Austrian Wine

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2020 

The Wine Advocate 90 Points | The grapes for Reinisch's 2020 St. Laurent ripen in the vineyards in Tattendorf, whose warm, dry gravel soils are predestined for this heat-resistant grape variety. Aged in large oak casks, this dark-colored red wine opens with an intense and aromatic bouquet of ripe, dark fruits and raw, dark and bloody flesh. It's attractively reductive. Textured and juicy on the round and generous, almost creamy palate, this is a mouth-filling and charming red with fine tannins and an aromatic fruit-intense finish. Perfect fruit ripeness. Not as delicate and filigreed as the corresponding Pinot Noir, but it's a supple and charming red that will make many friends. Very good finish. 12.5% stated alcohol. Screw-cap. Tasted in January 2023.

Winemaker Description 

Federspiel is a designation of ripeness for dry wines, a term used exclusively by members of the Vinea Wachau.

Federspiel wines must be unchaptalized and fall between 11.5 and 12.5% ABV. The grapes are hand-harvested, typically in October, and are sent directly to press where they spontaneously ferment in stainless-steel tanks. Franz Prager, co-founder of the Vinea Wachau, had already earned a reputation for his wines when Toni Bodenstein married into the family.

Bodenstein’s passion for biodiversity and old terraces, coupled with brilliant winemaking, places Prager in the highest echelon of Austrian producers. Steinriegl is planted to Riesling and is Prager’s only vineyard west of Weißenkirchen.

The exceptionally steep, southwest-facing site has a cool mesoclimate due to its proximity to the forest, and its soil is a unique “kalksilikatmarmor,” a limestone silicate marble rarely found elsewhere in the Wachau. Bodenstein produces both an earlier-picked Federspiel and a later-picked Smaragd.

Austrian Riesling is often defined by elevated levels of dry extract thanks to a lengthy ripening period and freshness due to dramatic temperature swings between day and night.

Steinriegl’s uniquely cool microclimate results in wines of high aroma and focused acidity and its limestone soil provide compact structure and a flavor that is distinctive among Wachau Rieslings.Riesling’s high acidity makes it one of the most versatile wines at the table.

Riesling can be used to cut the fattiness of foods such as pork or sausages and can tame some saltiness. Conversely, it can highlight foods such as fish or vegetables in the same way a squeeze of lemon or a vinaigrette might.

Producer Description 

Dusty tangerine in color, it opens with delectable aromas of yellow apple and vanilla wafers. On the palate it evokes orange creamsicle - while remaining completely dry! - with layers of sweet apple, spice, and a clean, refreshing finish. Certified organic.

Winemaker Description 

Laser-focused and mineral-loaded with ripe layers of sun-kissed citrus fruits, mango peel, and crunchy yellow/green apple on a bed of crushed white rock and honeysuckle. It’s unabashedly delicious yet complex and bone-dry; a quintessential snapshot of a storied terroir. 

Want an authentic, elite bottling of Kremstal? This is it! Enjoy now and over the next 3-5 years.

94 Points Robert Parker's Wine Advocate: The 2021 Beerenauslese Cuvée opens with a clear, fresh and finely honeyed bouquet of dried and stewed apricots and fresh apricot skins, greengage plum and saline notes. Full-bodied, lush and refined on the palate, this is a rich yet elegant and fresh BA based on Chardonnay and Welschriesling. Pineapple aromas populate the finish that pairs fine tannins and a caramelly salinity that is so typical for wines from the Seewinkel. To be released in September this year. 11% stated alcohol. Natural cork. Tasted at the domaine in May 2024.

93 James Suckling: The aromas of this rich and succulent dessert wine are like a tropical fruit coulis, and they are married to a lovely acidity that lifts the medium- to full-bodied palate. Wonderful textural complexity at the long, elegant finish.

Winemaker Notes

Our Professional Review

Rand Sieger of 67Wine.com | Deep ruby color. Earthy crushed raspberry and pencil shaving aromas follow through on a soft, satiny entry to a dry-yet-fruity medium body with a delicate touch of spice and crabapple. Finishes in lingering spiced poached apple, mineral, and wet cedar fade with lightly pithy tannins.

Winemaker Description

Zippy raspberries lead the palate, minerality becomes present after. It finishes with smooth tannins that coat your tongue so softly you barely notice them. Light to medium bodied.

Nose of black fruit and spices and wood. Little tannin, light-med delicate body, lots of cheery and raspberry and finishes spicy and woody with a bit of acid that matches perfectly with the fatty carnitas.

Memo Food Pairing Suggestion

Food Pairings

• Casual: Ideal for picnics, pizza nights, or a hearty tuna salad.

  • Main Course: Pairs beautifully with roasted vegetables, mushroom-based dishes, or grilled poultry.

  • Specialty: Since it's from Austria, it is a classic match for Wiener Schnitzel or mild German sausages.

   

Winemaker Description 

Originating from wild vines, Orangetraube was first selected as a recognized varietal in 1840 and has been a part of the Zahel family's field blends (Gemischter Satz) since the winery began in 1930, but only produced as a monovarietal white since 1954.

Two generations later, Alexander Zahel is the last remaining producer of this unique treasure of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. 

This unique historic variety from Vienna's vineyards is fresh, complex, and edgy, with under ripe stone fruit and zippy acidity.