Volcanic wines are a hot subject these days and GoVolcanic proved to be an explosive tasting.

Bad jokes aside, the first edition of GoVolcanic in Budapest, Hungary proved to be an interesting event. There were great volcanic wines from all over the world including Hungary, Austria, Israel, Spain, Slovakia, Portugal, Italy, France, and the USA. The event was headlined by Master Sommelier John Szabo, who’s credited with being one of the founders of this wine movement thanks to his book Volcanic Wines: Salt, Grit, and Power.

As a first time event, there were a few organizational hiccups but the quality of the wines is what matters to me most. With this in mind, GoVolcanic excelled and exceeded my expectations. On the tasting tables and in the masterclasses all the wines followed the ‘volcanic terroir’ theme.

Go Volcanic Masterclasses and Speed Tastings

The strongest part of the GoVolcanic tasting was the workshops. Both days were filled with masterclasses from both wine professionals and geologists. The main tasting room also featured ‘speed tastings’ modeled after the London Wine Fair, where one professional led stand-up tastings of six wines in thirty minutes.

As someone who loves to taste quickly, these speed tastings were perfect for me. I attended four and all were led by competent professionals who selected excellent volcanic wines. If GoVolcanic comes back for a second edition, I’d love to see more of this setup.

The workshops at GoVolcanic 2019 were lead by both wine professionals and geologists. Both went beyond the normal masterclass and dug deeper into what makes volcanic soil unique for viticulture. The classes also featured hard to find wines such as ‘Hidden Treasures/A Moric Project’ and old vintages from Somló, Hungary.

There was a lot to like about GoVolcanic 2019 and I hope it comes back for a second edition this year. Here are my ten favorite volcanic wines from the show.

Wine Recommendations:

Foreign Wines

• Feudo Cavaliere, Millemetri Etna Rosato 2016 – Etna, Italy

Find or buy on Wine-Searcher.

I tasted the Feudo Cavaliere ‘Millemetri’ Etna Rosato during a speed tasting conducted by Master of Wine Elizabeth Gabay. It’s made from Nerello Mascalese and is full of sour cherry, strawberry, and mineral flavors. It’s a serious rosé, not just fruity, there’s plenty going on here. Gritty texture and a long finish. Score: 91/100

• Pico Wines, Frei Gigante 2018 – Pico, Azores 

Find or buy on Wine-Searcher.

The Frei Gigante is a masterpiece by the Pico Wines cooperative. It’s a blend of Arinto, Verdelho, and Terrantez. Tine wine is high in mineral flavors with notes of smoke, flint, and a faint hint of quince. The palate is smoky and savory in addition to being highly structured with a long finish. This isn’t for someone who wants fruit, it’s for those who like complex, savory white wines. Score: 92/100

• Hidden Treasures/A Moric Project, Breitenbrunn 2017 – Leithaburg, Austria

Roland Velich of Moric winery in Austria has a label called Hidden Treasures. He picks unique wines from Austria and Hungary for this label. This wine is made with Lichtenberge-González, a producer in the Leithaburg DAC in Austria. This Blaufränkisch is a savory red wine with mineral, white pepper, cherry, and a touch of cedar. Firm tannins and high acidity, it feels a lot like Sangiovese. The wine has a long finish and is cellar-worthy. Score: 91/100

• Fattorie Romeo del Castello, ‘Vigo’ Etna Rosso 2013 – Etna

Find or buy on Wine-Searcher.

The Fattorie Romeo del Castello Vigo is everything I want in an Etna Rosso. This is a blend of Nerello Mascalese and Nerello Cappuccio. It’s robust and smoky red with notes of black cherry, redcurrant, smoke, and tobacco. It’s full and round on that palate at first and then the small tannins hit hard on the back end. Score: 92+/100

Hungarian Wine

• Homonna Attila, ‘Határi’ Tokaji Furmint 2017 – Tokaj

Find or buy on Wine-Searcher.

