Date of visit: September 30, 2021
Background:
October 27th we attended a tasting presented by the Austrian Wine Marketing Board, “AWMB”, or “Austrian Wine” for short. The tasting took place in Manhattan, New York, and featured over 150 different wines, from some of Austria’s greatest producers. We didn’t have a chance to taste all of the wines, as there were simply too many to taste, and with so many exceptional wines being showcased, we opted to drink rather than spit many of them.
Taken from Austrian Wine’s website:
“The Austrian Wine Marketing Board (Österreich Wein Marketing GmbH) is based in Vienna, and is a national service body for the Austrian wine industry. The organisation was founded in 1986 with the aim to strategically support, coordinate and maintain quality and sales. Its main goal for the domestic market is to strive for an increased market share of Qualitätswein (Quality Wine), along with the export of bottled quality wine, with particular focus on the continued increase in value.”
Our tasting notes:
Below are our tasting notes for some of the wines and producers that really stood out to us that day.
Alzinger (Flight 1.1):
1. 2020 Wachau DAC Federspiel Grüner Veltliner Ried Mühlpoint
Aromas of wild flowers, citrus, honey, lychee, and green apples. The palate is bright, vibrant, crisp, and focused, filled with flavors of green apples, grapefruit, lemon curd, and hay. A slight effervescence, and an extremely persistent finish. This was the first wine of the tasting, and what a way to start. Incredible!
2. 2020 Wachau DAC Smaragd Grüner Veltliner Ried Steinertal
Delicate, elegant aromas of wild flowers, honey, and candied sugar. Silky, creamy, mouth enveloping texture. Flavors of tart citrus, green apples, and lemon with a very persistent finish.
3. 2020 Wachau DAC Smaragd Riesling Ried Loibenberg
Well defined, pronounced aromas of lavender rise from the glass, along with a touch of honey, citrus, and wild flowers. Not a subtle nose at all, yet still incredibly elegant. Flavors of lemon, granny smith apple, some grapefruit, and a hint of lychee. Laser focused, with soaring acidity, and impeccable balance.
Domäne Wachau (Flight 1.2)
1. 2020 Wachau DAC Federspiel Riesling “Terrassen”
Aromas of tart green apples and citrus zest, along with some tropical notes. Serious, focused, linear, and precise. The palate is filled with flavors of green herbs, and freshly squeezed grapefruits and lemons.
2. 2020 Wachau DAC Federspiel Riesling Ried Bruck
Refined aromas of wild flowers with hints of honey and citrus, which compliment the floral aromas beautifully, along with a touch of salinity and minerality. The palate has notes of herbs, citrus, green apple, lemon, and grapefruit.
3. 2019 Wachau Smaragd Riesling Ried Achleiten
Elegant and somewhat refined aromas of lychee, mangos, and orange blossoms. The palate is filled with flavors of citrus, and tart green apples. Linear, bright, and focused, with soaring acidity and a persistent finish. Excellent.
Mantlerhof (Flight 5.1)
1. 2020 Kremstal DAC Grüner Veltliner Ried Gedersdorfer Weitgasse
Gorgeous citrus filled aromas of freshly squeezed lemons leap from the glass, with hints of white pepper, spices, wet herbs, wet leafs, and ocean mist. The palate is filled with flavors of herbs, grapefruit, lemon, and citrus, with soaring acidity, and an extremely persistent finish.
2. 2019 Kremstal DAC Reserve Grüner Veltliner Ried Gedersdorfer Spiegel “1ÖTW”
Aromas of fresh cut grass, green herbs, wet trees and leafs, along with some pine, and spices. The palate is filled with flavors of butterscotch, some citrus, and herbs.
3. 2020 Niederösterreich Reserve Roter Veltliner Ried Gedersdorfer Reisenthal
The nose is very floral and pleasant, primarily filled with aromas of white wild flowers, along with a touch of lemon peel and wet leafs. The palate is citrus packed, with herb nuances. Bright, crisp, focused, and linear, with vibrant acidity, and great balance. Persistent finish.
