Laissez-Faire Riesling 2025

Non-Tradition is the antithesis of Grüner Veltliner. Anyone expecting a classic example of this grape variety is looking in the wrong place. The grapes come from two distinct single-vineyard sites with fundamentally different characteristics: shell limestone on one side, a steep slate slope on the other. Some of the vines are trained in a double-tier system, which means maximum competition, smaller berries, and vines that dig deep into the rock. Extended aging on the full lees in large, used wooden barrels, without topping up, and with minimal sulfur addition. This creates a tension between oxidative and reductive notes that makes the wine enigmatic from the very start. Yellow apple, quince, flint, a lit match in the distance. The wine needs air, a large glass, and above all, plenty of time. Then come meadow herbs, farmhouse bread crust, oyster shell, pickled green pepper, and a hint of white truffle. On the palate, the Non Tradition 2025 displays a captivating texture, ranging from kumquat to citrus fruits, with sweetish yeast notes, followed by an almost umami-like saltiness, carried by polished tannins into an enormous finish. Like all of Christian Tschida’s wines, it is bottled unfiltered.