Homonna Attila is a tiny producer in Tokaj and his Határi Tokaji Furmint is one of his top dry wines. It has notes of sweet peach, white pear, flint, and yogurt flavors. Full-bodied and rich with a touch of residual sugar. This has real texture and structure. The fruit flavors may be a tad muted but you can’t deny the quality here, it’s for people who like German Riesling and Sylvaner. Score: 90/100

• Bajnóczy, ‘Sárkány-Lelke’ Pinot Gris 2017 – Balaton

Nerd alert! The Bajnóczy ‘Sárkány-Lelke’ Pinot Gris’ is for hardcore wine geeks. This is partially macerated and done in a minimal intervention style. The wine is full-bodied and gritty with a smoky flavor along with the dried yellow fruit and a slight almond finish. Score: 90/100

• 2HA, Shiraz 2016 – Balaton

The 2HA (2 hectares) winery is a tiny estate in North Balaton that puts an emphasis on red wines (this is primarily a white wine region) The 2HA Shiraz is more of a Syrah style than a Shiraz. Notes of dark fruit, violets, chocolate, and pepper. It’s juicy with a peppery finish. Complex and extremely well done. Score: 91+/100

• Fekete Pincé, Furmint 2007 – Somló

Fekete Pincé is one of the old guards of Somló and this Furmint 2007 is classic. There are notes of mushroom, campfire, smoke, and dried apricot. It’s full-bodied, oxidative, and highly mineral with a chewy texture and a long finish. Truly complex and unique, this is a thinking wine and a very good one at that. Score: 92/100

• Győrgykovács Imre, Hárslevelú 2010 – Somló

Find or buy on Wine-Searcher.

Another old guard of the tiny volcanic region of Somló. The Győrgykovács Imre Hárslevelú has notes of white flower, honey, flint, smoke, and a faint bit of white pear. This is shiny and highly mineral. It’s full-bodied and fairly neutral. Highly structured with a long finish. This is not for people that want gobs of fruit, but it is a brilliant wine. It’s was my favorite wine of the entire GoVolcanic Summit. Score: 93+/100

• Somlói Apátsági Pince, Juhfark 2017 – Somló

Find or buy on Wine-Searcher.

Somlói Apátsági Pince is another classic producer from Somló while Juhfark is one of the star varieties. This example is a late harvest, dry wine. The flavors include apricot, pear, sweet peach and honey with subtle notes of botrytis. It is full-bodied and minerally, unique and delicious. Gritty texture and a touch of residual sugar to build the body and balance the acidity. Score: 90/100

Do you like our content?

If you like our articles and videos, we’d love for you to be a part of our community on Patreon. The support from Patreon helps keep the content coming and you access to behind the scenes content. It also gives us the chance to get to know you better. Check out the Exotic Wine Travel Patreon page by clicking the photo below.

************

Do you want to learn more about Hungarian wine?

Be part of our fourth wine book Discover Hungarian Wine. Sign up HERE to learn how you can be one of the first to get a special edition, signed copy with a discount when our Kickstarter launches once the world returns to normalcy.

GoVolcanic provided complimentary admission. Cover photo is from the GoVolcanic website. Please note that the opinions expressed in this article are unsolicited and have not been paid for in any way by governmental bodies, enterprises, or individuals. We do not sell editorial content as that would destroy the legitimacy of our reviews and the trust between Exotic Wine Travel and its readers. On occasion, we extend the option of purchasing the wines we review or/and the products we spotlight. Some of these product links are set up through affiliate programs, which means Exotic Wine Travel gets referral credits if you choose to purchase these items via the links we provide.

The post Ten Volcanic Wines From GoVolcanic appeared first on Wine Travel.

Are they orange wines or are they amber wines? Are these wines the real deal or are they just a fad?

Whatever you want to call these wines, we love them and don’t get sick of them. That’s why we chose to attend the Orange Wine Festival in Vienna for the second year in a row. The 2018 rendition of the Orange Wine Festival saw 68 producers pour over 200 orange wines (and a few reds) over six and a half hours. The event was again held at the Museums Quartier in downtown Vienna, Austria.

The Orange Wine Festival was full again this year. Producers from Slovenia showed strong again. The western parts of Slovenia (Vipava Valley and Goriška Brda) are the epicenter of orange wine production outside of Georgia. There were also a number of excellent wines present from Austria and Italy in addition to more exotic countries like Croatia, Slovakia, Hungary, and Serbia.

