Tuesday, June 8th: Participated in two webinar tastings – one for Alsace and one for Austria. Along with other wine writers around the world I had been sent samples in small bottles. (I was unable to taste everything in the two-day sessions but will review other wines in subsequent blog entries.)
Beginning with Alsace and Domaine Bott Frères in Ribeauvillé:
Bott Frères wines
Domaine Bott Frères Vin d’Alsace Riesling Réserve Personelle 2018
Bright, pale straw in colour; minerally, smoky nose of citrus fruits; light- to medium-bodied, crisply dry with green apple and lemon flavours. (90)
Domaine Bott Frères Vin d’Alsace Grand Cru Geisberg Riesling 2017
Light golden colour; minerally, honeyed, floral nose; light to medium-bodied, dry, elegant, lemon-lime flavours; beautifully balanced and lingering. (92)
Domaine Bott Frères Vin d’Alsace Muscat 2019
Pale straw in colour; aromatic, floral (honeysuckle), spicy orange bouquet; medium-bodied, grapey, orange and peach flavours; well-balanced and easy-drinking. (91)
Domaine Bott Frères Vin d’Alsace Gewurztraminer Réserve Personelle 2017
Old gold in colour; rose petal, lychee, ginger nose; off-dry, round and full on the palate with lychee, ginger and cardamom flavours. (90)
Domaine Charles Baur in Eguisheim:
Charles Baur wines
Domaine Charles Baur Riesling Cuvée Charles 2018
Bright, pale straw in colour; minerally nose of lime and new leather; medium-bodied, dry, floral, tart, green plum and elderberry flavours with a touch of bitterness on the finish. (89)
Domaine Charles Baur Grand Cru Brand Riesling 2017
Bright, pale straw colour; minerally, grapefruit zest nose with light petrol notes and a suggestion of white blossoms; light to medium-bodied, dry, honey and green plum flavours with a firm finish. (90)
Domaine Charles Baur Pinot Gris 2018
Bright, pale straw in colour; minerally, spicy nose of white peach; medium-bodied, richly extracted peach and pear flavour; nicely balanced with a fine mouth-feel. (90)
Domaine Charles Baur Grand Cru Eichberg Pinot Gris 2016
Pale gold colour; lightly floral, peach nose with a suggestion of honey; medium-bodied, dry, floral, peach and honey flavours; beautifully balanced. (91)
Bründlmayer (Niederӧsterreich):
Bründlmayer Kamptal DAC Grüner Veltliner “Terrassen” 2019
Light straw colour; green pepper, white pepper and green plum on the nose; medium-bodied, dry and crisp green plum flavour with lively acidity and a long finish. (90)
Bründlmayer Kamptal DAC Grüner Veltliner Langenlois “Alte Reben” 2018
Straw colour; apricot and white pepper bouquet with a mineral note; full-bodied, dry, richly extracted, peach and lemon flavours; beautifully balanced with a long finish. (92)
Bründlmayer Kamptal DAC Riesling Ried Zӧbinger Heiligenstein 2019
Light straw colour; minerally, slight petrol note, grapefruit nose; medium-bodied, dry, green apple, lime and green plum flavours (91)
Bründlmayer Kamptal DAC Riesling Ried Zӧbinger Heiligenstein 2014
Light straw colour; minerally, lime and grapefruit nose with a light floral, herbaceous note; medium-bodied crisply dry with lemon and grapefruit flavours. Remarkably youthful and vibrant, finishing on a mature apple note. (92)
Then on to Austria, beginning with Weingut Tement in Südsteiermark:
Samples of Tement, Stift Klosterneuburg and Prieler
Tement Südsteiermark DAC Sauvignon Blanc 2018
Pale straw in colour; grassy, minerally, green herbs with a light floral note on the nose; medium-bodied, dry, green plum and lemon flavours; beautifully balanced, fresh and lively on the palate with great length. (93)
Tement Südsteiermark Sauvignon Blanc Ehrenhausen 2017
Pale straw in colour; grassy, minerally, more developed bouquet than the 2018 – with green pea notes and a floral top note; medium-bodied, dry, lovely mouth-feel; green plum and green peach flavours. A beautifully balanced wine with great length. (94)
Tement Südsteiermark DAC Weissburgunder “Gutswein” 2018
Pale straw in colour: minerally, lightly floral, crab apple bouquet; medium-bodied, dry, leesy, apple flavour with an engaging bitterness on the finish to give added interest. (89)
Tement Südsteiermark Chardonnay Ried Hochkittenberg “Terrassen” 2015
Light gold in colour; minerally, Russet apple bouquet with a light floral note; medium-bodied, dry, elegant and restrained; lovely mouthfeel and great length on the palate. (92)
Stift Klosterneuburg (Klosterneuburg, Austria):
Stift Klosterneuburg Wiener Gemischter Satz DAC 2019
A field blend of different varieties. Pale golden colour; spicy, peachy, mineral-tinged nose; medium-bodied, fruity but firm, well-balanced, lively acidity with a peach pit bitterness on the finish. (89)
Stift Klosterneuburg Wagram Grüner Veltliner Ried Hengsberg 2019
Light straw colour; minerally, white pepper, peapod nose; medium-bodied, dry, ripe peach flavour, rich and full on the palate; peach and lemon flavours; good length. (90)
Stift Klosterneuburg Wagram Reserve Grüner Veltliner Ried Steinriegel 2019
Light golden in colour; high-toned, mineral-tinged nose of apricot and almon with a white pepper note; medium-bodied, dry, perfumed, grapey flavour; firmly structured, ending on a savoury, herbal note, nicely balanced with acidity. (90)
Stift Klosterneuburg Thermenregion Reserve St. Laurent Ried Stiftsbreite 2018
Dense purple-ruby in colour; cedary, spicy, black cherry nose with vanilla oak notes; full-bodied, dry, earthy, black cherry flavour.
