Wieninger Pinot Noir Ried Rothen The Jungle 2022

The first wine from this single site, Ried Rothen The Jungle takes its name from the extreme planting density, 12,000 vines per hectare with a low canopy and deep-rooting rootstock of French genetics, all designed to combat the heat of this south-facing, calcareous parcel between Stammersdorf and Strebersdorf. Aged in used 600-liter barrels, it opens with a dark, brooding nose of elderberry and forest floor, concentrated and a little wild. On the palate, that brooding character is offset by a vivid, almost transparent freshness, dark berry fruit that feels alive despite its density. The tannins are compact and grip firmly; they need time to loosen and integrate. Muscle and depth are already here, and so is the charm, but patience will bring the two into balance.