Austria

Steinfeder is the lowest category in the ripeness classification of white wines in Austria's Wachau Valley. It means the wines have a mandated maximum alcohol level of 11.5 percent.  The result is that the wines have a lighter body and tend to drink easier and sooner.  Silvery gold in color, clear and bright.  The nose has limes and slight white pepper.  Medium bodied.  On the palate, tart limes.  Good acidity.  Long finish.  This is very food friendly and would go well with pasta primavera.  Drink over the next few years.  

Consumed with Lunch at Restaurant Loibnerhof – Knoll in Durnstein, Austria.  Made from 100% Pinot Noir.  Pink/orange in color, clear and bright.  The nose is nice with with strawberries, cherries and slight cranberries.  Medium bodied.  Nice, creamy texture.  Good balance.  On the palate, cherries and cranberries.  Clean.  Dry.  Delicious with a variety of foods including a mushroom pasta with cream sauce.  Drink over the next few years.  

This is a red made by a producer who mostly produces whites in Austria.  Light ruby in color, clear and bright.  The nose is very earthy with a sweaty socks note.  Light bodied. On the palate, there is a note of rhubarb turning slightly bitter on the finish.  Low acidity.  This will probably be a bit better with food.  Drink over the next year or so.  

The is a beautiful dessert wine from Austria.  Beerenauslese literally means berry selected which means the grapes are harvested individually and not in bunches to ensure ripeness.  Golden in color, clear and bright.  The nose has honey, apricot and a slight balsa wood note.  Viscous.  Sweet, not cloying.  Enough acidity to cut through.  The palate also features the apricots and honey.  Long finish.  This is delicious and probably serves to be consumed on its own.  Drink over the next twenty years.  10.5% abv.

Auslese is a German word meaning Selected Harvest.  The grapes are late harvest grapes with high levels of sugar.  Light golden in color, clear and bright.  The nose has a bit of diesel along with peach and slight apples.  Light acidity but the wine is not cloying.  On the palate, notes of white raisins, honey and peach with some minerality.  Slightly sweet. Slight tropical fruits on the finish.  This is delicious.  It is great on its own and would work well with a not too sweet piece of (Austrian) pastry or cookie.  Drink over the next ten to twelve years.  

This is a Late Release of this wine.  Green/gold in color.  The nose seems to have good minerality but also some botrytis on it.  Medium bodied.  Moderate acidity.  On the palate, there seems to be just a bit of residual sugar along with a nice citrus streak.  A different sort of wine from this area.  Long finish.  This is enjoyable and would make a lovely aperitif. Drink over the next five to eight years.  

This was cool to try at the winery.  The bottle had been open, but refrigerated for three days.  Still a vibrant green/gold in color, clear and bright.  The nose has diesel as one might expect from a 16 year old Riesling, but also nice minerality and a hint of peach.  Full bodied.  A broad complexity on the palate.  Minerals and slight citrus.  Nice finish.  Although showing some age, for those who appreciate an aged Riesling, this is drinking well.  This would work well with a nice Mulligatawny soup.  

Green/gold in color, clear and bright.  The nose is deep with lots of minerality.  Some peaches and a slight citrus note.  Medium bodied.  Nice balance.  On the palate, this has a nice tight complexity that will unwind over the years.  Peach with underlying minerality.  Good finish.  One of the most enjoyable wines from a tasting of this producer.  It drinks well now and should improve with some age.  Either way, this will drink well over the next ten to twelve years.  It drinks well on its own and would work well with fried foods.  

Golden in color, clear and bright.  The nose has great minerality.  Slight lemons.  Medium bodied.  Light tannins.  On the palate, the minerality comes thru.  This is dry.  And herbal note, especially on the finish.  Lots of depth.  This is drinking well now and should continue for another ten years.  Nice on its own, this will work well with Thai food.  

Yellow gold in color, clear and bright.  The nose is nice and all about the minerality.  Medium bodied.  Nice acidity.  Slightly crisp texture which works well.  On the palate, guava and slight pineapple.  Good finish.  This is drinking well now and should continue for ten to twelve more years.  Nice on its own, this will work well with fried foods.