Are Orange Wines A Fad?

Orange wines receive their fair share of criticism. Wine writers like the famous Hugh Johnson previously stating that they “are a sideshow and waste of time.” Ian D’Agata who is the author of Native Wine Grapes Of Italy and contributor to Vinous has also lamented these “white wines treated like reds.”

With big names in the industry attacking these wines, who will stand for them?

Simon Woolf has recently authored the book Amber Revolution, a deep dive into the world of orange wines. Woolf believes that orange wines aren’t some new crazy fad and states, “It fascinates me – the deeper I go into it the more examples I find where these techniques were really the backbone of white winemaking in so many parts of the world.”

We come across a lot of orange wines throughout the year. Especially in Central and Eastern Europe. It seems like everyone is giving a go at producing an orange wine, which can be a good or bad thing depending on their competency. Regardless, it’s a telling sign of customer demand.

Whether you call them orange wines or amber wines, whether you love them or loathe them, it looks as if they are here to stay. If you’re curious to see what’s happening in this world of wine, the Orange Wine Festival is a must-visit. We tasted from the start to the finish of the Orange Wine Festival 2018 – here are some of our favorites.

Exotic Wine Travel’s Picks

My favorite wines were the Clai Sv. Jakov Malvazija 2016 from Istria, Croatia (95/100), Marjan Simčič Rebula Opoka 2016 from Goriška Brda, Slovenia (94/100), and the Batič Zaria 2016 from Vipava, Slovenia (94/100) but we’ve written about them extensively in the past. We would proudly shoe these three wines to any palate.

Mentioned wines are available for purchase at wineandmore.com.

These are fantastic wines but instead of writing about these producers again, we’ve highlighted other wines below.

• Schiefer, Weisser Schiefer 2013 – Burgenland, Austria 

Predominantly Welschriesling, Grüner Veltliner with Pinot Blanc. Austrian orange wines tend to be clean and precise, the Schiefer Weiser Schiefer is no different. It’s rich and opulent with dried yellow fruit, fall leaves, and dandelion flavors. The ripe fruit flavors are accompanied with soft tannins guiding the long finish. Score: 92/100

• OUO, Rebula Ivanka 2016 – Vipava, Slovenia

Charine adored this producer when we first tasted the wines during our Vipava Valley trip in August. This time around, I finally got the drift. The OUO Rebula Ivanka is concentrated with apricot, ripe peach, and fall leaves. It’s full bodied without overly hard tannins that can come with Ribolla Gialla. It’s full-bodied and tangy but the alcohol shows through pretty strong – which is the only detractor.  Score: 91/100

• Hager Matthias, Hager Weiss Gemischter Satz 2006 – Lower Austria, Austria

The Hager Matthias Hager Weiss Gemischter Satz really impressed both of us. Gemischter Satz means “field blend” and this example is aging beautifully. Flavors include forest floor, dried apricot, mushroom, and almond. The wine spent two weeks on the skins. It’s medium bodied with racy acidity and a long finish. Score: 92/100

• Quantum, Enigma 2017 – Lower Austria, Austria

The funky labels of Quantum winery grabbed my attention while the wine kept it. The Quantum Enigma is made from Pinot Blanc and is only 10.5% alcohol. It’s chewy, ripe, and concentrated for such a low alcohol wine. Full of pineapple, apricot, nuts, and fall leaves flavors – you can really feel the Pinot Blanc standing out. This wine is raw and has a beautiful finish with rich texture on the palate. Score: 90/100

• Valdisole, Arké 2015 – Piedmont, Italy

The Valdisole Arké is concentrated and flat out delicious. It is made from the grape Arneis. The wine is earthy with apricot, lemon, soil, and ginger notes. Rich and full-bodied, this feels weighty on the palate but never awkward thanks to the acidity. Long finish and soft tannins. 93/100

• Jure Štekar, Moros 2017 – Goriška Brda, Slovenia

The Jure Štekar Moros is a beauty made from the grape Friulano. Charine puts it best the post below. 

