Austrian Wine Sale and Tasting, Sat, Jun 26, 1-4 pm

Austria, Events, Grüner Veltliner, Kamptal, Kremstal, Organic, Riesling, Sale, Sustainable, Tasting, Wachau, White Wine No Responses »
Jun 232010

Please join us at Weygandt Wines on Saturday, June 26th as we host a tasting of dry Reislings and Gruner Veltliners from some of Austria’s best producers, from 1PM-4PM.

Let’s face it. It’s hot outside. Really hot. And summer’s only just begun! So maybe we should take a moment to rethink this whole idea of grilling hunks of red meat and serving them on the back porch alongside a full-bodied red wine (we can rethink this but certainly not dismiss the idea!)

Something more refreshing, chilled, dry and white is in order to partner with good food that’s just a bit lighter. Grilled seasonal vegetables, seafood sausages, white meat, fish and shellfish. Austrian whites, Rieslings and Gruner Veltliners are ideal accompaniments. Their complex flavors give them the richness to stand up to a variety of foods, and their crisp dryness make them especially refreshing.

So when choosing your menu for this weekend, spend a few moments pondering the perfect wine selection. Or, better yet, come in to the shop and sample some excellent, limited production wines and pick up a few bottles or a case.

Through June 26, 2010, all Austrian wines will be discounted 15% off their regular retail price for single bottles, and 20% by the case, mixed or matched. SALE ENDS 8PM JUNE 26, 2010. The Lineup:

Josef Schmid Riesling Vom Urgestein Bergterrassen 2007, Regular Price $24.99, Sale Price $21.24 – Kremstal, Austria – 100% Riesling – 13% abv – Sustainable – Offers a floral, spicy aroma, with intense Granny Smith apple, peach and pear flavors. Slate and pepper flavors fill the finish. Drink now through 2012. 833 cases made.

Josef Schmid Riesling Pfaffenberg Reserve 2007, Regular Price $29.99, Sale Price $25.49 – Kremstal, Austria – 100% Riesling – 13.5% abv – Sustainable – Rich, well-concentrated flavors of peach and apricot, with hints of tropical fruit, give this plenty of punch. The long, spice-filled finish features notes of mineral and cream. Drink now through 2012. 250 cases made.

Kurt Angerer Riesling Ametzberg 2007, Regular Price $26.99, Sale Price $22.94 – Kamptal, Austria – 100% Riesling – 14% abv – Sustainable - Concentrated tropical fruit flavors of mango and pineapple fill this rich Riesling. There’s a ripe appley note as well, with intriguing savory herbal elements. This really hums on the creamy finish. Drink now through 2015. 267 cases made. – Rated 93 points, Wine Spectator

Nothnagl Grüner Veltliner Ried Steinborz Federspiel 2007, Regular Price $16.99, Sale Price $14.44 – Wachau, Austria – 100% Grüner Veltliner – 12% abv – Sustainable - Medium-bodied, with pear and green peach flavors. Finishes with plenty of vanilla and spice. Drink now.

Buchegger Grüner Veltliner Gebling 2008, Regular Price $21.99, Sale Price $18.69 – Kremstal, Austria – 100% Grüner Veltliner – 13% abv – Sustainable - Starts off a little fat, but gains focus with concentrated flavors of Fuji apple, pear, lentil and spice. Cream-filled finish. Drink now. 50 cases imported.

Pichler-Krutzler 2007 Grüner Veltliner Superin, Regular Price $57.99, Sale Price $49.29 – Wachau, Austria – 100% Grüner Veltliner – 13.5% abv – Organic - From sandy, eroded Urgestein vineyards just upstream but very different in character from the gravelly, alluvial Klostersatz – combines rich pit fruits, a glossy texture, and a plush sense of stuffing with piquant nuttiness, white pepper, and saline and wet stone minerality. This should prove versatile and satisfying for at least 4-5 years in bottle.

Posted by Weygandt Wines at 5:39 pm

What We're Tasting This Week (April 5-9)

Austria, Burgundy, Carignan, Côtes du Rhône, Events, France, Gigondas, Grenache, Grüner Veltliner, Marsannay, Mourvedre, Pinot Noir, Red Wine, Rhône, Sustainable, Syrah, Tasting, Wachau, White Wine, Winemaker No Responses »
Apr 052010

Thanks to all who participated in our tasting with the incomparable Thierry Brouin on Saturday. His wines from his “quasi-monopole” (his words–he owns 99.5% of the vineyards) are both forward and elegant, silky and powerful. This was a real treat to taste his wines and even more so to get to know such a dedicated winemaker and kind man. But enough groveling–we have business to attend to. This week’s forecast is calling for beautiful heat. Not the oppressive, mid-summer pea soup kind, but the mid-8os bright sunshine type. The perfect weather for something cold and pink. So, along with a crisp Gruner Veltliner and an outstanding Gigondas, we’ll pour a couple of rosés so that you can enjoy the few gorgeous days that this are offers to us each spring. The Lineup:

Nothnagl Gruner Veltliner Ried Steinborz Federspiel 2007, $16.99/btl – Wachau, Austria – 100% Gruner Veltliner – 12% abv – Sustainable - Medium-bodied, with pear and green peach flavors. Finishes with plenty of vanilla and spice.

Domaine Collotte Marsannay Rosé 2009, $18.99/btl – Burgundy, France – 100% Pinot Noir – 13% abv – Sustainable - With a beautiful red current hue and a concentrated nose of peach nectar, this rosé is soft and fruity, backed by good strength and liveliness. The perfect accompaniment to charcuterie!

