Weissburgunder (Pinot Bianco) Praesulis
Pinot Bianco — Weissburgunder to this German-speaking corner of the Alps — is Südtirol’s quiet superstar, and nowhere does it speak more clearly than here. From steep, stony terraces beneath the ancient castle of Presule (the “Praesulis” of the name), Markus Prackwieser crafts his flagship white: taut and luminous, layering crisp green apple, white peach, and mountain blossom over a deep vein of Dolomite minerality. Concentrated yet weightless, it finishes long, saline, and electric.
Appellation: Südtirol DOC
Type: White, dry
Varietal: Weissburgunder (Pinot Bianco)
Color: Straw yellow with bright yellow-green highlights.
Bouquet: White orchard fruit, complex citrus and herbal notes, chamomile, alpine herbs, and a chalky minerality.
Palate: Vibrant orchard fruit, racy Alpine acidity, and a deep saline mineral core driving a long, electric finish. A benchma
Alcohol: 13.5%.
Total Acid: 6.3 g/l.
Residual Sugar: 0.9 g/l.
Serving Temperature: Chilled 12-14° C (54-57° F)
Pairing: Fresh fish and shellfish, risotto, white asparagus, poultry, Alpine and soft-ripened cheeses, herb-driven cuisine.
Location: South edge of the Eisacktal (Isarco Valley) at the foot of the Sciliar massif.
Altitude: 450–550 meters (1,475-1,800 feet) a.s.l.
Soil: Calcareous moraines on solid quartz porphyry.
Slope: 50–65%
Training: Pergola and trellis
Density: 4,500–7,500 vines/ha.
Yield: 55 hl/ha.
Harvest: Mid-September.
Vinification: Gentle pressing followed by fermentation in stainless steel tanks (2/3s) and large tonneau (1/3).
Aging: Maturation on the fine lees in steel tanks and 1/3 in wooden cask (tonneau) for 11 months.
2013 Pinot Bianco Praesulis – L’Espresso - Vini d’Italia – Vino di Eccelenza
2012 Weissburgunder Praesulis – 92 Points – Vinous Media (Mar 2014)
“The 2012 Weissburgunder Praesulis is drop-dead gorgeous. Layered, round and beautifully textured, the 2012 covers every inch of the palate with fruit. Clearly still an infant, the 2012 needs at least a few more months for the flavors to flesh out fully, but even today, the wine is super-impressive. All the elements are in the right place. As always, this is a distinctly Alto Adige Weissburgunder, which means minerality and acidity take precedence over fruit.” ~ A.G.
