2013 Rudi Pichler Grüner Veltliner Smaragd Weissenkirchner Achleithen, Austria, Wachau, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2013
Score: 
88
Grade: 
B+

This is a good wine, but given its $96 price tag, it was disappointing.  A slight amount of trapped CO2.  Medium gold in color.  Slight sulfur to the nose but otherwise pretty tight.  Some asparagus and limes.  On the palate, this is soft.  It has a dusty taste with slight limes.  No obvious faults here.  Given the pedigree, it may be shut down hard right now though that's not something usually associated with GV.  Good acidity.  Worked well with food.  It did not seem to change in any respect for the two and a half hours in the glass.  

2012 Bernhard Ott Grüner Veltliner 1ÖTW Rosenberg, Austria, Wagram, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2012
Score: 
92
Grade: 
A-

This has some trapped CO2 in it which blew off quickly.  The nose has tart citrus notes.  Also some green apples.  On the palate, this seemed ever so slightly sweet.  Green apples with some orange peel.  Nice depth and complexity.  It was older than the other GV's tasted with but did not stand out (other than a bit more complexity).  Good finish.  Food friendly.  Certainly seems like it has at least a decade left.  $60

2015 Weingut Willi Bründlmayer Grüner Veltliner Reserve Lamm Kamptal, Austria, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2015
Score: 
91
Grade: 
A-

This wine took a while to really open.  The group I tasted with liked it more than I but its best days are probably still ahead.  Light medium gold in color.  The nose has a fair amount of sulfur.  With air, some tangerine emerges and with more air, some white floral notes.  On the palate, this is soft.  It gets better with food.  Slightly tart granny smith apple notes.  Nice finish.  This probably needs a few years to develop and should be good for a decade or more after that.  If drinking now, decant.  It retails for $77 so cellaring is a nice option to get the full value of the wine.  

2015 Alzinger Grüner Veltliner Smaragd Loibenberg, Austria, Wachau, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2015
Score: 
91
Grade: 
A-

Deep green/gold in color.  The nose is very tight but eventually opens to show some peach along with a bit of white flowers.  On the palate, there is a nice underlayer of minerality here.  Sour apples on top.  Drinking very well with a bit of air but even better with a selection of Austrian cheeses.  Good finish.  This retails for $53, so you can make your own value judgments.  It is very enjoyable.  It will be interesting to see how it develops from here.  

2016 Loimer Grüner Veltliner Langenloiser Kamptal, Austria, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2016
Score: 
90
Grade: 
A-

This seemed to have some trapped CO2 in it, but that quickly blew off.  Green/gold in color.  The nose is interesting.  A friend suggested strawberries and that worked.  For me, it was more like dried flowers and fresh hay if that makes sense.  It was nice though.  On the palate, this is more about tart red apples.  a bit clipped on the finish, but otherwise, quite nice.  Would work with a wide variety of food.  It will probably come together a bit over the next year and be good for at least five to seven after that.  

2016 Leth Grüner Veltliner Steinagrund, Austria, Wagram, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2016
Score: 
93
Grade: 
A

Wow.  This was fantastic and available for under $20 a bottle.  Medium gold in color.  The nose has white flowers, vanilla and limes.  Very pretty.  On the palate, vanilla and a tangerine note emerges.  Deep with a nice complexity, it slowly unwinds in the glass.  Nice finish.  This wine will work with a wide variety of foods.  Having just tasted the 2014, it seems like this should last for at least 5 years and probably longer.  It is unclear if it will improve but might be worth taking a shot on.  

2016 Nigl Grüner Veltliner Freiheit, Austria, Kremstal, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2016
Score: 
91
Grade: 
A-

This wine seemed to have a bit of trapped CO2 which blew off quickly.  The nose has a fair amount of sulfur on it.  It partially blows off revealing limes and slight sour apples.  On the palate, there are green apples and slight vanilla notes.  Nice texture as it all comes together.  Good finish.  This would work with a wide variety of foods.  It probably needs a few years to hit maturity.  

2015 Weingut Willi Bründlmayer Grüner Veltliner Alte Reben Kamptal Reserve, Austria, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2015
Score: 
93
Grade: 
A

Medium gold in color.  The nose has vanilla, lemon/lime and slight floral notes.  Really pretty.  On the palate, this has a lovely smooth texture.  The vanilla comes thru along with the lemon/lime and undertones of minerality.  Deep complexity.  Slightly oily texture which is nice.  Turns tart green apple on the finish.  This seems like it has the stuffing to age well for the next ten to fifteen years.  Delicious now though.  Would work with a very wide variety of foods, even heavier meat dishes.  

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