Bernhard Ott Grüner Veltliner Barrel 4

Tasting Note Bernhard Ott Grüner Veltliner Fass 4

Spicy and aromatic nose with black pepper and a hint of chili pepper on the palate, fresh meadow flowers and ripe Granny Smith apple. Fine mineral notes, juicy and full-bodied with a beautiful finish.
Bernhard's Grüners are, as the only producer outside the Wachau, among the absolute top of Austria, and this 'Fass 4' cuvée is the archetype of his style: expressively fruity, fresh and lively, complex in fruit. On the palate, there's a lot of tension, gentle acidity, and a very long finish. The color is straw yellow.

Wine & Food Pairing

This Grüner Veltliner Fass 4 from Bernard Ott pairs well with poultry, a seafood bisque, lean fish, pork, and vegetarian dishes.

Additional Information

Bernard Ott recently visited the Netherlands, and I had the opportunity to taste 15 different wines during his masterclass.

This Fass 4 is perhaps Bernhard Ott's flagship wine. The grapes for Grüner Veltliner Fass 4 come from small plots, including the iconic Rosenberg vineyard, which are vinified separately. It is truly a 'next level' Grüner Veltliner. The wine has undergone its entire fermentation and maturation in stainless steel.

Bernhard Ott says of himself: 'Ich bin ein Veltliner' and is a household name in Austria: he is even called Mister Veltliner. This is due to his considerable stature but even more so to the quality of his Grüner Veltliners.

The winery is located in Niederösterreich in the Wagram region, almost adjacent to Kamptal, and was founded in 1889. From the village of Feuersbrunn, which lies in the plain of the old Danube river basin, the 'Kellergasse' winds up into the vineyards. The vineyards are therefore all close to the estate, mostly in Wagram and a small part in Kamptal, and are located at an altitude between 200 and 350 meters.

The soil consists mainly of wind-blown loess, varying in depth from 1 to as much as 20 meters and often mixed with gravel. Bernhard has been at the helm since 1993: he was 21 at the time but was given the trust by his parents to make the wines independently, and they have not regretted it!

The wines are very pure and precise, and over the past 15 years, they have become increasingly refined and subtle. Since 2006, they have been working biodynamically.

Awards/Distinctions

Falstaff – vintage 2024

• Rated 93 points by Peter Moser in 2025

2. Parker & James Suckling – vintage 2024

• Parker: 91 points

• James Suckling: 92 points

3. Antonio Galloni (VINOUS) – vintage 2023

• Rated 92 points

4. WineAlign – vintage 2021

• Score: 92 points

Bernhard was the first producer from Wagram to be named 'Winzer des Jahres' in Falstaff, and his Rosenberg 2015 received 94-96 points from Parker.