Roland Velich: Moric and beyond!

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One of the most memorable wines I had last year was a 2009 Moric Blaufränkisch from Roland Velich. Mind you, this was the "entry level" wine, not the Reserve, or one of the top tier single vineyard bottlings from old vines in the Lutzmannsburg or Neckenmarkt vineyards. There was baking spice, and dark blue fruit on the nose, with layers of perfumed red fruit in the high end. Light-medium body, with an elegance and finesse that I was unaccustomed to, but had been told Blaufränkisch was capable of. I was blown away. My memory is so vivid that I was sure, on starting my first draft of this article, that it must have been the Reserve, but our very own John McIlwain, esteemed colleague and wine collector, has confirmed that it was in fact the "village" Blaufränkisch. This speaks volumes to the level of care and commitment that Velich has for producing high quality wines across the board.
As John was the person who initially turned me on to the Moric wines (and was generous enough to share a bottle of the 2009), I asked him if he could riff on the theme of the first experience with Moric. Here are some words from John McIlwain:
"It doesn't seem that long ago that everyone was raving about the new Blaufränkisch from Moric in Burgenland. The wines were somewhere between Baudry and Bize we thought. Blessed with pure, blue-fruited energy and a dynamic sense of minerality, even the humble base wine impressed. And though there seemed to be a bit of wood, those of us lucky enough to listen to our friend John Ritchie and not only buy a few bottles, but luckier still forget about them in the back of our cellars, were rewarded by an elegant mature wine that seemed to capture the essence of the bosky Blaufränkisch grape and the limestone and loam soils of the slopes of Mittelburgenland. Case in point, a bottle of the 2010 opened last fall that while offering an lovely autumnal profile of knit fruit, resolved structure, and forest floor revealed even more character on the second day."

Photo courtesy of Moric.at

A bit of background, as I presume many of our readers are not familiar with the wines or are just peripherally aware from seeing the iconic minimalist labels somewhere. Roland Velich started the Moric (pronounced Moritz) project in the early 2000s, with a single-minded intention to elevate the status of the Austrian grape Blaufränkisch (known as Kékfrankos in Hungary or Lemberger in Germany). Velich's family was already known for fine white wines from the Mittelburgenland, which lies near the Hungarian border and is influenced by the unique micro-climates of the Pannonian plain and Lake Neusiedl. Impressed by the great red wines of the world, from Burgundy, Rhone and Piedmont (to name a few influences), Velich was convinced of the potential of Blaufränkisch, and wanted to produce an age-worthy, "serious" expression - not an emulation of the red wines he admired, but a uniquely Austrian offering. His approach was to find old, high density vineyards, and combine rigorous selection in the vineyard with low yields, natural fermentation, and patient, low-intervention winemaking. It seems the wines were received well by a handful of other producers and some wine drinkers on release, but given that the "top" (expensive) reds in Austria at the time were generally over-extracted and aged in new oak (emulation of trends elsewhere), Velich's wines were not immediately acclaimed. With time however, there was a gradual realization of how special these wines really were. With each vintage, Velich refined his style and deepened his connection to the old vineyards in Neckenmarkt and Lutzmannsburg, and eventually, wine drinkers were able to try aged bottles of Moric. So we see beginning in the latter half of the 2000s, an increasing amount of rave reviews for the Moric wines, and rightly so!

Photo: moric.at

Now in its 20th year (just like Chambers Street Wines!), the Moric project is firmly established, and Roland Velich is keeping himself busy with several side projects that expand on his passion for producing high quality wines from indigenous grapes in the region. He has teamed up with Hannes Schuster to produce Blaufränkisch from old vines in the town of Zagersdorf, under the name M. Jagini, and has spearheaded a project called Hidden Treasures, which highlights little known Hungarian producers and grape varieties. This project is truly noteworthy, as there is a wealth of history in the winemaking regions of Hungary that has been forgotten in today's wine world. As Velich says in an interview, the area where his family's vines are was in Hungary until the 1920s, and the wines of Hungary were at one point the most famous in the world (usually 2 or 3 times more expensive than the finest Burgundy or Chateau Margaux!). Moreover, it is admirable to see him raising up the profile of up and coming winemakers in Hungary, who are following a similar philosophy as Roland, preserving local varieties and producing wines with indigenous yeast and minimal intervention.

Today we offer a little of everything that Roland Velich is involved in. The focus is of course on the Moric wines, but the M. Jagini Blaufränkisch and the Hidden Treasures wines should not be overlooked! If you are like me and having trouble deciding on which vintage(s) to go for, feel free to reach out to office@chambersstwines.com for more details. I have reached out to Roland Velich and should have further insight on the wines soon. 

-Eben Lillie

****** Please note, ALL WINES WILL BE AVAILABLE WEEK OF 3/29  ***********************

No Longer Available

Moric 2018 Burgenland Hausmarke Weiss Supernatural

A blend of mostly Gruner Veltliner (75%) and Chardonnay, meant for drinking now. Aged in large old barrels. As with all of Roland's wines, fermentation is with indigenous yeast and minimal SO2 used at bottling.  

