where you can find all the wines that we have tasted and reviewed or go to the about us page and find out more about our exquisite rating system.

Verdict: this is a quite angular and seedy neuburger wine that feels off-balanced, sharp and slightly rough, with a nuanced herbal accent on the nose and a firm palate. The wine has already started its declining phase, therefore we would recommend to drink it today rather than tomorrow, as it will not improve from this point onward. On the nose the wine displays a mixture of overripe and dried sweet and stone fruits in the foreground, followed by some very nuanced, herbal notes in the background and a layer of oxidative hints in between. On the palate the wine delivers flat acidity and an overwhelming touch of alcoholic warmth that is showing through on the mouthfeel, which evolves into a bitter-seedy aftertaste. All in all, this a wine that has been tasted a couple of years too late, as in its current state, it lacks harmony and finesse on the palate. We believe that this wine might pair lovely with a pear and lemon summer salad or a seafood salad with herb dressing. Cheers!

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