Score: 92/100

• Tombacco, Origine 2014 – Sicily, Italy

Made from Grillo and Zibbibo (Muscat of Alexandria), the Tombacco Origine has a sherry-like nuttiness to it. The wine was aged in Marsala casks. Full of dried yellow fruit, almond, apricot, and lime flavors. It’s full-bodied and slightly sweet with 12 g/L of RS.  This unique wine was quite divisive at the show – it’s a love it or not type of wine. Score: 92/100

• Ražman, Malvazija Antiqua 2016

The Ražman Malvazija Antiqua 2016 recently won a platinum medal the Decanter World Wine Awards – it’s well deserved. It has notes of sweet peaches, dandelion, and citrus. It’s lighter bodied for a macerated Malvazija Istarska (Malvasia Istriana). The wine has a tanginess that is sometimes missing from the grape. Soft tannins guide the long finish. Score: 93/100

• Maurer 1880 Kadarka 2016 – Subotica, Serbia

Producers at the 2018 Orange Wine Festival were allowed to bring a few red wines from their portfolio. Oskar Maurer works with a lot of unique grapes in Northern Serbia (on the border with Hungary). This wine is made from ungrafted vines of Kadarka that were first planted in the year 1880 in sandy soil. The Maurer 1880 Kadarka is full of strawberry, rhubarb, cherry, and mineral notes. The wine is soft and medium bodied with juicy acidity and easy tannins. I often describe Kadarka as tasting like a lower alcohol version of Grenache. Score: 90/100

You can find out more about our scoring system on the WINE RATING page.

The finest selection of

wines available at:

Shipping is available EU-wide and to the UK.

Check out Wines Available in the USA.

************

    Do you want to try Slovenian wines?    

If you’re looking to savor the exquisite flavor of Slovenian wines, look no further than wineandmore.com. With an abundance of options from different winemakers, it’s easy to find exactly what your palate desires. Not sure which bottle is best for you? Try out one of their curated wine cases and discover the perfect vintage for any occasion!

************

Want to learn more about wine?

Are you ready to discover the wonderful world of wines? Come join us at wineandmore.com and let’s explore the incredible selection of delicious wines together! We can’t wait to share our passion for wine with you!

Thanks to Orange Wine Festival for providing transport and passes to the event. Please note that the opinions expressed are our own and have not been paid for in any way. We do not sell editorial content as that would destroy the legitimacy of our reviews and the trust between Exotic Wine Travel and its readers. On occasion, we extend the option of purchasing the wines we review or/and the products we spotlight. Some of these product links are set up through affiliate programs, which means Exotic Wine Travel gets referral credits if you choose to purchase these items via the links we provide. 

The post Orange Wine Festival 2018: Here To Stay appeared first on Wine Travel.

Hello! Welcome to As Drunk by Exotic Wine Travel, a weekly column where we feature interesting wines that we encourage you to seek out. The reviews featured in this series may be written by either one or the both of us. The featured wines can be from obscure or well-known wine regions. We hope that these wine recommendations will keep you gastronomically curious and your palate invigorated!

Domäne Wachau, Grüner Veltliner Smaragd 2016 Axpoint

While in transit between Iaşi, Romania and Zagreb, Croatia we found ourselves in the Vienna Airport. We had just finished judging at the International Wine Competition Bucharest. After tasting a number of interesting wines from both emerging and well-known wine regions, Charine wanted a classy well constructed Austrian wine.

When in Austria, the choice should be easy. Grüner Veltliner is the country’s flagship grape and most widely planted in the country. We’ve tasted several delicious Austrian Grüners throughout the years but it’s an example from Santa Barbara County that left a lasting impression on us. Ever since tasting that wine, Charine has been craving another Grüner Veltliner with both ripe fruit and long lees contact (see below).

Surprisingly, there were not many high-quality Grüner Veltliners on offer at the airport. After scouring the shelves, we came across some single vineyard Rieslings and Grüners from Domäne Wachau.

Domäne Wachau is a cooperative winery that controls about 30% of all the vineyard area in Wachau. They release a wide range of wines including several single vineyard Riesling and Grüner Veltliner bottlings. We love to support cooperatives and opted to purchase the Domäne Wachau Grüner Veltliner Smaragd 2016 Axpoint.

