Saina Nieminen
Saina Nieminen
Wieninger Gemischter Satz 2008 - Austria, Vienna; 12% abv; 5.7 g/l acidity; 1.7 g/l sugar.
This is the entry-level field blend - of about 15 grapes. Unoaked, clean aromas with quite a floral perfume, perhaps a little reminiscent of Muscat or Gewurz or some such very aromatic grape. But these sweet aromas are countered by citrus and minerality. The mix of grapes seems a perfect success as the bright, crisp acidity is countered by strong, peachy fruit. A substantial, even full bodied wine despite its relatively low alcohol, with a wonderfully long finish. Dangerously moreish.
ric Texier St. Joseph Vieilles Vignes "La Croix" 2005 12,5% abv
This continues to get better and better. It has been about half a year since my previous bottle, and though I remember that to have been open and pleasurable, this bottle is even more so. A lovely, elegant, pure scent of Syrah: dark fruit, dark olives, minerality, and some of that slightly gamy/meaty aroma I love in the grape. Ripe fruit, but not the lusciousness verging on over-ripeness that many 2005s seem to have, but rather it is an elegant, racy, palate-cleansing, nervy wine. Extremely enjoyable already, though it is young. Excellent.
Domaine Grf Zichy Cabernet Franc Szekszrdi Borvidk Barrique 2003 Szekszrd; Baron von Twickel Wine Estate; 14% abv on the bottle; 13,14% abv on the producer's web-site; 5,6g/l acidity; 2,4g/l RS; 21,60.
Since the label has Barrique on it and since the vintage is 2003, I hadn't bought this, though I am a huge fan of the grape. Now that it has been available in the special selection of our monopoly for months, I was told that I really must try it by someone who knows my preferences, and so I did. I am sorry I didn't purchase it earlier.
Though from an unnaturally warm year, it is obviously Cabernet Franc from the first sniff. It may have darker fruit tones than the Platonic ideal of the grape, but it also has the lovely herbaceous, lifted, refreshing aromas that I want to find in this variety. The Barrique ageing is beginning to be very well integrated. I find its presence only when I look for it: a spicy aroma added to the sexy fruit that reminded some of us of Cheval Blanc! The fruit is still quite primary (but was still a pleasure to sniff), so I would like to see some further development.
It is almost voluptuously fruity and does, sadly, show a bit of heat on the finish (whatever the actual abv) - but those are the only indications of an abnormally hot year. The acidity is pleasantly mouthwatering and counters the voluptuous fruit making the whole very refreshing though I am not usually an admirer of primary fruit. The tannins are soft but noticeable and they also harness the fruit which, I sometimes feel, is about to break free and gallop away. The trial of whether the structure or the fruit prevails makes for an exciting drink. Nice wine.
This is the entry-level field blend - of about 15 grapes. Unoaked, clean aromas with quite a floral perfume, perhaps a little reminiscent of Muscat or Gewurz or some such very aromatic grape. But these sweet aromas are countered by citrus and minerality. The mix of grapes seems a perfect success as the bright, crisp acidity is countered by strong, peachy fruit. A substantial, even full bodied wine despite its relatively low alcohol, with a wonderfully long finish. Dangerously moreish.
ric Texier St. Joseph Vieilles Vignes "La Croix" 2005 12,5% abv
Domaine Grf Zichy Cabernet Franc Szekszrdi Borvidk Barrique 2003 Szekszrd; Baron von Twickel Wine Estate; 14% abv on the bottle; 13,14% abv on the producer's web-site; 5,6g/l acidity; 2,4g/l RS; 21,60.
Since the label has Barrique on it and since the vintage is 2003, I hadn't bought this, though I am a huge fan of the grape. Now that it has been available in the special selection of our monopoly for months, I was told that I really must try it by someone who knows my preferences, and so I did. I am sorry I didn't purchase it earlier.
It is almost voluptuously fruity and does, sadly, show a bit of heat on the finish (whatever the actual abv) - but those are the only indications of an abnormally hot year. The acidity is pleasantly mouthwatering and counters the voluptuous fruit making the whole very refreshing though I am not usually an admirer of primary fruit. The tannins are soft but noticeable and they also harness the fruit which, I sometimes feel, is about to break free and gallop away. The trial of whether the structure or the fruit prevails makes for an exciting drink. Nice wine.