Moric’s proprietor and winemaker, Roland Velich has become an internationally recognized wine celebrity for his work with old-vine Blaufränkisch in Austria’s Burgenland. To expand his boundaries, he has teamed up with smaller, lesser-known vintners to promote some incredibly unique terroirs within Austria, as well as parts of Hungary that would be typically ignored. This wine is made with Lichtenberge- González, a producer in the Leithaburg DAC. It’s a unique sub-zone note for its volcanic soils that impart a wave of mouthwatering minerality to the wine. Blaufränkisch shares some genetic lineage with Pinot Noir and some character traits with great Cru Beaujolais and Northern Rhône Syrah. This is incredibly evident when tasting this wine with a dash of Tuscan Sangiovese. 

The wine has a deep ruby to a purple/black hue reminiscent of a Northern Rhône Syrah. The nose, too, hints at the Northern Rhône with aromas of blackberry, pepper, pomegranate, grilled herbs, violets, and licorice, but also veers into Cru Beaujolais territory (iodine, crushed rocks) with the leathery-sandalwood spice found in a Sangiovese. The appearance suggests a ‘big’ wine, but while the fruit is dark, even black, it is presented with great freshness and lift. Its firm tannic structure and high natural acidity set this up to be one cellar-worthy bargain.