Pichler....anyone who loves Austrian wines will know the name. F.X. Pichler gets the eyes rolling. Maybe the daughter will as well. Elisabeth Pichler is the lady ...along
with husband Erich Krutzler(Burgenland in the 90's)...started this
property in 2006. Determined to be exact when it comes to the
vineyards...no Botrytis....no overripe grapes...no rot.
Pichler-Krutzler Riesling Wunderburg 2011 Wachau, Austria Very like a German style...dry...nose of pears...passion fruits...and ripe Golden Delicious apples. A most definite style...a wine to work on...quite complex...layers of minerals and a long finish. It went very well with our seafood. Points 17.5
One of my favourite wines is the 'M' Grüner Veltliner from father F.X(Franz Xaver). I had been up and down the cellar steps earlier this day...trying to decide on a real goodie to drink at our Bistro with the parents of my goldchild.
F.X. Pichler Grüner Veltliner 'M' 2007 Wachau, Austria I have been here before...when a G.V. is soft and rounded and with a little age...does it really suffer following a wine much younger with minerals to the fore? It
seems so...that is not to say this did not please...traces of aniseed
on the nose...loads of honey....juicy...and quite mature. I have one
more bottle...it will be drunk on it's own. Points 17.5
Time passes quicker when you get older...not true...but you think it does. I had not seen my good freind Volker for a while...not true...we occasionally bump into each other on market day. Not seen...I mean...not sat at a table. We met up at our Bistro...Mitch...and as the weather was warm and dry...sat outside (means I can plan a good cigar). I would bring a bottle of red...and he would supply the white.
We ordered some sea food salad...and started on the white. Covered up...I had to work for my pleasure. I said Chardonnay...and got a nod. I said Burgundy...and got a nod. I started reminiscing about Meursault...but maybe I was getting too close...so Volker unveiled the mystery. A Chablis..and a damned good one as well. Very good vintage...and a Premier Cru being more approachable than a Grand Cru. Good Burgundy is so difficult to describe...but so easy to please.
William Fevre Chablis Fourchaume 1 cru 2011 Burgundy, France Nose of citrus and a touch of smoke. Lovely minerality about this wine...no overdone oak. Green apple fruit...loads of stones and cool stream about this. Very drinkable...and even blossomed when it warmed in the glass. Loved this....and will have to drink more Chablis again. Points 17.5
Main courses...Volker opted for Octopus...I decided on lamb filet..with a mustard sauce.
I had been down in my cellar and had chosen 3 Pinot possibilities. All 2007 vintage...Adeneuer Walporzheimer Gärkammer, Fürst Hunsrück R and Becker Sankt Paul.I had called Volker earlier to ask what he fancied. He wanted to guess at the table...so the long Ahr bottle was out.
Becker Sankt Paul Pinot Noir 2007 Pfalz, Germany I have to admit...this is a wine to be enjoyed solo...I mean...no other wines alongside it. The reason...it is just SO soft. That is not a negative..as we found out as we enjoyed the juice. Ripe fruit and an earthy sweetness. The palate gets high on the velvety texture. Volker was more than happy. Points 17.75
We both enjoyed each other's choices. I lit up my cigar...and the heaven's opened. A storm like nothing we had seen for a while. Luckily we had enough cover...but the walk home left me looking like a drowned rat! It was worth it though...
Histamin...never heard of
it? Most people have not...and a regular doctor will most likely wave
his hand and not discuss it. I am not going to describe what it is
here....that's what we have Google for. What it is though...is a ****** nuisance. Why?...because various foods and, in particular, wines, are taboo. My
wine cellar is 50 % Pinot Noir / Spätburgunder...and eagle-eyed readers
of the blog will maybe have noticed...Barry is drinking loads of
whites...probably because of the hot summer. The answer would be 'half'
correct...the negative 'half' is...I have tried to not drink anything red.
