Benjamin Hickey

9.2

Nice savoury acid. Juicy apples. — 7 days ago

Freddy R. Troya

9.0

St. Michael-Eppan — Fallwind Riesling 2024, Alto Adige DOC, Südtirol, Italy 🇮🇹

Overview
A 100% Riesling from the Fallwind vineyard in Südtirol (Alto Adige), showcasing alpine precision, purity, and vibrant structure. This expression leans decisively dry, highlighting clarity of fruit and mineral tension rather than overt petrol or weight. A beautifully composed Riesling that reflects altitude, cool climate influence, and disciplined winemaking.

Aromas & Flavors
Green apple, white peach, and citrus zest open the nose, layered with subtle alpine herbs and delicate floral notes. Unlike the classic petrol-driven profiles, this wine emphasizes freshness and precision, with clean stone fruit and a fine mineral backbone.

Mouthfeel
Crisp, linear, and energetic. Bright acidity carries the palate with focus and lift, while maintaining balance and elegance. The finish is long, persistent, and refreshing without being overpowering or aggressive.

Food Pairings
Oysters, sashimi, grilled sea bass, goat cheese, Thai dishes with moderate spice, or lemon-herb chicken.

Verdict
An exemplary alpine Riesling that delivers precision, dryness, and finesse. It stands confidently apart from the traditional petrol-forward style, offering instead purity, structure, and remarkable drinkability. A sophisticated and beautifully balanced expression from a region that continues to surprise.

Did You Know?
Alto Adige’s high elevations and significant diurnal temperature shifts preserve acidity and aromatic clarity, allowing Riesling to ripen fully while retaining its crisp structure and mineral focus.

🍷 Personal Pick
This wine was a revelation, proof that Alto Adige can craft Riesling at a world-class level. Elegant, dry, and beautifully restrained, it completely expanded my appreciation for what this region can achieve with the grape. — 4 months ago

Fabio Franchella

9.3

Nach 9 reifejahren noch besser als beim ersten mal… — 8 months ago

with Xenia

Roman Ochocki

9.0

Apple, stone, honey, grapefruit (maybe). Very nice riesling, especially with shrimps. — 3 years ago

Scott E. Becker

9.2

[Tasted on September 19, 2022 at Press in St. Helena, California with Michael and Rachel]

Plum and black currant fruit with sweet cedar and earth. Silky mouthfeel with grippy, yet restrained tannins and beautiful balance. — 4 years ago

Jakub Kalinowski

8.9

Opens with a bit of reduction, Plums & more plums and a bit of cherry with a pinch of cinnamon & cloves and some damp, earthy undergrowth. On the palate this is surprisingly plush (for a Vernatsch) with soft plums and a bit of prune plus a herby, slightly bitter tang. Quite tannic yet juicy & nicely balanced.
A very nice one, in a riper, fuller style (again, for a Vernatsch). — 6 years ago

Shay A

9.2

Monthly WTF guys blind tasting group. This month was our annual, and famed, Left Bank vs Right Bank theme. All wines served blind as usual. Started off with a Rosé and a champagne. Great night.

Another producer I was not familiar with. Great aromatics of espresso, blackberry jam & baked fig. Palate was blue and black fruit dominant with sandalwood and dark chocolate. Touch sweet. Enjoyable now. I called this ‘12-14 Right Bank. Thanks @Michael Rariden . — 7 years ago

with Andrew, Jack and 6 others

Fabio Franchella

9.1

Solid, einfach solid!! — 3 months ago

with Xenia and

Fabio Franchella

9.0

Aus Magnum. Erstaunliche 14.5%, wirkte aber nie alkoholisch. Gute balance zwischen frucht (gekochte zwetschgen, cassis, dunkle kirschen) und fast so prägnante tertiäraromen. Leder, Tabak, Lakritz. — 5 months ago

with Xenia

Peter van den Besselaar

9.4

Vintage 2013 | If Pinot Noir is good it is often great. Spicyness, sweetness, liquorice in smell. Mineral elegance in taste. Love it!!! | at Provence Zaltbommel | paired with deer morels armagnacsauce — 5 months ago

