Wachau, Niederösterreich, Austria
After a slow and warm start the ice bucket came to the rescue and brought this back to fine form. Having this next to a few great Riesling really really highlights the differences that Gruner has from Riesling. More "green" with peas and basil mixed with the stone fruit and minerality.
After a slow and warm start the ice bucket came to the rescue and brought this back to fine form. Having this next to a few great Riesling really really highlights the differences that Gruner has from Riesling. More "green" with peas and basil mixed with the stone fruit and minerality.
Apr 10th, 2016
Half bottle at #walterbauer restaurant in #vienna. Deeply textured and botrytisy. Amazing with Arctic Char.
Half bottle at #walterbauer restaurant in #vienna. Deeply textured and botrytisy. Amazing with Arctic Char.
Jul 19th, 2015
2011. Interesting this. Trying to hard to be fruity, but ultimately cannot escape the dominant vortex of Gruner's savory side. Definitely ripe at 14.5%, the wine is almost completely botrytis free. Pure, ripe green citrus (kefir, yuzu) as well as a steady tempo mid-line of ripe yellow and green apple, on the fringes lurk stranger tropical notes: pineapple rind, kiwi skin, green banana and green mango. There's that radish-and-lentil savoriness, shiso, fresh basil, tarragon. Chinese five spice chimes in (maybe the botrytis?) and pleasant Asprin-like bitterness on the back palate. There's an additional chemical note (SO2-related?) that reminds me of riesling's petrol, but it's really more like if someone had tried to turn the flavor of municipal pool water into a food, like a not unappealing chlorine snack. I know that's really weird, but it's what it made me think of...big without being baroque, and kept together by the acid and bitterness. Not a shy wine. The ambition and quality are obvious, but it's not harmonious at the moment.
2011. Interesting this. Trying to hard to be fruity, but ultimately cannot escape the dominant vortex of Gruner's savory side. Definitely ripe at 14.5%, the wine is almost completely botrytis free. Pure, ripe green citrus (kefir, yuzu) as well as a steady tempo mid-line of ripe yellow and green apple, on the fringes lurk stranger tropical notes: pineapple rind, kiwi skin, green banana and green mango. There's that radish-and-lentil savoriness, shiso, fresh basil, tarragon. Chinese five spice chimes in (maybe the botrytis?) and pleasant Asprin-like bitterness on the back palate. There's an additional chemical note (SO2-related?) that reminds me of riesling's petrol, but it's really more like if someone had tried to turn the flavor of municipal pool water into a food, like a not unappealing chlorine snack. I know that's really weird, but it's what it made me think of...big without being baroque, and kept together by the acid and bitterness. Not a shy wine. The ambition and quality are obvious, but it's not harmonious at the moment.
Mar 12th, 20152001. Just. Fucking. Brilliant. Aged Gruner has my heart.
2001. Just. Fucking. Brilliant. Aged Gruner has my heart.
Feb 3rd, 2015
Ripe, slightly off dry. Green apple, wasabi and pea shoots.
Ripe, slightly off dry. Green apple, wasabi and pea shoots.
Aug 24th, 2014Petrol burns off, glorious stone fruit triumphs
Petrol burns off, glorious stone fruit triumphs
Jul 6th, 2014
