2020 ZINIEL X PELTZER Good Intentions One Carbo Rosso

We're always big fans of Meinklang, and have recently discovered, and fallen for, the Ziniel wines, so this project is right up the Rock Juice alley!  Nick Peltzer manages operations for Meinklang, so this is his first foray into winemaking under the guidance of buddy Andreas, and using the biodynamic fruit from the Ziniel vineyards.   They're playing with the carbonic fermentation process, dividing the fruit into three different lots, with each getting a different degree of carbonic treatment, then blending the three lots together to make this fun Austrian vin de soif.  Which is pretty unusual for the region that is big on good farming (everyone is organic or biodynamic it seems) but there isn't much deviation from classic styles.  Perhaps the Austrians should do more, because we love how the carbo action lifts the red-fruited St. Laurent grape.  The result is a light-bodied wine with an almost imperceptible fizz, and darker, almost tarry, fruit, tart cherries and spice on a minerally backbone.  An excellent food wine for all the things we're eating in these dark days of winter.

SERVE SLIGHTLY CHILLED