Our Wines

Austria

Producers & Wines, Austria

Schloss Gobelsburg, Kamptal.

Wine-making at Schloss Gobelsburg dates back to the 12th Century, when the Cistercian monks of the Zwettl monastery founded their first vineyards at Heiligenstein and Gaisberg. In 1996, Michael Moosbrugger took over the management of the property and reinvigorated the estate, with sales and reputation growing steadily ever since. We bought Michael's second vintage - the 1997. Ten years later, Michael was acclaimed as Austrian Winemaker of the Year. His philosophy is to preserve the authenticity of grape and terroir with minimal mechanical intervention. An example of this is the barrel on wheels, which allows the winemaker to control temperature by wheeling the barrel between different temperature zones in the winery. This is a sensational producer, making world-class single vineyard wines as well as unbeatably expressive, value-for-money wines.  In 2009 a new ultra-modern cellar and grape reception area was completed:  a dramatic contrast with the old one. A modern basket press is now operational for the reds and also the "Tradition" wines.

As president of the Austrian Traditional Wine Cellars, Michael has been at the forefront of the new Erste Lage  Erste Lage Logoproject. The first results have created 50 new "Premier Cru" vineyards in the Danube area, which are all now clearly marked on the labels.

We ship a range of excellent Grüner Veltliners from the single vineyards Steinsetz, Grub, Renner and Lamm, some of which are also available in half-bottles and magnums. The Rieslings are equally accomplished. Also highly recommended is his Pinot Noir, one of Austria's very best, the various sweet wines and the fine sparkling wine, Gobelsburg Brut.





Guide Retail Price per case of 6 (£)
White



SGFIZNVB Gobelsburg Brut (sparkling) nv
124.60
SGGGV10B Domaene Gobelsburg Grüner Veltliner 2010
72.50
SGGLO10B Gobelsburger Grüner Veltliner, Loessterrassen 2010
74.20
SGGVS10B Grüner Veltliner, Steinsetz 2010
104.20
SGGVR10B Grüner Veltliner, Renner Erste Lage            2010
127.90
SGGVG10B Grüner Veltliner, Grub Erste Lage                 2010
159.50
SGGVL10H Grüner Veltliner, Lamm Erste Lage             2010 halves 111.40
SGGVL10B Grüner Veltliner, Lamm Erste Lage                2010
184.00
SGGVL10M Grüner Veltliner, Lamm Erste Lage   2010 magnum 360.90
SGGVT09B Grüner Veltliner, Tradition 2008/9
151.60
SGGRI10B Domaene Gobelsburg, Riesling 2010
79.90
SGRGA10B Riesling Gaisberg Erste Lage                  2009/10
120.00
SGRIT07B Riesling Tradition  2007
151.80
Red



SGSLH08B St Laurent, Haidegrund 2008
165.00
SGPNH09B Pinot Noir, Alte Haide 2009
165.00
Sweet



SGGEW08H Grüner Veltliner, Eiswein 2008 halves 187.20


Franz Hirtzberger, Spitz, Wachau.

Franz and Irmgard Hirtzberger and family preside over a small 12 hectare estate in the south western end of the Wachau. Franz (Snr) and Irmgard officially moved out of the house in spring 2010 and now "commute" to work all of 250 yards. Franz (Jnr) and his wife now live in the house, together with their new born son Franz. (No surprises there then!)  This is one of the Great Estates of the Wachau. The vineyards are set on spectacularly steep and narrow terraces above the Danube, and the cultivation of the vines is extremely labour-intensive. Each vine is individually tended and inspected around one hundred times in the season, and this attention to detail translates into wines of very high quality which are absolutely true to their terroir. Harvests here can be very late - into early December in 2008 - and a proportion of botrytis affected fruit (noble rot of course) is always included in the wine. Riesling Singerriedel is the estate's flagship wine, and though the family is not the sole producer of this wine, it is their wine which has made the vineyard famous as perhaps the finest Riesling in Austria. The reputation of the Grüner is now such that we tend to sell out of these wines. We have a small number of magnums and double-magnums; these look really impressive! We wrote last year that 2009 was another small vintage, but 2010, as in many parts of Austria, is even smaller, and we are likely to be very short of wine again at the end of the year. The wines are crisper in 2010 that 2009, but there are no spiky acidities. The wines have enormous charm and elegance and, in most cases, except perhaps Singerriedel, are ready for drinking already.