Nigl (Flight 5.2)
1. 2019 Kremstal DAC Grüner Veltliner Ried Kirchenberg “Herzstück”
Complex nose filled with a variety of green herbs along with citrus, and spices. The palate is laser focused, with vibrant, crisp acidity, yet maintains a silky mouthfeel initially which then fades to a bright, focused spice driven palate. A hint of alcohol warmth can be detected on the palate, but isn’t offensive. A fantastic wine.
2. 2020 Kremstal DAC Riesling Ried Hochäcker “1ÖTW Privat”
Beautiful, pronounced aromas, primarily of lavender, with a touch of white flowers. It’s bold, and in your face, yet still somehow manages to be very elegant. The palate is packed with flavors of herbs, along with some citrus, lemon curd, lemon peel, and grapefruit. Laser focused, yet elegant, and almost refined in a way. Extremely complex. Impeccable balance. An extraordinary wine.
3. 2019 Kremstal DAC Riesling Ried Hochäcker “Privat”
Delicate aromas of herbs, white wild flowers, forest, and pine. A refined, elegant, and very beautiful nose. The palate is filled with tropical flavors of mango, lychee, grapefruit, and lemon curd. Although the tropical flavors make this wine quite approachable and easy drinking, this is by no means a simple wine. Extremely well balanced. Excellent.
6.1 Salomon Undhof (Flight 6.1)
1. 2020 Kremstal DAC Grüner Veltliner Krems a.d. Donau “Wieden”
On the nose there are aromas of ocean spray, green herbs, fresh cut grass, and some lemon curd. The palate is crisp and has flavors of tart citrus (primarily lemon), and green herbs.
2. 2019 Kremstal DAC Grüner Veltliner Ried Wachtberg “1ÖTW”
Pleasant aromas of green herbs, citrus, some lychee, and a touch of ocean spray. The palate is tart with flavors of lemon predominately, a touch of lime, candied sugar, and butterscotch.
Stadt Krems (Flight 6.2)
1. 2020 Kremstal DAC Grüner Veltliner
Aromas of green herbs and wild flowers, accompanied by fresh squeezed citrus, and citrus zest. Very floral and pretty. The palate is very focused, bright, crisp, and straightforward, filled with flavors of citrus fruit. A great beach wine.
2. 2020 Kremstal DAC Riesling
Aromas of lavender, wild flowers, and a faint hint of potpourri. Very floral. Flavors of tart citrus, lemon curd, grapefruit, and a touch of green herbs.
3. 2019 Kremstal DAC Riesling Ried Steiner Grillenparz “1ÖTW”
Aromas of orange blossom leap from the glass, accompanied by some wild flowers. The palate is bright and filled with tart citrus flavors, orange blossoms, and lemon curd.
Bründlmayer (Flight 8.2)
1. 2015 Blanc de Noirs extra brut Sekt Grosse Reserve Niederösterreich g.U. Langenlois
Buttery fresh baked brioche leaps from the glass, accented by butterscotch nuances. The palate is vibrant, fresh, and acidic, filled with flavors of green apples and lemon peel, along with some of the buttery brioche aromas which carry over to the palate.
3. 2019 Kamptal DAC Riesling Ried Langenloiser Steinmassl
Aromas of petrol, green herbs, a touch of citrus and some nutty notes. The palate is filled with flavors of tart green apples, lemon peel, some green herbs, and a hint of cut grass. Soaring acidity, and very well balanced.
Hirsch (Flight 9.2)
2. 2019 Kamptal DAC Grüner Veltliner Ried Gaisberg Kammern
Aromas of citrus, green herbs, green apples, and a touch of honey. Viscous, silky mouthfeel, with flavors of citrus, lemon peel, green apple, and a faint whisper of butterscotch. Persistent finish.
3. 2019 Kamptal DAC Grüner Veltliner Ried Kammerner Lamm “1ÖTW”
Refined elegant aromas of green herbs, green apples, citrus, grapefruit, some lemon, and a touch of fresh cut grass. Silky smooth mouthfeel, focused, linear, and crisp. Flavors of green apple accented by lemon. Excellent balance.