The Axpoint vineyard is right above the town of Spitz and is south facing. The word Smaragd is the highest quality designation within the Wachau region. Put that all together and we figured it was a wine that shouldn’t disappoint.

The Domäne Wachau Grüner Veltliner Smaragd 2016 Axpoint hits your nose immediately with white pepper, grass, lime, and yogurt notes. It’s very flinty on the palate with bright acidity. The first thing that jumped to my mind when drinking this wine is how I’d love to know it after at least five more years in the bottle. A longer finish would push this into greater levels but it’s still delicious to drink.

Dangerously easy to finish, we polished off the bottle in no time.

90/100 (You can find out more about our scoring system on the WINE RATING page.)

Find or buy on Wine-Searcher.

Please note that the opinions expressed are our own and have not been paid for in any way. We do not sell editorial content as that would destroy the legitimacy of our reviews and the trust between Exotic Wine Travel and its readers. On occasion, we extend the option of purchasing the wines we review or/and the products we spotlight. Some of these product links are set up through affiliate programs, which means Exotic Wine Travel gets referral credits if you choose to purchase these items via the links we provide.

The post Domäne Wachau Grüner Veltliner Smaragd Axpoint 2016 appeared first on Wine Travel.

Hello! Welcome to As Drunk by Exotic Wine Travel, a weekly column where we feature interesting wines that we encourage you to seek out. The reviews featured in this series may be written by either one or the both of us. The featured wines can be from obscure or well-known wine regions. We hope that these wine recommendations will keep you gastronomically curious and your palate invigorated!

Sepp Moser Zweigelt Reserve 2015

We welcome wines that catch us by surprise and the Sepp Moser Zweigelt Reserve 2015 is one of those examples. During a hot summer day at U Adama Wine Bar in Bratislava, Charine and I were patiently drinking through the 2015 vintage of natural wines from Morava (Czech Republic) and Slovakia. We were sweating through our shirts but enjoyed the refreshing white and orange (amber) wines that were served.

The bottle was revealed. We recognized the name but the grape didn’t excite us. Because of the heat, we were hardly interested in drinking a red wine. On top of that, most Zweigelt (a cross between St. Laurent and Blaufränkisch) we’ve tasted are simple, light, and unremarkable wines. Our job is to put preconceptions aside when it comes to wine, so we took a sip. My interest was piqued immediately.

The Sepp Moser Zweigelt Reserve 2015 is a refreshing red that is dangerously easy to drink.

Sepp Moser Zweigelt Reserve 2015 is aged for 20 months in used barriques (225L) and 300L barrels. It’s an outstanding Zweigelt, scratch that, it’s an outstanding medium-bodied red wine. It’s full of sour cherry, strawberry, cedar, and a fall leaf undertone. A touch of tannin from the barrel while feeling silky smooth on the palate with juicy acidity. It’s a fun wine to drink and a perfect companion with food.

The post Sepp Moser Zweigelt Reserve 2015 appeared first on Wine Travel.

2017 marked the third year of our location-independent lifestyle and the second year of our wine career. It was a momentous year for us—in the span of 12 months, we authored and published our second and third wine book Sipping Santa Barbara and Cracking Croatian Wine, traveled to seven countries, and tasted over 2,000 wines. For professional development reasons, we usually aim to taste at least 3,000 wines every year. However, because of our publishing deadlines, we were relatively sedentary in 2017 as we spent more than half of the year in Croatia and Serbia while finishing the production of our books; the other six months, we were traveling in the wine regions of Austria, Cyprus, Italy (Friuli-Venezia Giulia and Sardinia), Hungary, Slovakia, and Slovenia. In all the countries that we visited, we managed to find outstanding wines in every one of them. We mean… magnificent… unforgettable… outstanding… knockouts.

All in all, it was a rewarding year if we measure it out in wine glasses.

So here we go again: our favorite wines of the year. As advocates for diversity in wine and “Drink Adventurously” (our tagline), we hope our list reveals the ever-expanding choices that are available to wine lovers. While these 17 wines have been chosen based on, first and foremost, their sensory merits, other aspects are also taken into consideration. Did the wine teach us something new? Did it make us re-examine our assumptions? Did it spark curiosity or inspire conversations? Did it have a story or human element that mean something special to us? Ultimately, these are wines that we would highly recommend you, our wine-loving reader, to seek out.

