Best Silvaner Ever Tasted!

Volker said a few months ago...I would like to try a top Silvaner! I phoned him and said I had a couple of wines that needed tasting...and he offered to cook dinner. Some delicious Pasta as a first course and then some tender Guinea Fowl. I always enjoy Volker's cooking...good quality products and so I had to work for my dinner.
Sauvingon Blanc I said....2006....Sabathi. Now...you may think...wow...that was good...but on seeing the label I noticed it wasn't the Sabithi (Erwin) that I tipped...but Sabathi (Hannes). Still...not bad...2 out of 3!







Hannes Sabathi
Sauvignon Blanc Reserve 2006
South Styria, Austria
Aromas of citrus fruit and gooseberries...with some toast. This spends 3 years in Barrique. Creamy texture with a spicy mineral feel...and a good finish. Lots to enjoy here.
Points 17.25






And so to the reason for the meeting of friends and serves blind so that Volker would not be influenced.

Zehnthof Luckert
Silvaner * * * 2009
Franconia, Germany
Volker said a touch of Riesling and maybe some Grüner Veltliner...and he is right. Put some Burgundy in the mix and you will describe this wine perfectly. Just a beautiful nose....a trace of cream...honey...compact...the flavour just melts in the mouth...that 'classy' Burgundy feel again...but...this is Silvaner! And what a Silvaner! There are spices to combat that cream...and a minerality to add to it's pluses. As perfect as it can get with the grape. None better has passed my lips. We both agreed...
Points 18...THE BEST SILVANER EVER TASTED


Uwe Schiefer
Blaufränkisch 'Szapary' 2008
Südburgenland, Austria
I am still trying to fall in love with Austrian Blaufränkisch...and have decided they need more time than say...Lemberger in Germany. They are chunky at times...needing food. This has a cherry nose...and a red berry flavour...salty, spicy with a good backbone of acidity.
Points 16.25

Austrian Journey Continues

Some more Austrian wines...this time from three different areas...it is a pleasant journey...
Bründlmayer Chardonnay 2007
Kamptal, Austria
Now this is how to make Chardonnay!
As long as I can remember Bründlmayer has been making great wines. I think the first Chardonnay I tried from Austria was over 20 years ago...and his name was on the bottle.
This is bristling with minerals...not something you can say about all Chardonnay wines...but it still offers that delicious layer of soft vanilla. The man uses his oak correctly!There is not a trace of flabbiness...just a yellow apple fruit....and some pearls of acidity...and as you may have guessed...I like this and will buy more.
Points 17.25

Muhr von der Niepoort
Spitzerberg 2008
Carnuntum, Austria
This wine is 100% Blaufraenkisch. Half of the wine is made by fermenting whole bunches with the stems, and then pressing off at just the right time to get the extraction right. The other half is made with an extended maceration on the skins of three months.
You'd think Pinot Noir is you had tasted blind. The colour is medium deep with a watering rim. Semi-sweet nose of ripe cherries....very enticing...this creeps up on you and developed well...the palate then shows some raspberry confit...all in all...a very impressive wine. I used a new 'pump' which claims it preserves whatever is left in the bottle to help keep it overnight...it seemed to work...the wine had softened even more.
Points 17.5

Krutzler Blaufränkisch Reserve 2008
Südburgenland, Austria
After the Spitzerberg I was quite hopeful of getting a repeat here. This was cherry chunky...firm tannins...liquorice traces...and needing air. We sat outside in a nearby restaurant...one of our guests had Hungarian roots....and I explained that the grape is called Lemberger in German....and Kékfrankos in Hungary. I can be very informative at times!
Points 16

Silvaner Surprise

Zehnthof Luckert
Silvaner Gelbkalk 2009
Franconia, Germany
A nose I am not familiar with...due to the fact that I have HARDLY EVER tried Silvaner wines...due to the fact that they had never impressed. However...they are appearing all over the place...making a comeback, so to speak....and so I thought I would try a couple. This property is highly rated in Franconia...and the area has always been associated with the grape. Back to the nose...yellow fruits...a mix of apples and pears...and the fatness of previous examples was not evident here. Minerality...lovely lively stuff...cinammon on the palate and a gentle steeliness making a wine at the price...€ 15,-- that is worth testing folks.
Points 16.5...
Yes I know it's 16.5 again...purely coincidence....all the wines tried recently have pleased...but just missing hitting the 17 point mark

Red Austrians

Rough notes made over a few days...I have invested in a few more Austrians...this time of the colour red.

Christian Fischer
Cuvée Grandenthal 2008
Thermenregion, Austria
Zwiegelt, Cabernet & Merlot. An easy, delightful wine, goes down without a hitch...sour cherry fruit...and decent length...which makes it well worth the price.
Points 16.5 € 20,--







Jagini Zagersdorf 2007
Neusiedlersee-Hügelland
A new project from Robert Velich and Hannes Schuster...this being the first vintage. Now...while I am not adverse to some softness in wines...there has always to be a bite. This 100% Blaufränkisch has a whiff of violets...and some cherry notes....and an elegance that makes it very easy to drink now... methinks this may go into shell...and maybe reappear with the bite I was asking for.
Points 16.5 € 33,--

K +K Kirnbauer Das Phantom 2008
Mittelburgenland, Austria
Blaufränkisch...also known as Lemberger here in Germany...usually has an earthy character...and that is the first impression here...although the Cabernet Sauvignon is well to the fore. This is a Cuvée from the two aforementioned grapes...plus some Merlot and Syrah. Deep garnet red colour...cassis(CS)...cherry and a whiff of vanilla. This is aged for 18 months in small oak barrel...there is a fresh acidity throughout... a useful wine with food.
Points 16.5 € 24,--