Schloss Gobelsburg (Flight 11.2)
1. 2020 Kamptal DAC Grüner Veltliner Langenlois
The nose is floral with notes of green herbs, a touch of citrus, and some lychee, it’s focused and bright. The palate has flavors of tart lemon and grapefruit. Bright and crisp, with a smooth mouthfeel, a hint of effervescence and an extraordinarily long finish. Excellent balance.
2. 2020 Kamptal DAC Grüner Veltliner Ried Steinsetz
The nose is very elegant and floral with some green herbs, citrus zest, touch of lychee, and a faint hint of petrol. Flavors of tart grapefruit and lemon with a slight effervescence, soaring acidity, and excellent balance.
3. 2019 Kamptal DAC Grüner Veltliner Ried Renner “1ÖTW”
Beautiful aromas of citrus, flowers, lemon, and grapefruit, very elegant and floral. Flavors of tart green apples, lemon peel, and white pepper. Silky smooth mouthfeel, vibrant acidity, and some textural weight to it.
Ott Bernhard (Flight 15.1)
1. 2020 Niederösterreich Grüner Veltliner “Fass 4”
Aromas of wild flowers, herbs, cut grass, and petrol. The palate is tart, filled with flavors of lemon peel, grapefruit, and green herbs. Vibrant acidity, persistent finish, and great balance.
2. 2020 Niederösterreich Grüner Veltliner “Der Ott”
The nose is refined, with delicate aromas of green herbs and wild flowers. Smooth mouthfeel, with tart flavors of grapefruit and fresh squeezed lemon with a touch of butterscotch.
3. 2018 Wagram Grüner Veltliner Ried Feuersbrunner Rosenberg “1ÖTW”
Aromas of herbs, dry hay, and fresh cut grass, all of which carried over to the palate, along with some lemon. Fantastic!
Tement (Flight 26.1)
1. 2020 Südsteiermark DAC Gelber Muskateller “Sand & Schiefer”
Aromas of dried apricots, golden raisins, honey, along with some peaches and lychee. The palate is juicy and very fruit forward, with crisp acidity, and slight effervescence. Wonderful!
2. 2020 Südsteiermark DAC Sauvignon Blanc “Kalk & Kreide”
Cut grass, green herbs, wild flowers, and a touch of petrol on the nose. The palate has flavors of citrus, lemon, grapefruit, green apple, and fresh lemon juice. Soaring acidity and excellent balance.
3. 2018 Südsteiermark DAC Sauvignon Blanc Ried Zieregg “GSTK”
Aromas of cut grass, hay, white pepper, and a touch of petrol, all of which carries over to the palate. Juicy, structured, very complex, and has excellent balance.
Kracher (Flight 34.2)
1. 2018 Burgenland Pinot Gris
Cooked apples, caramel, and candied sugar on the nose. Fruit forward palate filled with flavors of candied sugar, and caramel with fresh acidity.
2. 2017 Burgenland Beerenauslese Cuvée
The nose is absolutely gorgeous, golden raisins, apricots, a touch of cloves and nutmeg, but more than anything is filled with the aroma of warm honey. Wow! The palate is viscous, filled with flavors of honey, golden raisins, and candied pears. Truly extraordinary.
3. 2017 Burgenland TBA Cuvée “Grande Cuvée No. 6 Nouvelle Vague”
Aromas of baked walnuts, baked chestnuts, honey and cooked apples. The palate is filed with flavors of warm honey, raisins, caramelized apples, walnuts, and buttery caramel popcorn. Stunning! A standout of the event for sure. What a way to finish the tasting!
Thank you
Thank you to everyone who helped make this amazing event possible, and thank you to all of the producers who showcased their wines at this incredible event. We had an unbelievable time, and the wines were exceptional! Special thanks to Austrian Wine, Constance Chamberlain, Mikhail Lipyanskiy and Josh Raynolds.
Photos 1-4 courtesy of AWMB & Mikhail Lipyanskiy
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