SPARKLING WINE

Charles Heidsieck, Blanc des Millenaires 1995 – Champagne, France

We tasted this at a Charles Heidsieck workshop organized by VinArt Grand Tasting in Zagreb, Croatia. The presenter Drazan Sunjic was also our WSET teacher. Drazan knows the Champagne region and Champagne Charlie inside out. So it was an honor to have him share his knowledge and passion with us. The Charles Heidsieck Blanc des Millenaires 1995 was the last wine of the tasting, and it wowed everyone in the room. Made from 100% Chardonnay, this bottle was disgorged in 2015. 19 years of lees aging, woohoo! Following 1983, 1985, and 1990, 1995 is only the fourth vintage of this tête de cuvée Champagne.

Why we love it: We had a hard time choosing between this and Taittinger Comtes de Champagne 2006. We ended up picking Charles Heidsieck over Taittinger because it’s more developed at this point. The Charles Heidsieck Blanc des Millenaires 1995 is a wine that must be tasted, not described.

Learn More | Best Of Vinart Grand Tasting 2017: Part 2

WHITE WINE

Bott Frigyes, Super Granum 2015 – Južnoslovenská, Slovakia

Bott Frigyes is an ethnic Hungarian living in South Slovakia. We first heard about his wines from Ernő Sagmeister of Dukay-Sagmeister winery in Serbia. If one of our favorite wine producers suggests we try the wines of another producer, we will follow the recommendation dutifully.

And so we did. During our two-week press tour in Slovakia, we had the chance to spend a night at the guesthouse of Bott Frigyes. Thank you, Tibor Vittek and Peter Drotár for organizing. After an elaborate tasting and dinner, Bott and his family left the guesthouse but not before trying to make us feel the most welcome.

 

Spending the night at one of our favorite wineries in Slovakia. And guess what, it’s “open cellar” night!

A post shared by Exotic Wine Travel (@exoticwinetravel) on Dec 5, 2017 at 12:38pm PST

“Help yourself to the wines.” Bott had left all the bottles that we tasted in the dining room. It was a long work day; we were knackered, but nothing was going to stop us from enjoying a nightcap.

 Why we love it: Bott Frigyes Super Granum 2015 is a barrel-fermented cuvée of Furmint, Hárslevelü, and Juhfark. Exciting grapes? Check. The wine has a head-turning bouquet, vivid flavors, and an undeniable mineral characteristic. The quality level, irresistible refreshingness, subtle nuances, tension, and texture of this wine remind us of the best of Chablis.  

Nikolaihof, Vinothek Riesling 2000 – Wachau, Austria

We were fortunate to drink this wine twice in 2017: the first time was at a workshop in Zagreb, Croatia, and the second time was at Austrian winemaker Hartmut Aubell‘s birthday celebration. The 1995 vintage of Nikolaihof Vinothek Riesling was the first Austrian wine to receive 100 points from Robert Parker. Aged for 16 years in 3,500-liter oak cask and bottled in 2016, the 2000 vintage is the winery’s latest release of this wine.

Why we love it: It may be the greatest white wine that Matt has ever tasted. Also, this wine is a capsule of many fond memories—from our trip to Graz, Austria, to this…

A photo of our friend, Vjekoslav Stojišić, when he tasted this wine. Photo from: www.facebook.com/vinartgrandtasting

Learn More | Best Of Vinart Grand Tasting 2017: Part 1

RED WINE

Antinori, Solaia 2010 – Tuscany, Italy

One of the illustrious Aia’s of Tuscany… Ornellaia, Sassicaia, and Solaia. Antonio Galloni of Vinous wrote,” The 2010 is the greatest Solaia ever made.” We tend to agree with Galloni’s reviews, so when we found this 98-point wine—with an irresistible price tag to boot—in Belgrade, Serbia, it was a non-negotiable situation: let’s get it. Antinori Solaia is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Sangiovese, and Cabernet Franc.

