We just received word from Lucas Pichler that he will be in the store from 2-5 pm on Saturday, October 24, to discuss the terroir of Austria in general and the Wachau more specifically, talk about the importance of Austria in the overall wine landscape, tell stories of the history of his Domaine and pour tastes of many of his critically acclaimed wines. This is really an incredible treat for us and we look forward to sharing this experience with all who can make it.

A picture says a thousand words. We’re now official. Doors open Wednesday, October 21, 2009 at 10 a.m. We know waiting can be a drag, so feel free to drop by anytime before if you want to talk shop or check out the new digs. We have plenty to do to get ready for our opening, so trust us, we’ll be around. And we’re always looking for a little break from moving hundreds of cases of wine.

Peter Weygandt’s daughter, Ida, was nice enough to stop by and donate the fruits of her labor to our little project. So when we are ready to open (we’ll let you know an exact date very soon), in between tastes of wines, take a minute to check out the photos she took of some of our favorite winemakers.

More buildout stuff. The counters have gone in and they’re real and they’re spectacular. Other than a cheap reason to include a Seinfeld shoutout, this is an important step for us, because with the floors down and the counters set, we can actually start filling our store with things that are of interest to our customers. Like wine. Lot’s of odds and ends will be taken care of this week so stay tuned for our countdown to kickoff…

So, we’re not quite open yet. But as you can see from these photos, it’s so close we can almost taste it. Which brings us to a very important element of what we would like to bring to our customers: the option to come into our store, relax, look around, and actually taste a number of wines before deciding on what to bring home. We like to think of ourselves as likeable fellows (so don’t be afraid to chat us up), and more importantly, we’ll help you decide which wines suit your tastes–but your olfactory senses and tastebuds can make the ultimate decision. Stay tuned for more updates on when you can come in for your first taste!

Robert M. Parker, Jr. of The Wine Advocate asked Peter Weygandt to report on his recent trip to Burgundy and the Rhône river valley. The following is his account:

On September 15, I arrived in Burgundy and for a few days witnessed and participated in a very beautiful harvest there. The morning of September 16th, I heard on the weather news that the night before in Chateauneuf it had rained. I arrived in there mid-day on Friday the 18th. It had rained a little that morning and then it rained again that afternoon. On Saturday the 19th,it rained a little, over an area that stretched from Courthezon to Chateanueuf, but missed the northwest section of the appellation entirely. All told, the rains together totaled about 70-75 mm over 4 days, with the biggest coming the night of the 15th (around 60 mm).

Prior to this time there had not been any rain in Chateauneuf since mid-June (and then very little). July and especially August had been very hot. By late August some vines were showing stress. September turned cooler, which helped. Many growers started to pick around the 10th. In fact, many got their entire harvest of Chateauneuf in before the night of the 14th, when the first rain in 3 months came. These producers, depending on how much they had worked, produced, in many cases, wines of exceptional promise–great concentration and intense flavors that I tasted from the juice. The key was how much they had worked the soil, which had helped the vines mature and minimized any stress. For those who picked just because the grapes had high alcohol, their wines might not be successful (but I did not visit any domaine such as this). On the other hand, for those who had maturity (those who practice “bio” culture and who work the soil), the “First” harvest of 2009 should be exceptional.

Then comes the Second harvest: post September 15. Here there are two possibilities—those who started to pick right away the following Monday, and those who waited till the week of September 28. The week was significant because not only did it not rain for the rest of the month, but the weather was perfect–sunny days, cool nights, and starting the 21st, a week of mistral.

In this group I can report, from my own knowledge, Clos St. Jean, Stephane Usseglio, and Baptiste Grangeon for his Grenache in sandy soils (sand drains especially well). They did not start until the week of the 28th. These producers could possibly make extraordinary wines for several reasons–the skins on the grapes were very thick and hard when the rains came, so the skins never swelled (plus the vines were so starved for water that even the quantity that fell was not too much). The additional two weeks
enabled the vines to fully complete their maturation, boosted by re-started photosynthesis, and complete the softening of tannins. Finally, there was mistral and cool nights the last two weeks, to further concentrate the grapes, while preserving acidity.

Whereas Burgundy, Beaujolais, and the northern Rhône are unquestionably potentially great (and easy) harvests, 2009 has presented a fascinating scenario in Chateauneuf for comparisons that will surely go on for years–the Tale of Two Harvests of 2009.
– Peter Weygandt – October 1, 2009

On Saturday, October 24, 2009 we will have Lucas Pichler of  F.X. Pichler in our store for a wine tasting. We are thrilled to have this legendary producer as part of our portfolio and to bring these labors of love to Weygandt Wines for you to taste.

“It is not often that one can talk about the greatest producer in a given country (but Austria is small, so here one has an advantage). And while there are many great producers in Austria, none is more synonymous with great Austrian wine than F.X. Pichler. In fact, so riveting is its reputation that one author on Austrian wine who was prompted to list the 100 greatest producers in Austria, in order of greatness, lists F.X. Pichler as #1. When one tastes the wines, you’ll see why all the awe. They are truly monumental dry white wines–each with a mouth-filling presence, finish and complexity that leaves one speechless. His Riesling Smaragd Loibnerberg is the quintessence of rich, exotic multi-layered Riesling. His Grüner Smaragd Kellerberg and Grüner “M” are the most rich and complex expression of this unique varietal one can attain.” – Peter Weygandt

“…F.X. Pichler is the Chateau Latour, Domaine de la Romanée-Conti, Zind-Humbrecht, Sandrone and Helen Turley of the Wachau.” – Robert M. Parker, Jr. – The Wine Advocate, 2002.

“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.”
– David Schildknecht – The Wine Advocate, Feb 2009