Guide Retail Price per case of 6 (£)
White



HIGRT10B Grüner Veltliner Federspiel, Rotes Tor 2010
124.60
HIGAX09B Grüner Veltliner Smaragd, Axpoint 2009
179.70
HIGAX10B Grüner Veltliner Smaragd, Axpoint 2010
192.10
HIGHO09B Grüner Veltliner Smaragd, Honivogl 2009
273.50
HIGHO10B Grüner Veltliner Smaragd, Honivogl 2010
305.50
HIRST10B Riesling Federspiel, Steinterrassen 2010
132.60
HIRSE07B Riesling Smaragd, Setzberg 2007
208.10
HIRSE10B Riesling Smaragd, Setzberg 2010
214.00
HIRHO10B Riesling Smaragd, Hochrain 2010
247.20
HIRSI08B Riesling Smaragd, Singerriedel 2008
304.50
HIRSI09B Riesling Smaragd, Singerriedel 2009
304.50
HIRSI10B Riesling Smaragd, Singerriedel 2010
337.50
HIGHO03M Grüner Veltliner Smaragd, Honivogl 2003 magnum 521.80
HIGHO10M Grüner Veltliner Smaragd, Honivogl 2010 magnum 624.90
HIRHO03M Riesling Smaragd, Hochrain 2003 magnum 433.90
HIRHO09M Riesling Smaragd, Hochrain 2009 magnum 470.40
HIRHO10M Riesling Smaragd, Hochrain 2010 magnum 506.00
HIRSI04M Riesling Smaragd, Singerriedel 2004 magnum 522.70
HIRSI06M Riesling Smaragd, Singerriedel 2006 magnum 568.10
HIRSI07M Riesling Smaragd, Singerriedel 2007 magnum 568.10
HIRSI09M Riesling Smaragd, Singerriedel 2009 magnum 602.70
HIRSI10M Riesling Smaragd, Singerriedel 2010 magnum 668.80
HIGHO05D Grüner Veltliner Smaragd, Honivogl 2005 dble mag 1251.20
HIGHO07D Grüner Veltliner Smaragd, Honivogl 2007 dble mag 1251.20
HIGHO09D Grüner Veltliner Smaragd, Honivogl 2009 dble mag 1259.10
HIGHO10D Grüner Veltliner Smaragd, Honivogl 2010 dble mag 1357.80
HIRSI09D Riesling Smaragd, Singerriedel 2009 dble mag 1328.20
HIRSI10D Riesling Smaragd, Singerriedel 2010 dble mag 1460.40


Rainer Wess, Unterloiben, Wachau:

We first met Rainer Wess some years back when he was doing a very good job as winemaker elsewhere in the Wachau. He then went on to set up on his own and has bought and replanted his own small vineyard. He also supervises the vineyards of seven Wachau growers, whose fruit then goes into Rainer's winery, which produces around 50,000 bottles. His main single vineyard wines are Pfaffenberg - just into Kremstal - and Loibenberg. Rainer is meticulous about eliminating any botrytis-affected grapes from the dry wines. He saves this fruit to make a BA and a TBA. As a result, his wines show a firm, dry, steely minerality and contrast nicely with the more opulent style of Hirztberger; both are complementary expressions of the terroir of the Wachau.

A new (old) cellar was purchased last year on the outskirts of Krems and completely renovated just in time for harvest. It was touch and go to have it ready in time. Here is one of the benefits of having a late harvest in 2010!





Guide Retail Price per case of 6 (£)
White



RWGVW10B Grüner Veltliner, Wachauer 2010
74.10
RWGVT10B Grüner Veltliner, Terrassen 2010
105.20
RWGVL10B Grüner Veltliner Loibenberg 2007/10
131.70
RWRIW10B Riesling, Wachauer 2010
85.50
RWRIT10B Riesling, Terrassen 2009/10
105.20
RWRIL10B Riesling, Loibenberg 2007/10
131.70


Weingut Stadt Krems, Krems, Kremstal.

