TN: Donnhoff, Forstreiter, & 2008 F.X. Pichler x2

[Matthew Latuchie]

Knowing that Salil was imbibing some serious riesling in NYC, Keith and I opened up some bottles.

SUSHI & WHITE WINES - SoNo East (6/19/2012)

Keith came over for sushi and we opened up a couple bottles. All were great.

• 2007 Dönnhoff Schloßböckelheimer Kupfergrube Riesling Spätlese - Germany, Nahe
  The nose was fat and robust with dense tropical fruits; mangos, peaches and passion fruit. I also found there was a really nice lilly floral tone to the nose that was perfumed and dense. The palate was, in contrast to the lush nose, intensely mineral and herbal. Sure, there were underlying fruit tones, but the minerals really stole the show here. Great stuff. (91 pts.)
• 2007 Weingut Meinhard Forstreiter Grüner Veltliner Tabor - Austria, Niederösterreich, Kremstal
  Another amazing showing. Deep nose of herbs, pepper, melon and florals. The palate was incredibly silky but had a scary density to it. The flavors were deep and dense, but they seemed relatively airy - an amazing combination for me. Just packed with peach and nectarine flavors and also a briny, spicy element that is exotic and wonderful. One of the best Austrian wines out there. (94 pts.)
• 2008 F.X. Pichler Riesling Smaragd Loibner Steinertal - Austria, Niederösterreich, Wachau
  Took a while to really open up - wasn't until about 4 hours in that the flavors really began to flesh out. This has a lot of crushed rocks on the nose with white peach and nectarine - with the smokey herbal tones that seem to be par for the course with Pichler's Steinertal's cuvee. My gut tells it'll be a few years before this reemerges from its slumber...give it a serious decanting, otherwise, you'll be disappointed. (91 pts.)
• 2008 F.X. Pichler Riesling Smaragd Loibner Berg - Austria, Niederösterreich, Wachau
  Probably the best 2008 F.X. Pichler I've had to date - and one of the best regardless of vintage I've had. That lychee flavor was out in full force with silky, elegant floral tones baked throughout. While the nose is lush, the palate is sculpted from marble and slate. Stony, cool orchard fruit, and melon flavors form a complex palate. The palate creates this feeling of drinking from a virgin spring - intensely fresh and mineral, this is a blockbuster riesling. Textbook Wachau. (96 pts.)

Posted from CellarTracker

[Salil]

Good stuff! Can't believe I didn't buy the 08 FX wines (I'll just console myself with my Alzinger Steinertals ), as the couple I've had are damn good.

Forstreiter Tabor is becoming one of my favourite Gruners. Wish I could find it more easily.