FX Pichler Grüner Veltliner ’Frauenweingarten’ Federspiel 2008

NOTES

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 winemakers in Austria, none is more synonymous with great Austrian wine than F.X. Pichler, or as he is simply called, F.X.  In fact so riveting is his 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.

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

TASTING NOTES

The 2007 Gruner Veltliner Federspiel Frauweingarten smells of lentils and lemon zest. An excellent combination of concentrated lentil and snap pea flavors and underlying extract with delicacy and lift make an excellent case for the concept of Federspiel, and this finishes with pungent herbal and fruit skin pungency and a crushed stone mineral suggestion.