CHRISTOPH HOCH ROSE NV

Wine Insight

Christoph Hoch is a new, young Austrian winemaker in the Kremstal. He started out in 2009 at his parent’s winery, making wine in a traditional style and he got bored. The schedule was too set for him. So he started experimenting in 2010 and split from his parent’s weingut in 2013. He has 5 hectares from his family spread throughout four different vineyards, all in the town of Hollenburg.

Hollenburg is on the south side of the Danube, and like the other areas of the Kremstal, the subsoil is conglomerate. Conglomerate was formed by the Traisental and Danube river crashing together and compacting chalk and river stones together. The chalk comes from the Alps and it was brought by the Traisental River. It kind of looks like a construction mortar that you would make a building with. Christoph compared it to the chalk in the Cote des Blancs in Champagne and equally active, bringing minerals to the vines.

Throughout all of Christoph’s vineyards, you find a mix of mustard, rye, and phacelia. He considers all of his parcels by four categories: dry, chalky, nutrient rich, or holds water. Depending on the category, he will plant the herbs and grains accordingly. Mustard brings sulfur to the soil, which protects the plants and transfers it naturally to the wines, so that he can use as little as possible at bottling. Rye brings carbon to the soil. He knocks it down after it has grown and it creates a natural humus. The carbon from the rye works with the phacelia and creates nitrogen. As of 2015, the wines are certified organic and biodynamic.

An ultra unique rose - 100% Zweigelt, spontaneously fermented and aged in burgundy barrels with flor in the warm cellar. After a month long fermentation, the barrels are not topped off and the flor. The wine spends at least 5 months with the flor. Strawberry, tart, and salty with a slightly tannic structure. Beautiful vibrant pink color. 

Pairs Well With:
Pastilla morrocan

Sounds Like:
Moon Monsoon - All I want