The town of Krems, centre of the Kremstal region, owns a winery and an estate of 35 hectares located within its city limits, planted with Grüner Veltliner and Riesling. In charge of operations is the ebullient Fritz Miesbauer, whom we first met over 10 years ago when he was at one of the local co-ops. Since his arrival, he has spearheaded investment to develop the winery, offices and tasting complex along with renovation in the vineyards. A steady and significant increase in the quality of the wines is a testament to Fritz's energy and initiative. The estate comprises different parcels with varying terroir, including schist and also conglomerate rock, which produce a distinctive range of single vineyard wines which show the variety of styles from this area. These wines use the distinctive Vinolok closure: a neat glass stopper. Year on year improvements here are dramatic, 2010 no exception. Yields were dramatically reduced in 2010, only a little over 50% a normal crop. But the results are great balanced and lively but with great depth and richness.





Guide Retail Price per case of 6 (£)
White



SKGRS11B Grüner Veltliner, Rieden Selektion 2011
65.70
SKGVL10B Grüner Veltliner, Lössterrassen 2010
72.20
SKGWE10B Grüner Veltliner, Weinzierlberg 2009/10
88.90
SKGWA10B Grüner Veltliner, Wachtberg 2010
125.00
SKRST10B Riesling, Steinterrassen 2009/10
88.40
SKRKO10B Riesling, Kögl 2007/10
125.00
SKRGR07B Riesling, Grillenparz 2007
120.00
SKRKO09M Riesling, Kögl 2009
236.60

Weingut Felsner, Krems, Kremstal.

The Felsner family estate is situated in the village of Rohrendorf at the eastern end of the Kremstal, where loess soil predominates. This is a unique, wind-blown, fine silty clay which is light and absorbs heat well; it is particularly suited to the Grüner Veltliners which Manfred Felsner produces. The vineyards also extend to conglomerate rock, which is planted with Riesling. Manfred's careful vineyard work has seen much work put into recultivating the steep slopes and old vines. His philosophy is to use minimal intervention in the vineyard and winery in order to preserve the authenticity of the terroir in the wines he produces. There is a high proportion of old vines on the estate, dating back a couple of generations, and this brings depth and complexity to the wines. The wines are clean and elegant, with the typical crisp varietal character of the Kremstal coupled with the weight contributed by the old vines.

The new Gebling, available in bottles and halves in 2009, is a great example of the fresh, lively, aromatic style of Grüner they specialise in here.  Light but with plenty of intensity and length.





Guide Retail Price per case of 6 (£)
White



MFGVG10B Grüner Veltliner, Gerlissen 2010
72.20
MFGGE09H Grüner Veltliner, Gebling 2009 halves 54.00
MFGGE09B Grüner Veltliner, Gebling 2009
79.50
MFGAR09B Grüner Veltliner, Alte Reben 2009
110.30
MFRGE09B Riesling, Gebling 2009
103.40


Weingut Erich & Walter Polz , Spielfeld, Southern Styria.

Southern Styria is in the south eastern area of Austria, bordering onto Slovenia. The landscape is one of the most romantic wine-growing landscapes, with lush rolling hills. The area is particularly known for its Sauvignon Blanc; in fact the first World Sauvignon Congress was held in Styria in August 2008. Though production in the region accounts for only a tiny percentage of the world's Sauvignon output, Southern Styria lends itself perfectly to this variety. The terroir and exposition to the sun are of great importance in this very hilly region and the top vineyards have high levels of chalk and lime. The Polz family founded their estate two generations ago and it is still very much a traditional family business, though now one of the larger enterprises in the region with a stunning modern winery and tasting centre. It has a very high reputation on the Austrian domestic market and the 50 hectare estate is supplemented, for the Klassik wines, by buying in fruit from contracted suppliers, whom they manage and control. These Klassik wines are unoaked in a fresh style which is general for the early drinking which the Austrians favour. The Therese vineyard is on a steep south facing slope at 650m elevation, with a flinty terroir which goes to make rich and complex wines with great balance. The Hochgrassnitzberg vineyard is at a lower altitude and is the last of the estate to be harvested. The style here is equally well-balanced, but richer, with some nuances of tropical fruit. We have half bottles available of both of these wines. After tiny crop in 2009, 2010 is a little larger though still below average. Crisp, sherbetty lively flavours and great intensity.





