Stony Knoll Vineyards
Weingut Knoll
Loibner Loibenberg Smaragd Grüner Veltliner 2021
The unlikely winner of our lunch wine shootout by sheer virtue of being properly stored. I say “unlikely” because in my experience Gruner tends to be the lesser grape when presented with Rieslings. Plus, a youthful Smaragd typically isn’t up my alley - they’re usually too rich and oily for effortless drinking. Although admittedly so here, the Knoll still trumped the Rieslings for being fresher. I’d take exotic fruits, candied ginger, less acidity and oily texture any day over heavy petrol notes. But don’t get me wrong. The Knoll was still an excellent wine. It wasn’t just a case of “losers can’t be choosers”. It was layered and had plenty to offer over lunch. Air brought about some interesting lemongrass and kafir lime notes, as well as a stony minerality. In the end, I was grateful for its presence, shedding some light to an otherwise woeful wine showing. — 4 months ago
Weingut Knoll
Loibner Kreutles Smaragd Grüner Veltliner
Winkel verbouwen, duurde lang maar de wijn was lekker 9/10 — 3 months ago
Stony Hill
SHV Napa Valley Chardonnay 2012
My nomination for Wine of the Year and it’s… a Napa Chardonnay?!? This wine challenged and expanded my beliefs about what this region, site and variety could be.
Also, we seem to be catching this wine at exactly the right point.
This Spring Mountain estate was focused almost entirely on white wines until recently and has some of the region’s oldest Napa plantings of Riesling and Chardonnay. (Of course now that they’ve been acquired by some PE group for an absurd sum, Cab is being planted everywhere but that’s a story for another day)
Their Chardonnay is idiosyncratic — no malo and low abv (the 2012 vintage is a mere 13%), but you wouldn’t know from its richness.
Mindblowingly complex and - most importantly - indulgently delicious (in other words, I blew my wine budget for two months on two bottles good).
Initial aromas of plastic / petrol (like riesling) that take on more of a toasted vanilla / caramel flan with air. On the nose and palate: pear and lemon, salt and stone. The flavors are concentrated and intense on the attack and yet the wine has such a light touch on the palate and a graceful finish — toasted hay, salty and flirting with bitter marzipan — that just goes on and on and on.
It brings me back to that afternoon on Spring Mountain with the perfect fall light, changing leaves and the coyote we saw crossing our path as we made our way up the winding drive way.
Absolutely fucking brilliant. — 4 months ago
Weingut Knoll
Loibner Ried Kreutles Smaragd Grüner Veltliner 2018
Beringer Vineyards
Luminus Oak Knoll District Chardonnay
Medium body, smooth, low acidity, long finish — 4 months ago
Ericsson
Light oaky and buttery Chardonnay! These are not as popular as they used to be, but this one is quite balanced and notes of green pear and citrus… — 7 days ago