A couple of glasses with my Corovin....that was it over the last 6 weeks. Check the Bavarian report....only white. It has been easier with it being
summer...but I dread to think what I will do in winter. Drink and be
damned probably. So...I am drinking white...and green(Veltliner). It is about time I
was honoured by the neighbours over the border. (I live in Germany). I
love Austrian whites...Grüner Veltliner of course...and now I am loving
their Rieslings...and to think...when I first started drinking wine...Austria had a bad name! Sat in the garden when the sun goes down...a glass of
the classic grape...two glasses null the thoughts of my red-wine
problem. Problem?...what problem?
I decided to do a short film of our garden...one hour a day watering...you get nothing from life if you don't invest!
Having found the Knoll 2012 a little too young...I still could not resist... Alzinger Riesling Smaragd Loibenberg 2012 Wachau, Austria Green/yellow colour...lush yellow apple fruit...lively acidity...but already well integrated...good length...and delicious in the evening sun Points 17.5
Isn't it the Japanese who call their children in order, 1, 2, 3 etc.? Daughter Number 1 has reached 50 years old. She and Hubby came along with some excellent Sushi / Sashimi.
Wine 'taster' to start with was the rest of a bottle drank over the last few days Knoll Riesling Smaragd Kellerberg 2012 Wachau, Austria Orange fruit on the nose....distinctly backward. Peach flavour...holding back though. Three days hardly softened it...needs time Points 17...with a future
Tegernseerhof Riesling Smaragd Kellerberg 2009 Wachau, Austria Traces of petroleum...which captivates me instantly. Great balance. Dark minerals...lively citrus...tobacco notes. Perfect partner for the food...the wine just rolled over the tongue and lifted the food. Points 17.75
Franz Hirtzberger Grüner Veltliner Smaragd Axpoint 2012 Wachau, Austria I am a big fan of this property. We tried a glass after the first taste of the Riesling. Obviously fatter...and very exotic. We came back to it later. Green apples hit the nostrils...soft tobacco spices...again... exotic. Quite full and has hardly had time to blossom. Delicious now...but this really needs a year or two. EXOTIC. Points 17.5
A wine can be great, very good, good, or ordinary. It can also be influenced by things around it. The weather, good friends, poor food...a list of things that influence you when trying to be objective. Nothing disastrous will follow...just a small thing that makes a big difference.
I had tried the Grüner Veltliner on holiday...and had been impressed. Very good quality for the price. Back home I searched for the wine...and managed to find 4 bottles. To make up the case I took 2 of the Riesling.
Saturday evening...God and The World were going to watch Brazil at the World Cup. I am a soccer fan...but good friends are like gold...so we decided...the 4 of us...to go our local Bistro. The game would normally have finished at 8 pm but there was extra time and penalties...which meant if you watched it all...9.15pm earliest in any restaurant. We were alone (I know 4 is not 'alone') but you know what I mean!. No other customers...but the food was excellent...see the mixed starter...and I opted for some Red Snapper.
I had taken along the two bottles the previous day...and they had been opened...unscrewed...2 hours before we arrived. Thinking...starter need some minerals...I chose the Riesling first. The GV with the Snapper Perfect decision...but you cannot be right all of the time!
Tegeenseerhof Riesling Steinertal Smaragd 2011 Wachau, Austria A delight...stone fruits with a touch of citrus...zippy attractive acidity...quite full but still fleeet of foot...it loved the sea food and I loved IT! Points 17.5
Tegeenseerhof Grüner Veltliner Loibenberg Smaragd 2011 Wachau, Austria Gave this 17.75 on holiday Soft....smooth...but seemed to suffer after the uplifting Riesling. Not it's fault.. Points...a tentative 17...but will open another bottle...on it's own.
Two days later...much better without any 'outside' influence...Points 17.25
So my point is proved...3 different tasting...all in different surroundings... I would love to go on holiday again and try it...which you can understand in more ways than one.
