New Releases: Fresh Whites!
Just in time for Spring, we are finally making the new white wines available! These are dashing, fresh and fruity wines from your favorite winemakers; wines that are already garnering big attention from the press (and fat points too), so snatch up a few cases and get yourself set for Spring and Summertime. Many are, of course, from very small production runs, so please don’t delay if you see something you like. Lots of fine new Gruner Veltliners, Rieslings, Chardonnay and Pinot Gris.
Here they are, the FRESH WHITES:
A young master of great Gruner Veltliners and Rieslings, Johann Donabaum is continually hailed as the up-and-coming producer from the Wachau. We’re such big fans that we imported quite a few new wines from this prodigy. You’ll notice that these whites are from the 2003 vintage: that’s because we import a year behind with this winemaker, at his insistance. He wants the wines to have aged an extra year before their release here in the US, so that they are beginning to hit their stride and can be tried right now. Yes, many of these will only get finer with some cellaring (hello Smaragd), but all can have their corks pulled today without shame (especially those Federspiels)
Berglage Loiben Gruner Veltliner Smaragd 2003 $24.00
Loibner Garden Gruner Veltliner Smaragd 2003 $23.00
Spitzer Point Gruner Veltliner Federspiel 2003 $12.99
Offenberg Riesling Smaragd 2003 $36.50
Bergterrassen Riesling Smaragd 2003 $26.00
Wachauer Riesling Federspiel 2003 $15.99
We were so in love with Franz Josef Gritsch’s 2003 Axpoint Gruner Veltliner that we brought over every last bottle he had left. If you havn’t tried it, you really must now- and at $9.99 a bottle, there’s no excuse not to! We are also pleased to have gotten our hands on some of his Riesling Select, of which very few bottles were available. But the big news this year is about his Kalmuck bottling. This is a light Gruner Veltliner which is built for fun: easy drinking and easy on the wallet. Wine Enthusiast magazine hailed it this way: “If you’re seeking an affordable version of Austria’s hallmark grape, Gruner Veltliner, look no further than the new Kalmuck brand.”
Kalmuck Gruner Veltliner 2004 $12.99
1000-Eimerberg Riesling Select 2004 $29.99
Our third featured winemaker from the famous Wachau region is the seasoned master Josef Hogl. His experience is so evident in his wines; they are truly transcendant. Lovely Rieslings, wonderful Gruner Veltliners, and a surprise with a crisp, fruity Sauvignon Blanc. The Ried-Schon Gruner Veltliner Smaragd is our absolute favorite Gruner of the 2004 vintage. Do not miss your chance to try this wine.
Ried-Schon Gruner Veltliner Smaragd 2004 $24.99
Terrassen Spitzergraben Gruner Veltliner Federspiel 2003 $14.99
Bruck Riesling Smaragd 2004 $36.99
Durnsteiner Heudurr Sauvignon Blanc 2003 $24.99
Heinz Velich’s Tiglat was already a cult Chardonnay in Europe, selling out every year, and when the 2001 vintage was featured in American Express’ Platinum card magazine Departures, a similar run on our small allotment took place. We’ve managed to secure a few more cases of the 2001 (can’t tell you how), and now have some of the 2002. Try them, along with his slightly lighter-styled Darscho bottling. And for fans of his 1999 Welschriesling TBA, we now have the 2001 available: Wine Enthusiast magazine gave it 94 points!
Tiglat Chardonnay 2001 $54.99
Tiglat Chardonnay 2002 $54.99
Darscho Chardonnay 2002 $24.99
Welschriesling Trockenbeerenauslese 2001 $69.99
We’ve already rolled out Birgit Braunstein’s stunning, elegant St. Laurent and Zweigelt red wines from the monumental 2003 vintage. Now try her latest Oxhoft Chardonnay from the same year, and experience the addictive chalky terroir of the Leitha Mountains in your glass. While Birgit does age her Chardonnay in French oak barrels, she never “over-oaks” her wine, preferring that you taste “the fruit and not the forest.”
Oxhoft Chardonnay 2003 $17.50
We’re down to our last 4 cases of Michael Wenzel’s 2001 Pinot Gris, so this 2003 vintage could not have arrived at a better moment. If you loved the 2001, we should warn you that the 2003 is much drier in style. In fact, it’s exceedingly crisp, dry, fruity, mineralic and lovely. And if you were shying away from trying the 2001 because we called it “off-dry”, then this is the Wenzel Pinot Gris for you.
Pinot Gris 2003 $18.99