Prieler (Burgenland):
Burgenland Weißburgunder Ried Seeberg 2019
Bright, pale straw colour; minerally, slightly grassy, green apple bouquet; medium to full-bodied, dry, apple flavour with touch of browning apple on the finish. (88)
Leithaberg DAC Weißburgunder 2017
Light gold in colour; minerally, floral nose green apple; medium to full-bodied, crisply dry, apple and green peach flavours; lovely mouth-feel, with fresh acidity and great length. (91)
Burgenland Blaufränkisch “Johanneshöhe” 2017
Deep purple in colour; toasty, baked plum and rose petal bouquet; medium-bodied, dry, savoury, juicy plum flavour with ripe tannins; well-structured and nicely balanced with fresh acidity. (90)
Leithaberg DAC Blaufränkisch Ried Goldberg 2015
Deep purple colour; cedary, toasty nose of baked plum tart and dark fruits with oak spice and an engaging floral note; full-bodied, dry, savoury, firmly structured; earthy plum flavour with gripping tannins. Remarkably youthful. (91)
Other wines tasted:
Familia Torres Varietat Recuperada No. 23 Forcada 2015 (Mas Palan, Penedes)
Forcada is an ancestral variety found in the foothills of the Roca Forcada Mountain that the Torres winery is reviving. Bright straw in colour with a lime tint; minerally, smoky, citrus nose; medium-bodied, dry, green apple and lemon flavours; crisp and refreshing. (90)
Manoir de Mercey Bourgogne Hautes Côte de Beaune au Paradis 2018 (Burgundy, $26.95, Vintages #20913, to be released August 7th)
Deep purple in colour; attractive, intense bouquet of cedar, cinnamon, violets, toast and black raspberry; medium-bodied, dry, richly extracted cherry and raspberry flavours carried on lively acidity. Great value. (91)
Rosehall Run Stardust 2013 (Prince Edward County, $50)
An exciting, mature sparkler, bright in the glass, light golden colour with tiny bubbles; toasty, apple nose with buttery notes; medium-bodied, mature, apple, pear and lemon flavours; elegant and long in the mouth, with zesty acidity. (92)
Rosehall Run Small Lots Pinot Noir Mottiar Vineyard 2019
The fruit came from Niagara’s Mottiar Vineyard, owned by Malivoire’s winemaker, Shiraz Mottiar (who exchanged grapes to made a Pinot from Rosehall Run’s vineyard).
Medium ruby in colour; lightly floral, raspberry nose; medium-bodied, dry, elegant and lacy on the palate; a beautifully balanced wine. (91)
Château La Bastide 2017 (Corbières, $14.95, Vintages #360487)
60% Syrah/20 Grenache/20% Mourvèdre. Deep ruby in colour; cedary, blackberry nose with herbal notes; full-bodied (15% alcohol), dry, dark chocolate and black plum flavours with oak spice; unctuous on the palate, firmly structured. (89)
Gérard Bertrand Côte des Roses Chardonnay 2020 (Pays d’Oc, $18.95, Vintages #10621, to be released July 24th, 2021.)
Bright, straw colour; leesy, apple nose; medium-bodied, dry, pear and apple flavours; chalky finish with a touch of bitterness. (87)
