Blaufrankisch: Opinions?

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Yule Kim

Yule Kim
I'm thinking of stopping by a Blaufrankisch tasting on Saturday. Has anyone had it and what do you think? Any similarities to other varieties just so I can get a sense of what I'm getting into. Also, if you have had Blaufrankisch, have you had any made by Uwe Schiefer and did you like his wines if you did?
 
I like it, in theory. It has a rustic delicacy with some inner strength and would seem to be terroir-expressive (I say "seem" because I'm never familiar with the terroirs in which its grown, except in a general, regional sense). In practice, I've had some good, some not so good, and a lot of "this is OK." Avoid Markowitsch Spitzerberg. Haven't had the one you mention.

I wouldn't serve it to lovers of Frooty wines.
 
The versions that I have had i have enjoyed. Most notable would be the Prieler and Markowich versions which i find lovely. Brambly fruit with lots of spice, kind of dark and meaty but not over the top. If you were to associate it with another varietal i might say teroldego or zweigelt(in some cases). Jermann's Blau Blau is fun sometimes; a blend of Blaufrankisch and Blauburgunder. Go to the tasting, you may be pleasantly suprised. Havent had the Uwe Schiefer wines from what i can remember.
 
I like Blaufrankisch, too. I have particularly enjoyed the one from Mariell. He also produces a lovely Zweigelt. These wines remind me of what Zinfandel used to be. They've got brambly fruit but balanced with acid. They are easy to drink and go well with food. If you ever get a chance, try the Spatrot Gebeshuber, Klassic red. This is a 50/50 blend of Saint Laurent and Pinot Noir. Austrian reds don't get the respect they deserve. Definitely not for the "frooty" set.

Brad
 
originally posted by Cory Cartwright:
I have a bottle of Moric looking at me right now. I may have to drink it.
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The Necken Markt Alte Reben 2007 was notable for me amongst the three wines I tried.
 
Schiefer is certainly among the best producers, with appropriate prices. Weingut Michlitz makes a nice Frooty one. Tony Bauer, also. If you've never done it, type "Anton Bauer" into YouTube and watch his amazingly dopey commercials. "Make the party Bauer-ful!" Oh, yes.
 
originally posted by Levi Dalton:
originally posted by Cory Cartwright:
I have a bottle of Moric looking at me right now. I may have to drink it.
Click to expand...

The Necken Markt Alte Reben 2007 was notable for me amongst the three wines I tried.
Click to expand...

You sure that it was the '07, Levi? Winemonger's currently selling the '05. Were yours brought in by a different importer?

Mark Lipton
 
originally posted by MLipton:
originally posted by Levi Dalton:
originally posted by Cory Cartwright:
I have a bottle of Moric looking at me right now. I may have to drink it.
Click to expand...

The Necken Markt Alte Reben 2007 was notable for me amongst the three wines I tried.
Click to expand...

You sure that it was the '07, Levi? Winemonger's currently selling the '05. Were yours brought in by a different importer?

Mark Lipton
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Mark, it was an industry tasting. The bottles came thru winemonger. We tried '08 regular, '07 Lutzmanns Burg Alte Reben, and '07 Necken Markt Alte Reben. I tried them today, but the bottles had been open since yesterday. I was told that the Alte Reben parcels used by Moric are 100 year old vines.
 
Thanks for the info guys. I'll give you a report of the Schiefer after the tasting. Too bad it isn't a Moric tasting considering all the good reviews. But, hopefully I can add some additional datapoints to the WD till.
 
originally posted by Yule Kim:
Thanks for the info guys. I'll give you a report of the Schiefer after the tasting. Too bad it isn't a Moric tasting considering all the good reviews. But, hopefully I can add some additional datapoints to the WD till.
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Do they have Ernst Triebaumer in the tasting? He is on a level with Moric. Not sure he has an importer to the US though.
Lemberger from Wuerttemberg is from the same grape, with increasingly better wines in recent years. But most likely even tougher to get in the States.

Oh, and regarding a comment above. They decidedly should not taste like a Zweigelt, totally different animal.
 
Velich (Moric) is the master of this grape variety and has done more than anyone to elevate it. The altereben is the best, and also the most $$$. I have a bit of the '03 alter kaker and if any Wine Disorder folks are visiting south Hollywood pre-warn me and I'll bring a bottle to my place for us to enjoy. Also good are Juris, especially the vineyard designated wines with a few years of age. The one thing to remember about this grape variety is that historically it never had to rise to any level of quality, as it was mostly consumed locally in a fresh, young, gluggy style, so I don't think we quite know what the upper limits for it are. Thor, for a frooty and delicious blau try Pfneizel's kekfrankos; not exactly valdigue but still tons of fruit. The other wines I mentioned are, as you suggested, not so fruity. Spaetrot Gebeshuber also really good, but their white wines (zierfandler, rotgipfler) are even better.
 
originally posted by Lou A.:
I have a bit of the '03 alter kaker and if any Wine Disorder folks are visiting south Hollywood pre-warn me and I'll bring a bottle to my place for us to enjoy. .
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They grow old so quickly these days...
 
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