Why we love it: We opened this wine on May 22 to celebrate the second anniversary of our location-independent lifestyle. It was our first taste of Solaia, and it delivered more than we had imagined. Unfortunately, we did a disservice to this wine by drinking it at such a young age. Nevertheless, it showed a formidable marriage between finesse and power.

Concha y Toro, Don Melchor 2007 – Maipo Valley, Chile

 

A moment of truth: has it all been a misplaced love or is the Serbian Kremen Kamen by Matalj winery one of the greatest reds? We put the Kremen Kamen wines up to a taste test next to Don Melchor (listed 8 times on Wine Spectator’s Top 100 list) and are glad to see that Kremen Kamen is indeed a wine of great substance. Now that our love and faith in Serbian wine are justified, we wish our dear friend from Matalj winery that Kremen Kamen will have the same impact on Serbian wine industry as Don Melchor has on the Chilean wine image.

A post shared by Exotic Wine Travel (@exoticwinetravel) on Mar 13, 2017 at 10:50pm PDT

In May 2017, we were in the final production stage of two books and inching towards being burned out. Matt decided to purchase a few iconic wines as a form of encouragement and pick-me-up. The stash included Antinori Solaia 2010 (listed above), Antinori Tignanello 2011, Donnafugata Mille e una Notte 2012, Fontodi Flaccianello della Pieve 2009, Fontodi Vigna del Sorbo Chianti Classico Gran Selezione 2011 (listed below), M. Chapoutier Châteauneuf-du-Pape La Bernardine 2010, and this—our good ol’ Don Melchor, a wine we used to drink a fair bit back in Singapore. Three out of those seven wines ended up being our “wine of the year”, so it was a perceptive splurge by Matt.

Cabernet Sauvignon with a bit of Merlot, this wine has been listed eight times on the Wine Spectator’s Top 100 list, and the 2007 vintage scored 94+ points from The Wine Advocate by Robert Parker. We were in Serbia at that time so we thought we’d make a fun tasting out of this bottle. After all, it’s not often that one can find a 10-year-old Don Melchor on the shelf. We met up with Nikola Mladenović Matalj, the owner and winemaker of Matalj winery, and arranged a vertical tasting of his Matalj Kremen Kamen (which was in our Top 16 of 2016 list) along this wine.

Why we love it: We were fortunate to catch Don Melchor 2007 at its prime drinking window: the wine was showing the perfect balance between primary and tertiary notes. This remains to be the best bottle/vintage of Don Melchor we’ve tasted.

Learn More | Matalj Kremen Kamen: A Vertical Tasting

Fontodi, Chianti Classico Riserva Vigna del Sorbo 2011 – Tuscany, Italy

 

2011 Fontodi Chianti Classico Gran Selezione Vigna del Sorbo. A burly Chianti with 15% abv, fruit flavors so intense that they are redolent of berry strips, and 6% acidity that disciplines the many layers into a harmonious unity. This wine is approaching the window of great drinkability but clearly has many more years of evolvement ahead before unveiling its peak. Flavors of sour cherry, black plum, tobacco, licorice, sweet cedar, cinnamon stick, and leather. Chewy tannins lead to a lengthy, strikingly tart yet sweet finish. This is a divisive wine as we’ve just drunk a bottle of 2011 Tignanello. Matt prefers the Tignanello because he thinks it has higher drinkability now. Charine prefers this wine for its powerful attack.

A post shared by Exotic Wine Travel (@exoticwinetravel) on Apr 12, 2017 at 8:38am PDT

We had a bottle of Fontodi Chianti Classico on our first date. That wine turned out to be a favorable choice for us in more than one way. So five years later, it was time to step up and give this Gran Selezione version a try.

Why we love it: It was a tough choice between this and its preeminent sibling, the Fontodi Flaccianello Della Pieve. In the end, this burly Chianti took the spot because of its current accessibility. And, to us, it’s simply more distinctive and more memorable than Flaccianello 2009. This wine is so good that it may even make your burp smell good.

