Gober & Freinbichler ‘Chill!’ Red 2023
Location: Austria, Burgenland
Winemaker: Dominik Gober & Gerald Freinbichler
Grapes: 40% Zweigelt, 40% Merlot, 20% Blaufränkisch
Winemaking: This is an estate we met through Franz Weninger and that we’ve supported through our “Vineyard Project” label. These two guys are young and just present a side of Burgenland we don’t see too much: classical and restrained and fairly priced. That’s what we fell in love with here. Dominic Gober and Gerald Freinbicher (Gober & Freinbichler) hold *choice* parcels in Neckenmarkt, in southern Burgenland (near Moric), and produce what is, in our opinion, one of the most transparent and elegant Blaufrankisch for the money. For 2023, they have pushed further into this “elegant” mantra for an energetic red that almost floats across the palate at only 11.5% alcohol.
From the Importer Vom Boden: We were turned on to these two growers – Dominik and Gerald – by our friend Franz Weninger, whose wines we’ve always appreciated. We were in fact looking to do a “Vineyard Project” wine with Franz; he had a friend with good vineyards that he thought might need help and be open to more organic viticulture. In the end, it didn’t work; most often in life it doesn’t work, remember that. It’s ok.
Then, maybe a year later, Franz wrote to us about these two growers and said they were thinking of working a few really good vineyards and that they had a great sensibility and that they could probably use a partner to help them get the winery started?
If you want to know the real truth, then COVID hit. And so there we were, all of us quarantined at home and all international travel, difficult and dangerous. Franz said, basically, “The wine is fucking very good just buy it.” And John and I, honestly just not knowing what to do, said “uh…ok.” And so we committed to tens of thousands of dollars of wine, without ever tasting it or meeting the people. (Honestly this is the first and last time that will ever happen.)
In a way, I’m probably telling this story because I’m proud of it. John constantly ribs me about my worrying, about my slightly neurotic tendency to overthink everything, always. I guess I’m proud that I made the jump, that we made this jump, for all the right reasons. I’m also probably telling this story because it has a very happy ending. The wine was awesome, like Franz said. It was juicy and satisfying, yet compact and not heavy, not cumbersome and gooey. It felt fresh. We loved it; judging by the sales you loved it too.
The spectacular 2021 vintage has just arrived; it is spectacular. At around $20 retail, it is also absurdly well priced.
Location: Austria, Burgenland
Winemaker: Dominik Gober & Gerald Freinbichler
Grapes: 40% Zweigelt, 40% Merlot, 20% Blaufränkisch
Winemaking: This is an estate we met through Franz Weninger and that we’ve supported through our “Vineyard Project” label. These two guys are young and just present a side of Burgenland we don’t see too much: classical and restrained and fairly priced. That’s what we fell in love with here. Dominic Gober and Gerald Freinbicher (Gober & Freinbichler) hold *choice* parcels in Neckenmarkt, in southern Burgenland (near Moric), and produce what is, in our opinion, one of the most transparent and elegant Blaufrankisch for the money. For 2023, they have pushed further into this “elegant” mantra for an energetic red that almost floats across the palate at only 11.5% alcohol.
From the Importer Vom Boden: We were turned on to these two growers – Dominik and Gerald – by our friend Franz Weninger, whose wines we’ve always appreciated. We were in fact looking to do a “Vineyard Project” wine with Franz; he had a friend with good vineyards that he thought might need help and be open to more organic viticulture. In the end, it didn’t work; most often in life it doesn’t work, remember that. It’s ok.
Then, maybe a year later, Franz wrote to us about these two growers and said they were thinking of working a few really good vineyards and that they had a great sensibility and that they could probably use a partner to help them get the winery started?
If you want to know the real truth, then COVID hit. And so there we were, all of us quarantined at home and all international travel, difficult and dangerous. Franz said, basically, “The wine is fucking very good just buy it.” And John and I, honestly just not knowing what to do, said “uh…ok.” And so we committed to tens of thousands of dollars of wine, without ever tasting it or meeting the people. (Honestly this is the first and last time that will ever happen.)
In a way, I’m probably telling this story because I’m proud of it. John constantly ribs me about my worrying, about my slightly neurotic tendency to overthink everything, always. I guess I’m proud that I made the jump, that we made this jump, for all the right reasons. I’m also probably telling this story because it has a very happy ending. The wine was awesome, like Franz said. It was juicy and satisfying, yet compact and not heavy, not cumbersome and gooey. It felt fresh. We loved it; judging by the sales you loved it too.
The spectacular 2021 vintage has just arrived; it is spectacular. At around $20 retail, it is also absurdly well priced.
Location: Austria, Burgenland
Winemaker: Dominik Gober & Gerald Freinbichler
Grapes: 40% Zweigelt, 40% Merlot, 20% Blaufränkisch
Winemaking: This is an estate we met through Franz Weninger and that we’ve supported through our “Vineyard Project” label. These two guys are young and just present a side of Burgenland we don’t see too much: classical and restrained and fairly priced. That’s what we fell in love with here. Dominic Gober and Gerald Freinbicher (Gober & Freinbichler) hold *choice* parcels in Neckenmarkt, in southern Burgenland (near Moric), and produce what is, in our opinion, one of the most transparent and elegant Blaufrankisch for the money. For 2023, they have pushed further into this “elegant” mantra for an energetic red that almost floats across the palate at only 11.5% alcohol.
From the Importer Vom Boden: We were turned on to these two growers – Dominik and Gerald – by our friend Franz Weninger, whose wines we’ve always appreciated. We were in fact looking to do a “Vineyard Project” wine with Franz; he had a friend with good vineyards that he thought might need help and be open to more organic viticulture. In the end, it didn’t work; most often in life it doesn’t work, remember that. It’s ok.
Then, maybe a year later, Franz wrote to us about these two growers and said they were thinking of working a few really good vineyards and that they had a great sensibility and that they could probably use a partner to help them get the winery started?
If you want to know the real truth, then COVID hit. And so there we were, all of us quarantined at home and all international travel, difficult and dangerous. Franz said, basically, “The wine is fucking very good just buy it.” And John and I, honestly just not knowing what to do, said “uh…ok.” And so we committed to tens of thousands of dollars of wine, without ever tasting it or meeting the people. (Honestly this is the first and last time that will ever happen.)
In a way, I’m probably telling this story because I’m proud of it. John constantly ribs me about my worrying, about my slightly neurotic tendency to overthink everything, always. I guess I’m proud that I made the jump, that we made this jump, for all the right reasons. I’m also probably telling this story because it has a very happy ending. The wine was awesome, like Franz said. It was juicy and satisfying, yet compact and not heavy, not cumbersome and gooey. It felt fresh. We loved it; judging by the sales you loved it too.
The spectacular 2021 vintage has just arrived; it is spectacular. At around $20 retail, it is also absurdly well priced.