Wine of the week: Kollwentz Chardonnay Ried Katterstein

db's 'Wine of the week' is a Master medal-winning Burgenland Chardonnay with a "pristine palate" and "great concentration". Weingut Kollwentz CEO and winemaker Andi Kollwentz, whose family has been growing grapes around Grosshöflein since 1775, claims that he first knew he wanted to be a winegrower as a child when his father told him that he would succeed him. His frustration with what he describes as "abstruse anti-alcohol propaganda" does not distract him from his calling: "I just want to make good wine." Weingut Kollwentz Chardonnay Katterstein 2021

• Producer: Weingut Kollwentz
• Region: Leithaberg, Burgenland
• Country: Austria
• Grape variety: 100% Chardonnay
• ABV: 13.5%
• Approximate retail price: £55
• Medal: Master – Autumn Masters 2024

Founded in 1775, Weingut Kollwentz continues a long history of producing fantastic wines. From the Katterstein vineyard on crystalline schist and limestone soil at 300m altitude comes this stunningly elegant Chardonnay. Pale yellow-coloured, the wine displays apricot, white peach and apple fruit, enhance by notes of orange zest and white flowers and balanced by svelte, creamy oak. Dry, the pristine palate is layered and textured, having great concentration and a lingering finish. Practically perfect in every way, the wine will pair nicely with sole Véronique. (Patricia Stefanowicz MW)