Guide Retail Price per case of 6 (£)
White



POSBK10B Sauvignon, Steirische Klassik 2010
94.10
POTRA06B Traminer, Grassnitzberg 2006
101.30
POSBT09H Sauvignon, Therese 2009 halves 85.70
POSBT10B Sauvignon, Therese 2009/10
122.00
POSBG08H Sauvignon, Hochgrassnitzberg 2006/8 halves 101.30
POSBG08B Sauvignon, Hochgrassnitzberg 2008
176.50


Familie Prieler, Schützen-am-Gebirge, Burgenland.

Silvia Prieler and her brother Georg have largely taken over from their father Engelbert, and this remains very much a family estate with the whole family closely involved. The vineyards are situated on the western side of Lake Neusiedl, in Burgenland, and lie mostly on sun-exposed southern and eastern slopes. The lake provides a perfect micro-climate with mild temperatures throughout the year. The flagship wine is the Blaufränkisch from the Goldberg vineyard which is highly reputed as one of the top red wines in Austria. The Leithaberg was a new addition to the range in 2004, and the first vintage was awarded Red Wine of the Year by Falstaff magazine, the Austrian wine bible. Leithaberg last year has become the latest of the new Austrian DAC regions. Essentially, this is the old "Neusiedlersee Hugelland".  The Leitha hills, where the vineyard is situated, are dominated by slate and marine limestone giving very fresh, almost chalky note to the wines and a tightly woven structure. Although the estate is known particularly for the reds, we also ship the very classy Pinot Blanc Seeberg, which is an elegant and juicy alternative to the Grüners and Rieslings for which Austria is better known. Prieler was Falstaff magazine's Austrian Winemaker of the Year in 2009.





Guide Retail Price per case of 6 (£)
Red



PRBRJ09B Blaufränkisch, Ried Johanneshohe 2008/9
89.10
PRBRG05B Blaufränkisch, Ried Goldberg 2005
238.40
PRBRG07B Blaufränkisch, Ried Goldberg 2007
238.40
PRLER05B Blaufränkisch, Leithaberg 2005
161.00
PRLER09B Blaufränkisch, Leithaberg 2008/9
167.20
PRBRG03M Blaufränkisch, Ried Goldberg 2003 magnum 595.80
PRBRG05M Blaufränkisch, Ried Goldberg 2005 magnum 595.80
PRBRG07M Blaufränkisch, Ried Goldberg 2007 magnum 595.80


Feiler-Artinger, Rust, Burgenland.

The town of Rust is situated on the western side of Lake Neusiedl. The microclimate of the lake is ideal for the production of noble sweet botrytised wines, and the term 'Ausbruch' comes from the German term for the cutting out of the affected grapes. Although it is sweet wines for which the town is known, many red wines are also produced around the town.

The Feiler-Artinger estate was established by Kurt Feiler's grandparents and the winery has been based since the Thirties at their ancient and beautiful house in the centre of Rust. The estate is particularly proud of its sweet wines, which have received many awards both in Austria and on the international market, but the reds and dry whites are also of very high quality. Umriss is a pure Blaufränkisch from a limestone soil just to the north of Rust. Firm, fine with elegant tannins. The estate's premium red, Solitaire, is a blend of Blaufränkisch, Cabernet Franc and Merlot and is a powerful but elegant wine. This year Solitaire has a rival for "top wine". Greiner is a granite vineyard which Kurt has produced as a single varietal for the first time in 2007. With no new oak, this is a firm, mineral, classy tight wine which adds a further dimension to the great Blaufränkisch grape. Probably most notable of all, though, are the Ruster Ausbruch sweet wines. Brilliant intensity, sweetness, complexity and balance. These are world class dessert wines.





