Singin' them Austrian Blues

Who was the Michigan producer - Shady Lane? They get some distribution down here in Chicago now, but I've not seen their blaufrankisch.

I recently had a similar revelation with St. Laurent in the Okanagan of all places. Nichol Vineyard has St. Laurent vines dating from the 1960s. Their syrah was recently anointed by Jancis Robinson, but I found their St. Laurent to be far more compelling. Made me very interested in the grape.
 
As blaufrnkisch it's indeed the greatest native red variety in Austria. Heck, it's the greatest native red variety in Hungary too - as kkfrankos. One of those (often genetically related) Alpine varieties with subtlety and earthiness combined - like a pinot noir with some nebbiolo tannins and some humagne rusticity.
 
My recall is fuzzy, but there were decent tannins and earthiness, as you say, plus fruit and a pleasing freshness. The Michigan wine - taken a bit warm - had a mild rich spiciness, too.

The Michigan winerey, fillay, was Circa, courtesy of Putnam Weekly. http://www.circawinery.com/.
 
I recently drank a bottle of Muhr-van der Niepoort Spitzerberg 2007. It has a nose that’s all sweet cherry at first but a few more whiffs reveal faint notes of spice and some other indescribable smell memory of my youth closer to the ground. Juicy acidity and firm tannins are balanced through a drink leaving behind a delicate floral sensation. Good stuff, concentrated and elegant. I, too, sing the praises.
 
You ought to add Red Tail Ridge (from Seneca Lake) to your list. I am not much of a fan of the grape, but you might like it.
 
And let's not forget the Lembergers from Wuerttemberg.
Some of them are first rate, especially when they don't try to make them into something brutally impressive.
 
originally posted by Ian Fitzsimmons:
Old threads don't die.
Click to expand...

Figured my note would be better here since you had already conviently provided a link for some context. Although, as I always say, you can never have too many 2007 Spitzerberg threads.
 
Sadly, some Austrian producers think their Blaufrankisch should taste like Turley Zinfandel or else it won't be taken seriously. You can only imagine the end result. Moric's mid-level bottling (whatever they call it now, "Reserve", perhaps?) is quite good. I have some of his Alte Reben wines in the cellar. I've found them a touch oaky. But also painfully young. I hope they integrate the wood well, though there is no track record. David Schildknecht seems to think they'll age well.
 
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