  • Out of Stock
  • white
  • 0 in stock
  • $31.99

  • Organic
  • Biodynamic
  • Low Sulfur

Moric 2018 Burgenland Blaufränkisch

This is the "gateway wine" from Roland Velich's Moric project. Sourced from young vines (10-50 years old) in the Neckenmarkt and Lutzmannsburg vineyards, from mixed soils of limestone, primary rock, and loam. Velich's aim is to combine rigorous selection in the vineyard with low yields (usually 25 hectoliters per hectare), in order to guarantee a high quality of fruit, with ideal concentration. Fermentation is with indigenous yeast, in open vats and steel tank. Aging is in a combination of barrels ranging from 600-4500L in size. No fining or filtration and minimal SO2 added at bottling. Though this is by all means a lovely bottle of Blaufrankisch to drink now, there is a great potential to age for 10-15 years, which from my experience helps the wine develop a truly impressive aromatic complexity, and a refinement of fruit and tannins. An exceptional Blaufrankisch and a great introduction to the Moric project. 

  • Out of Stock
  • red
  • 0 in stock
  • $31.99

  • Organic
  • Biodynamic
  • Low Sulfur

Moric 2012 Burgenland Blaufränkisch Neckenmarkt Alte Reben

This bottling is from Moric's old-vine Blaufrankisch from the Neckenmarket vineyard. These are higher elevation, hillside parcels from 50-90 years old, with some slate and some limestone soils lending the wines their intense minerality. The fruit is organically farmed, fermented with indigenous yeasts in open-top fermenters, and then aged in mix of used French, Slavonian, Austrian, and German barrels. Intensely mineral yet balanced with deep fruit, earth and spice flavors and bright acidity keeping it lively on it's feet. A lengthy,concentrated finish leaves it superbly elegant.  For lovers of Mazis-Chambertins, Clos de la Roche and  Cote Rotie Cote Blonde. Giselle Hamburg

  • Out of Stock
  • red
  • 0 in stock
  • $124.99

  • Organic
  • Biodynamic
  • Low Sulfur

Moric 2012 Burgenland Blaufränkisch Lutzmannsburg Alte Reben

This bottling from the Lutzmannsburg vineyard is from the oldest vines (some are 110 years old!). Sitting flat atop a plateau with soils of mostly loess and loam with volcanic topsoils, this site sees more warmth and ripeness than the Neckenmarkt site. Because of the age of the vines, yields and production are very small. Fermentation is done in open-top fermenters with native yeasts, gentle extraction for a more elegant style of Blaufrankisch than many of their neighbors, and then aging is done in a mix of used French, Slavonian, Austrian and German barrels.  -MD

  • Out of Stock
  • red
  • 0 in stock
  • $104.99

  • Organic
  • Biodynamic
  • Low Sulfur

Moric 2013 Burgenland Blaufränkisch Reserve

An assemblage from older parcels in Neckenmarkt and Lutzmannsburg, the Reserve is the little sibling to Velich's top wines, which are single vineyard expressions from the oldest vines in those sites. Indigenous yeast fermentation in open vats, and aging in 500 Liter used barrels. No filtration or fining.  

  • Out of Stock
  • red
  • 0 in stock
  • $55.99

  • Organic
  • Biodynamic
  • Low Sulfur
  • Out of Stock
  • red
  • 0 in stock
  • $55.99

Moric 2016 Burgenland Blaufränkisch Reserve (Pre-Arr

An assemblage of lots from older parcels in Neckenmarkt and Lutzmansburg from the exceptional 2015 vintage. Spontaneous open vat fermentation and elevage in 500 Liter used barrels. No filtration or fining. 

  • Out of Stock
  • red
  • 0 in stock
  • $55.99

  • Organic
  • Biodynamic
  • Low Sulfur

Moric 2016 Tokaj, Hungary Hidden Treasures Tokaj No. 1

The first of the Hidden Treasures series, this is a collaboration between Roland Velich and Attila Homonna from the once famed Tokaj region, who is a bit of a local superstar in his own right. As with the wines that Homonna already produces, they are dedicated to the indigenous varieties Furmint & Hárslevelü, and produce this wine from old clones that grow in three parcels near the town of Tokaj in northern Hungary. Indigenous yeast fermentation, only old wood (no new oak), and minimal SO2 at bottling. 

  • Out of Stock
  • white
  • 0 in stock
  • $36.99

Moric 2017 Transdanubia, Hungary Hidden Treasures Somlo No. 2

Hidden Treasure Project No. 2 is a cooperation with Tamas Kis from Somlo. This is a completely dry white wine made from the trio of grapes Hàrslevelü, Furmint and Olaszrizling (or Welschriesling).

  • Out of Stock
  • white
  • 0 in stock
  • $36.99

  • Organic
  • Low Sulfur

Moric 2018 Transdanubia, Hungary Hidden Treasures Balaton No. 3

Hidden Treasures No 3. is from the Lake Balaton region, famous summer vacation spot (my papa used to go) and also a historic wine region! Roland Velich teamed up with the the Villa Tolnay winery in Csobánchegy, on the north side of Lake Balaton across the border from Austria to produce this blend of Furmint and Olazriezling. Soils here are volcanic. Fermentation is with indigenous yeast in large old barrels (mix of Stockinger and Hungarian oak) and stainless steel. Aromas and flavors of wet stones, sea spray, citrus, white flowers.Full bodied with intense minerality and laser beam acidity. Just begs for a platter of iced shellfish or fuller flavored fleshy fish such as Balaton's local carp.

Giselle Hamburg

  • Out of Stock
  • white
  • 0 in stock
  • $27.99

  • Organic
  • Low Sulfur