Guide Retail Price per case of 6 (£)
White



FAFIZNVB Muscat Frizzante (sparkling) NV
84.30
Red



FABLU08B Blaufränkisch, Umriss 2008
103.40
FABLG07B Blaufränkisch, Greiner 2007
159.20
FASOL08B Solitaire (blfr, cab franc, merlot) 2008
162.90
Sweet



FABEA09H BA (welschriesling & chardonnay) 2009 halves 91.90
FAAUS08H Ruster Ausbruch 2008 halves 164.30
FAAPC07H Ruster Ausbruch, Pinot Cuvée 2007/08 halves 164.30
FAESJ05H Ruster Ausbruch, Essenz "Jonathan" 2005 halves 257.90


Gerhard Pittnauer, Gols, Burgenland.

There are now 22 hectares supplying the Pittnauer estate; some owned, others rented, and the new vineyards, Altenberg, Rosenberg and Ungerberg, planted at the beginning of the millennium, are now in full production. There is less small new oak in the cellar, and increasing use is being made of 500 litre casks. But for all these changes, Gerhard is still a wine maker whose wines have a clear identity. They are modern and supple, always with silky soft tannins, but with excellent varietal focus. The Blaufränkisch Klassik has been a great success over the years, and is now joined by a more serious wine from the Rosenberg vineyard. We have seen serious growth in sales of Gerhard's Pinot Noir wines in recent years, but it is St Laurent which Gerhard does better than anyone, and the top wine St Laurent Alte Reben is, in 2008, his best wine to date. We also have an introduction to Austrian reds in the form of Velvet. This is a Zweigelt, Blaufränkisch blend with a touch of Cabernet. Soft, spicy, with some maturity (2008 vintage) it's an easy but characterful spicy red.





Guide Retail Price per case of 6 (£)
Rosé



PIROS10B Blaufränkisch Rosé 2010
70.70
Red



PIVELNVB Velvet NV
60.80
PISLD09B St Laurent Dorflagen 2009
90.40
PISLA09B St Laurent, Alte Reben 2009
188.20
PISAL09B St Laurent, Altenberg 2009
192.50
PIBLK09B Blaufränkisch Heideboden 2009
80.50
PIBLR08B Blaufränkisch Rosenberg 2008
189.10
PIZWE09B Zweigelt Heideboden 2009
80.50
PIPND09B Pinot Noir, Dorflagen 2008/9
90.40
PIPNF09B Pinot Noir, Fuchsenfeld 2008/9
115.10
PIPNR06B Pinot Noir Reserve 2006
211.60
PIPAN08B Pannobile 2008
167.40


Josef Umathum, Frauenkirchen, Burgenland.

Josef Umathum is one of the best-known estates in Burgenland with a high reputation for the red Zweigelt varietal and also for sweet wines. The soils of Umathum's 62 hectares are warm, and the soil and terroir are particularly suited to the growing of high quality wines such as the local St. Laurent, ampelographically related to Pinot Noir. Around the village of Frauenkirchen the soil is rich in minerals and has a high iron content, while conditions in the vineyards located on the north shore of Lake Neusiedl are sandstone and slate. Umathum continues cultivation of the traditional terraced vineyards in the village of Jois, where vineyards were first cultivated as early as 1214. Umathum manages much more depth and complexity in Zweigelt than anyone we know, and with the Zweigelt from the Ried Hallebuhl he makes a wine which is both serious and delicious, with a strong mineral touch:  a strong contender for best Zweigelt in Austria. In recent years sweet wines have become important here too, made predominantly of Chardonnay and Scheurebe.





Guide Retail Price per case of 6 (£)
White



UMTRA10B Traminer 2010
100.50
UMLIN09B Lindenblättriger (Harslevelu) 2009
127.40
Red



UMZWE09H Zweigelt 2009 halves 55.30
UMZWE09B Zweigelt 2009
89.10
UMPIN08B Pinot Noir, Unten den Terrassen 2007/8
196.80
UMHAL06B Ried Hallebuhl 2006
213.80
UMBLK06B Blaufränkisch Kirschgarten 2006
213.80
Sweet



UMAUS09H Chardonnay/Scheurebe, Auslese  2009 halves 77.10
UMCBA10H Chardonnay/Scheurebe  BA 2010 halves 92.90
UMSTB10H Scheurebe TBA 2010
125.50


Weingut Moric, Grosshöflein , Burgenland.