Domaine Les Grand Bois Cotes du Rhone Cuvee Les Trois Soeurs Rosé 2009, $13.99/btl – Burgundy, France – 75% Grenache, 15% Carignan, 5% Syrah -14.5 % abv – Sustainable - Black cherry and bright strawberry highlight this blend with a finish that belies it’s fresh and intense, dry, long-lasting finish. Try it as an aperitif or with almost all foods. Great with Asian spices.

Domaine St.-Damien Gigondas Vieilles Vignes 2006, $27.99/btl – Rhone, France – 90% Grenache, 10% Mourvedre and Carignan – 14.5% abv – Sustainable - The well-made 2006 Gigondas Vieilles Vignes’ deep ruby/purple hue is followed by aromas of black cherries, raspberries, spring flowers, earth, and spice. Not as extravagantly rich as the 2007, it is a medium-bodied, well-balanced wine to consume over the next 7-8 years. Proprietor Joel Saurel’s goal is to produce Gigondas as fine as those fashioned by the appellation’s two superstars, Domaine Santa Duc and Chateau St.-Cosme. An estate to watch, Saint-Damien produces three sensational cuvees of Gigondas as well as two stunning, value-priced Cotes du Rhones, which readers should be buying by the trunkful. As one might expect, the 2007 Gigondas look very strong, but Saurel also succeeded in 2006, a difficult vintage in Gigondas. – WA 90 points

Posted by Weygandt Wines at 4:19 pm

F.X. Pichler Tasting (Epilogue)

Austria, Events, Producer, Tasting, Wachau, Winemaker No Responses »
Oct 272009

A special thanks to Lucas and Johanna Pichler and to everyone who made it out in the deluge that occurred on Saturday afternoon. It was truly a special event and was the epitome of what we are trying to accomplish at our store: give the customer a better understanding of our wines by introducing you to our producers and winemakers. As you can see from the above pictures, we had a very large turnout and we hope to only increase participation in our upcoming events. We’re here not only for advice, but to help educate as best we can. Thanks again and see you at the store!

Posted by Weygandt Wines at 2:00 pm

F.X. Pichler Tasting!

Austria, Events, Grower, Grüner Veltliner, Producer, Riesling, Tasting, Wachau, White Wine, Winemaker No Responses »
Oct 242009

Lucas Pichler from the legendary Austrian house F.X. Pichler will be in the store between 2 and 5 pm today. We validate for parking in the lot right in front of Weygandt Wines, so really, there’s no excuse to skip this once in a lifetime opportunity.

Lucas Pichler was one of the numerous growers to describe the relatively low alcohol and efficacious acidity of his 2007s as “classic,” even though at this address in particular, one can hardly consider that statistically correct. The finished wines remind me a bit of the superb Pichler 1999s which were lushly, at times even extravagantly fruity (not to mention intensely mineral) while remaining refreshing and moderate in alcohol. F.X. Pichler compares the best of this year’s Rieslings with his 1997s, and certainly in terms of sheer quality it is hard to argue with that assessment. The Pichlers have never favored hedging or leaf pulling, and think that the consequence this year was to protect the embryonic bunches from the searing heat and sun of July and to enhance ripening in the long autumn. Of course, the flip side of this could be the trapping of water and promotion of botyrtis. And Lucas Pichler relates that to achieve excellent Federspiel, it was necessary to laboriously cut out botrytized and otherwise imperfect portions from a substantial share of the clusters. For Pichlers (in contrast with Alzingers) – 2007 was more difficult in terms of botrytis and selection – than 2006, especially with Gruner Veltliner. In both Federspiel and Smaragd categories, they held off on picking Riesling, with (to say the least!) demonstrable success. – The Wine Advocate

Lucas will be available to discuss all of his wines and the process behind them and we will be pouring tastes of the following:

F.X. Pichler Gruner Veltliner Federspiel Loibner Frauenweingarten 2007, Austria – 100% Gruner Veltliner – “Picked at the beginning of harvest, mid-September, the 2007 Gruner Veltliner Federspiel Frauenweingarten highlights green bean and snap pea. Juicy and melony, this finishes with crisp vegetable notes, lip-smacking refreshment, and hints of chalk and crushed stone. It will be best enjoyed within the next 12-18 months.” – WA 88 points

F.X. Pichler Gruner Veltliner Federspiel Loibner Klostersatz 2007, Austria – 100% Gruner Veltliner – “The 2007 Gruner Veltliner Federspiel Klostersatz smells of lentils and lemon zest. An excellent combination of concentrated lentil and snap pea flavors and underlying extract with delicacy and lift (at 12.5% alcohol) make an excellent case for the concept of Federspiel, and this finishes with pungent herbal and fruit skin pungency and a crushed stone mineral suggestion. It should perform well for at least 2-3 years.” – WA 89 points

F.X. Pichler Riesling Federspiel Urgestein Terrassen 2007, Austria – 100% Riesling – “The Pichler 2007 Riesling Federspiel Urgestein Terrassen a bottling formerly known as “Von den Terrassen” is beautifully-scented with linden flower, mint, and lime; is refined in texture, infectiously juicy, and citric on the palate; and finishes with a vibrant, sappy amalgam of citrus, herb, pepper, and salt. A significant share of contract fruit from the Loibenberg helps give this its pronounced minerality.” – WA 90 points

Posted by Weygandt Wines at 3:24 pm
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