Manchester Sheldon

9.0

Seriously amazing! Violets on the nose. — 2 years ago

Louis Martin

9.0

Creamy, rich golden color, floral hint, medium bodied, slight green apple flavor, very easy to drink on its own, light enough to pair with fruit and cheese. — 4 years ago

Ely Cohn

9.2

Michael Cruse, Maestro of CO2. Pet Nat of the grape, Saint Laurent. It’s off dry (slightly sweet) and pours thick and heady like a Belgian beer.

Soft aromatics of peaches and cream. Tastes like peach rings and pear soda and table grapes. — 6 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.4

Michael was nice enough to open a 14.

This is in a shutdown phase and has showed much better upon release.

The fruits are a nice mix of black and lean more red. It’s ripe and bright. Amazing florals & acidity. Great balance always with Seven Stones. Blackberries, dark cherries, cherries, strawberries w/ shades of blueberries. Cola, soft soils and volcanics. Bright red florals and beautiful finish and acidity. — 7 years ago

Freddy R. Troya

9.1

Sanct Valentin Pinot Noir Riserva 2022 — Alto Adige DOC, Italy 🇮🇹

Overview
Produced by St. Michael-Eppan Winery under the prestigious Sanct Valentin line, this 100% Pinot Noir comes from the cool alpine vineyards of Alto Adige. The region’s dramatic temperature swings between warm days and cool nights help preserve acidity while allowing slow, balanced ripening. The 2022 vintage presents a refined and fresh expression of Pinot Noir, showcasing purity, elegance, and Alpine precision.

Aromas & Flavors
Fresh red cherry, wild strawberry, raspberry, and subtle cranberry notes dominate the aromatic profile. Gentle floral hints mingle with delicate spice and a faint earthy undertone that emerges as the wine opens in the glass.

Mouthfeel
Bright acidity drives the wine forward, giving it freshness and lift. The body sits in the medium-light range with soft, fine-grained tannins and a smooth texture. The finish is clean, refreshing, and elegant.

Food Pairings
This Pinot Noir shines alongside food thanks to its lively acidity and delicate structure. It pairs beautifully with roasted chicken, duck breast, mushroom risotto, grilled salmon, or a simple charcuterie board with prosciutto and semi-aged cheeses where the wine’s freshness complements savory flavors without overpowering them.

Verdict
A charming and elegant Pinot Noir that emphasizes balance and drinkability rather than sheer power. Its freshness, clarity of fruit, and Alpine character make it a delightful and versatile wine.

Did You Know?
Pinot Noir has been cultivated in Alto Adige since the mid-19th century, and today the region is considered one of Italy’s finest areas for the grape thanks to its high-elevation vineyards and cool Alpine climate.

🍷 Personal Pick
A beautifully fresh Pinot Noir that impressed with its lively acidity and simplicity done right, delicate, delicious, and very easy to enjoy. — 4 months ago

Robert Ahlstrom

9.1

Light garnet translucent, light bodied red currants an cherries, minerals, subtle tannins — 5 months ago

Marta Jackowska

9.6

Back at our new favorite seafood restaurant and so very difficult to find the right red wine pairing (we were in the mood for some red….don’t judge us!)
Our new Sommelier BFF (Michael) steered us to this region and he was spot on! Light, fresh, red fruits…delicious 😋 — 9 months ago

with Neville

Brian F. McCabe

9.0

Light, dry, but in a good way. — 3 years ago

Scott E. Becker

9.1

[Tasted on May 8, 2021 at Kayne Prime in Nashville with Michael]

Purchased during May 2018 visit to the winery. Black raspberry, blackberry and blueberry fruit, with cedar spice, racy acidity and grippy tannins. — 5 years ago

Kate Rothen

10

2019 by the glass at 10 William St in Sydney. Michael loves! — 7 years ago

with Michael