The
Judith Beck estate is based in the Burgenland commune of Gols, in the
Neusiedlersee region, on the eastern side of the Lake Neusiedl. Gols is
part of the larger Burgenland region in easternmost Austria, which
enjoys a very warm climate defined by the Pannonian plain and the Lake. Lake
Neusiedl’s depth is only 1.5 meters and its water temperature can
reach 90 degrees F. in the summer. Indeed, this is Austria's warmest
wine growing area, the first to harvest, and the production
center of its finest full-bodied, dry red wines.
Judith’s
parents, Matthias and Christine Beck, founded the family estate in
1976. Judith Beck made her first vintage in 2001 and in 2004 she
assumed full control of the winery. After graduating from the
Klosterneuburg Viniculture College Judith Beck gained international
experience at world-renowned wineries, including Chateau Cos
d'Estournel in Bordeaux, Braida in Piedmont and Errazuriz in Chile.
Managing the family winery comes naturally to Judith who has an innate
“sixth-sense” feel for the regional varieties Zweigelt, Blaufrankisch
and St. Laurent.
Judith Beck
owns a total of 13.5
hectares of vines in Gols, with holdings in the vineyard sites of
Altenberg, Gabarinza, Salzberg and Schafleiten. 85% of the area is
planted to red varieties - Blauer Zweigelt, Blaufrankisch,
St. Laurent, Pinot Noir and Merlot, with the remaining 15% planted to
white varieties - Welschriesling, Pinot Blanc and Chardonnay.
In addition, grapes are brought in from another 5 hectares in the
communes of Apetlon, Halbturn and Winden, and used in the production of
the basic red wines. Vines are planted at high densities of up to 7,000
vines per hectare to limit yields and ensure ripe fruit at harvest
time. Soils range from loam and clay on the lower vineyards to
limestone, higher up on the ridges.
The Becks
built an impressive, new production and aging cellar in 2005. It allows
Judith to manipulate her wines as little as possible in the
vinification process, resulting in wines which show the pure and vivid
expression of the varietal and the unique vintage character. Judith
Beck’s wines are at once elegant, powerful, complex and possess good
aging potential.
Judith and her
father Matthias
practiced sustainable viticulture from the outset, and converted to
bio-dynamic practice with the 2007 vintage. She uses only native yeasts
in the fermentation process. The Red wines are fermented in
temperature-controlled stainless steel tanks, in new barriques or in
open vats. The wines undergo malolactic fermentation in new barriques
or in large oak barrels. Some of the red wines are also matured in
large oak vats, some of which are quite old, and are already being used
by the third generation of owners.
The top-level
Reds, including the St. Laurent Schafleiten, Pinot Noir, Pannobile
Red (a blend of 55%
Zweigelt, 35% Blaufr舅kisch, and 10% St. Laurent), and Judith
(50% Blaufrankisch, 30% St. Laurent, 20% Merlot) are
fermented
and matured in small barriques, of which a small proportion is new each
year.
Judith Beck is
a member of the Pannobile association, as well as of 11 Frauen und ihre Weine (11 Women and their Wines).
Judith
aptly summarizes the philosophy of the estate: “Wine and the joy of
living and pleasure all go hand in hand. We prefer wines which
captivate all of our senses with each new bottle and each new sip.”
