Uwe Schiefer Winemaker Event - Saturday, Jan. 16

Austria, Blaufrankisch, Events, St. Laurent, Südburgenland, Tasting, Winemaker, Zweigelt No Responses »
Jan 122010

On Saturday, January 16, please help us welcome critically acclaimed winemaker Uwe Schiefer. Peter Weygandt and Uwe will stop in between noon and 4 pm to talk about some of the greatest wines from Austria.

Schiefer’s principle: “Less is more” – his aim is a genuine winemaking. He produces wines in a very puristic style focusing on naturalness. Currently he works in some vineyards biodynamic, but wants to change all vineyard culture to biodynamic in the coming years.

The Südburgenland is Austria’s smallest wine producing province and straddles the border with Hungary. There are a total of 400 hectares under vine. The finest vineyard is the 120 ha Eisenberg, a steep schistus slate hillside where Uwe Schiefer  (by coincidence the word Schiefer meaning slate in German) works now on 5 hectares. About 10 years ago, he started putting together his estate, nearly all planted to Blaufränkisch.

I wrote extensively in issue 177 about Uwe Schiefer and his remarkable and distinctive Blaufrankisch from the once-famous Eisenberg area on the Hungarian border in South Burgenland. His 2006 collection almost certainly represents the best of his eight to date, hence some of the most exciting red wine ever produced in Austria. Despite his relatively brief history, Schiefer’s conception of Blaufrankisch as a wine with site-sensitivity and finesse comparable, and best handled in a manner akin to that of Burgundian Pinot Noir and not a wine of, as he puts it, “tannin and power,” or one best marked by small toasty barrels, has begun to resonate within Austria, not least in the exciting Moric wines of Roland Velich (the 2006s of which are reviewed in this report). – David Schildknecht, The Wine Advocate

Posted by Weygandt Wines at 12:31 am

What We're Tasting This Week (Dec. 21-24)

Austria, Bandol, Burgundy, Carignan, Carnuntum, Chenin Blanc, Côtes du Rhône Villages, France, Grenache, Loire, Mourvedre, Pinot Noir, Provence, Red Wine, Rhône, Sauvignon Blanc, Syrah, Vouvray, Zweigelt No Responses »
Dec 212009

As the snow turns from immaculate puffs of pristine powder to the inevitable byproduct of rubber, asphalt, CO emissions and frozen H2O, we thought we’d try to warm the cockles of your hearts by offering some new selections to taste.

What are your plans for holiday presents? Knick knacks? Holiday sweaters? CDs that they’ll never listen to? With the holiday season in full force, what better way to give, than by giving the gift of wine? Or better yet, what better way to recover from the madness that is holiday shopping, by uncorking a bottle. Regardless, whatever your holiday needs, we can help. In one way or another. The lineup:

Domaine Pascal & Nicolas Reverdy Sancerre Vieilles Vignes 2005, $22.99/btl – Loire, France – 100% Sauvignon Blanc – 13.5% abv – Has solid cut and definition, with delightful chive flower, fleur de sel, lime and chalk notes that race through the bright finish. Drink now. 50 cases imported. – WS 90 points

Domaine de Aubusieres Les Girardieres Vouvray 2008, $18.99/btl – Loire, France – 100% Chenin Blanc – 12.5% abv – A lovely semi-sweet wine, with a fine example of clayish-silicious terroir. Great as an aperitif, with cold and cured meat, fish, shellfish, poultry and cheese persillée.

Domaine de L’Abbaye du Petit Quincy Bourgogne Epineuil 2005, $17.99/btl - Burgundy, France – 100% Pinot Noir – 12.5% abv – Hints of raspberry and strawberry with an ample, round finish, this Pinot Noir will go well with meats and cheeses.

Markowitsch Rubin Carnuntum, $19.99/btl – Carnuntum, Austria – 100% Zweigelt – 13.5% abv – Berry and plum flavors dominate this modest red. The crisp finish features spicy notes. Zweigelt. Drink now. 50 cases imported. – WS 83 points

Domaine Daniel et Denis Alary Cairanne 2007, $20.99/btl – Rhone, France – Grenache, Syrah and Carignan – 14.5% abv – Ripe and lush, with gorgeous mouthfeel to the pure, racy beam of raspberry ganache, black cherry and blackberry fruit. The finish lets melted licorice, roasted apple wood and spice bread notes flitter on. There’s solid depth and length to this. Grenache, Syrah and Carignan. Drink now through 2010. 2,080 cases made. – WS 90 points

The 2007 Cotes du Rhone-Villages Cairanne is a powerhouse. Earthy with a hint of weedy tobacco interwoven with creme de cassis and kirsch, lots of body, and remarkable freshness as well as exuberance, this is a full-bodied red with considerable power (14.5% alcohol), layers, and richness. It will be even better in 1-2 years, and should keep for a decade or more. – WA 90 points

Domaine La Bastide Blanche Bandol Rouge 2006, $22.99/btl – Provence, France – 74% Mourvedre, 22% Grenache, 3% Syrah, 1% Carignan – 14.5% abv – A powerful red, with intense red and dark fruit flavors, including fig, dark plum and raspberry. Formidable tannins and acidity support the finish, which is infused with notes of baker’s chocolate and black olive. Best from 2011 through 2015. 400 cases imported. – WS 92 points

Posted by Weygandt Wines at 4:34 pm
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