We first met Roland Velich over 12 years ago when he was working with his brother in the family's winery. In the last few years, Roland has set up his own project 'Blaufränkisch Unplugged' concentrating on Blaufränkisch produced from very old vines in Mittelburgenland. Roland's philosophy is to produce wines of terroir, and he sees a strong affinity for Burgenland Blaufränkisch with Burgundian Pinot Noir, (as well as Northern Rhone Syrah and Nebbiolo) rather than Cabernet Sauvignon, as has been the received wisdom in the region. He harvests very small yields from vines grown with minimal chemical treatment and he uses natural yeasts for slow fermentation, often in open vats. Assemblage is a slow and careful process after extended evolution in cask. There is no new oak influence in these wines. The Moric project is beginning to create a lot of interest on the domestic and international market; 2007 was a slightly more supple, approachable vintage, than the 2006, but this is now mostly sold. 2008 is a crunchier, slightly crisper, but probably more concentrated vintage, though produced only in minuscule quantities, but soon to be followed by the 2009s. For Roland, this is clearly the finest vintage since he began in 2001. Early tastings show wines with great richness, juicy fruit and rounded textures: voluptuous.





Guide Retail Price per case of 6 (£)
White



MOGVH09B Grüner Veltliner, Hausmark 2009
100.30
MOGVG09B Grüner Veltliner, St Georgen 2009
238.40
Red



MOBLA10B Blaufränkisch, Burgenland 2010
103.60
MOLAR09B Blaufränkisch, Lutzmannsburg Alte Reben 2009
347.00
MONAR09B Blaufränkisch, Neckenmarkt Alte Reben 2009
347.00
MONAR08B Blaufränkisch, Neckenmarkt Alte Reben 2008
324.90
MONEC08B Blaufränkisch, Moric Reserve 2008
167.10
MOSTG09B Blaufränkisch, St Georgen 2009
238.40
MOSTG07B Blaufränkisch, St Georgen 2007
199.00


Helmut Lang, Illmitz, Burgenland.

Helmut Lang's wine cellar no longer shares space with the large tank of Pike-perch fish from Lake Neusiedl. They have been moved outside, and so what was literally a "garagiste" operation when we met in 2002 has been impressively modernised and developed. His vineyards are located on the Eastern side of the lake around Illmitz. The vines are immaculately trained and all located in the National Parkland which surrounds the lake. Helmut is a keen hunter and fisherman, so all his work and pastimes seem to lie on his doorstep.. His speciality is sweet wines, mostly botrytised but also these days more Eiswein. All are single varietals with very clear definition which seems to express itself clearly even through considerable botrytis. The wines age slowly and, when young, are pale-coloured pure and clean.

NB ALL HALF BOTTLES.





Guide Retail Price per case of 6 (£)
Sweet



HLSBA04H Sämling 88 BA 2004 halves 85.20
HLCBA10H Chardonnay BA 2010 halves 81.70
HLPBA06H Pinot Noir BA 2006 halves 92.70
HLGEW08H Grüner Veltliner Eiswein 2008 halves 104.90
HLSTB09H Sämling 88 TBA 2009 halves 115.60
HLSUT06H Sämling 88 TBA Untere Teilung 2006 halves 156.70
HLGME08H Gelber Muskateller Eiswein 2008 halves 178.90
Older Vintages



HLSBT99H Sauvignon Blanc TBA 1999 halves 165.10
HLGWT95H Gewürztraminer TBA 1995 halves 174.00
HLSTB95H Sämling 88 TBA 1995 halves 181.50
HLRST98H Riesling TBA 1998 halves 209.60
HLWRE97H Welschriesling Essenz 1997 halves 255.40

 

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