Esterházy, a historical estate reborn, making lovely wines from Austria’s Leithaberg (Burgenland) region
Website: https://esterhazywein.at/en/
Esterházy is a historic estate, located in the Leithaberg subregion of Burgenland. The Esterházy castle, owned by the royals when this was part of Hungary, and still in royal hands, is quite an imposing building and hosts lots of musical events. It’s also a tourist destination. Famously, the royal family sponsored the composer Joseph Hadyn, who spent most of his working life (30 years) working for them and living on the estate.
Esterházy has always made wine, but it’s only recently that they’ve upped their game significantly, with new investment, including a re-badging of the label. They are a big player for the region, with 65 hectares or organically farmed vineyards spread over 21 plots. Everything has been organically certified from the 2023 vintage.
You can tell whether the wines are regional, village, or single vineyard by how many of the three design items on the label are in gold. It’s all three for the single-vineyard wines.
Esterházy Sekt Rosé Reserve 2023 Burgenland, Austria
This is Blaufränkisch, pressed, and then some red wine added as part of the dosage for colouring. Bright, fresh and fruity after 18 months on lees (dosage c. 5 g/l). Juicy and fresh with nice acidity. 90/100
Esterházy Sekt NV Burgenland, Austria
Blaufränkisch, with the base wine 2024. Juicy, fresh, linear and pure with a hint of cherry. Quite stylish and linear. 90/100
Esterházy Ried Herrschafsbreite Grosse Reserve Blanc de Noir 2019 Burgenland, Austria
This fizz is a Brut Nature, and it was fermented in stainless steel and then spent 36 months on lees. Bright, fresh and linear with a nice lemony drive. Fresh and pure with cherries and lime. 92/100
Esterházy Furmint Sankt Margarethen 2024 Burgenland, Austria
A village level wine, from a mix of schist and limestone soils. Matured in 1000 litre Stockinger barrels made from forests behind the village. Textured and fine with nice sweet pear and peach fruit. Balanced with a lovely sheen to it. 93/100
Esterházy Grüner Veltliner Grosshöfflein 2024 Burgenland, Austria
Nice supple wine showing good concentration of lovely pear and white peach fruit with a hint of white pepper. Good presence and depth here. 93/100
Esterházy Pinot Blanc Grosshöfflein 2024 Burgenland, Austria
Mainly limestone soils. Fine and expressive, pure and linear with a good acid line. Very stylish with finesse. 94/100
Esterházy Ried Oberer Wald Pinot Blanc 2023 Burgenland, Austria
Pure limestone soil. Supple with a hint of cabbage, and nice pear and citrus fruit. Some depth here with nice acidity. 94/100
Esterházy Chardonnay Sankt Margarethen 2024 Burgenland, Austria
Three different vineyards, a mixture of limestone and schist. Raised in 1500 litre and 500 litre oak, 10% new. Nice weight to the pear and peach fruit, with good acidity. This has real texture and depth, and it’s stylish. 93/100
Esterházy Ried Larner Chardonnay 2023 Burgenland, Austria
From schist, two 500 litre barrels. Lovely weight of pear and peach fruit. Fine and expressive with some tension and detail. 94/100
Esterházy Blaufrankisch Estate 2023 Burgenland, Austria
Supple, open, juicy and bright. Nice cherry and plum fruit with some raspberry fruit. Very pure with a hint of grip on the finish. A lovely wine. 93/100
Esterházy Pinot Noir Grosshöflein 2023 Burgenland, Austria
Bright and vivid with juicy cherry fruit and nice acidity, as well as some structure. Fresh and tart with purity, finishing tightwound. 92/100
Esterházy Blaufränkisch Sankt Georgen 2023 Burgenland, Austria
A supple, elegant style with vivid cherry and plum fruit, as well as nice grainy structure and a hint of gravel. Classic with nice weight. 93/100
Esterházy Ried Schildten Blaufränkisch 2023 Burgenland, Austria
This is a monopole vineyard that they bought in 1658. South-facing sloped vineyard that’s quite warm, with 35 year old vines. Schist and limestone. Spends 3 weeks on skins then aged in two 500 litre barrels. Vivid, grainy and grippy with lovely weight and focus. Structured and delicious. 94/100
Esterházy Project Wine 7 2023 Burgenland, Austria
This is Blaufränkisch, carbonic maceration in stainless steel. Supple with some herbal hints and nice sweet cherry and plum fruit, as well as some ripe strawberry. Open, expressive, delicious. 93/100
Esterházy Project Wine 25 2024 Burgenland, Austria
This is a Pet Nat rosé, made from Blaufränkisch, and disgorged. Juicy and lively, with bright cherry and lemon fruit. Clean and appealing and really well made. 90/100
Esterházy Project Wine 16 2023 Burgenland, Austria
This is Grüner Veltliner fermented and raised in a granite cask! 550 bottles made. Juicy and bright with pure fruit. Linear with good acidity, showing nice stony detail. Very stylish. 91/100
Esterházy Project Wine 20 CHE 2023 Burgenland, Austria
This is Chenin Blanc. Lovely apple and lemon fruit. Juicy and expressive with nice brightness and also some depth. 92/100