Francuska Vinarija, Obećanje 2009 – Negotin, Serbia

 

I guess it’s no surprise that the Serbian winery Francuska Vinarija’s headliner is this Gamay bottling, since the proprietors are from Burgundy. Bouquet of predominantly redcurrant, maraschino cherry, and chalk, with lingering notes of white pepper, lilac, and leather in the background. Structured with juicy acidity and ripe fruit sweetness on the palate. For a 2009 wine, it’s incredible that I feel a tad sad for drinking it too early. In 2 to 3 years, the leather character will probably become more pronounced, and I expect a bit more tobacco leaf and earthy notes that can make this wine more nuanced than it already is. I was going to say it is more Fleurie in style but later decided that a reference to an aged Saint-Armour might be more accurate.

A post shared by Charine Tan (@charinetan) on Sep 25, 2017 at 11:26am PDT

Located in East Serbia, Francuska Vinarija, which translates to “French Winery”, is owned and operated by a Burgundian couple. These wines are not available in Serbia as the entire production is exported, mostly to France. It took us nearly two years to track these wines down: our friend had some bottles in his cellar, and he offered a case for us to taste. We were impressed with all the Francuska Vinarija’s wines that we tried. However, this Gamay bottling called Obećanje was a cut above the rest. The name Obećanje means “the promise”.

Why we love it: It’s the best non-Cru Beaujolais Gamay we’ve tasted.

Learn More | Serbian Grand Cru on the Slopes of Danube

Jakončič, Carolina Select 2006 – Brda, Slovenia

Prior to our 2017 trip to Brda, Slovenia, we knew nothing about Jakončič winery. We only found out about them when we arrived in Slovenia and Matjaž Zagradišnik from the winery reached out to us with a cellar invitation. Throughout the tasting, we were happy with the wines. Then, we got to the Grand Vin—Carolina Select, a blend of 92% Merlot and 8% Cabernet Sauvignon—and it was an epic slam dunk. A wine that is built to age for decades, Jakončič Carolina Select is a wine with a waiting list and rightfully so.

Why we love it: Jakončič Carolina Select 2006 is a superlative Merlot. When we tasted this wine, it was immediately clear to us that it would be a highlight of the year. It has an opulent bouquet, full and luscious texture, intense fruit attack on the palate, and a persistent, focused finish. 

Learn More | Marjan Simčič and Jakončič: Classically Styled Slovenian Wine

Kozlović, Santa Lucia Noir 2012 – Istria, Croatia

Another tough selection. We shortlisted Clai Brombonero Refošk 2011, Clai Sv. Jakov Malvazija, 2011, Coronica Gran Teran 2011, Trapan The One 2012, and this wine for the article. All of them are from Istria, Croatia. We ended up choosing Kozlović Santa Lucia Noir 2012 because of its current appeal balanced with future potential. It’s a wine that will undoubtedly appeal to many.

Made only in exceptionally great years, Kozlović Santa Lucia Noir 2012 is a 50-30-20 blend of Merlot-Cabernet Sauvignon-Teran from the Santa Lucia Vineyard, an area that is best known for its mineral-driven whites. We were so glad that we managed to taste this wine right before finalizing our manuscript of Cracking Croatian Wine.

Why we love it: It’s a “Super Istrian”, so to speak.  This wine retains Teran’s tingling acidity and ferrous aroma while putting on some luxurious, Bordeaux-esque contours.

Learn More | 10 Istrian Wines to Try

Miani, Merlot Buri 2013 – Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Italy

In January, we spent a week in Friuli-Venezia Giulia. The winery that left the deepest impression was Miani, a recommendation that came from Antonio Galloni’s Vinous forum. When we posted on the forum seeking suggestions for “only the best wineries in Friuli”, one member replied, “There can only be one… Miani.”

Why we love it: The finest essence in a bottle. Want to know what soaring intensity feels like? This is your bottle. It’s one of the greatest Merlots we’ve tasted.

Learn More |  Miani: What Wine Dreams are Made of

Vylyan Duennium 2006 – Villány, Hungary

We first tasted Vylyan’s wine at a Villányi Franc workshop in February 2017. It was one of the two Villányi Cabernet Francs that stood out to us. A few months later, we had the chance to visit the winery. And as you might expect, we went with high expectations. By the end of our one-month stay in Hungary, we concluded that Vylyan remains as our top 10 favorite wineries in the country. Vylyan Duennium is a Cabernet Franc-based wine. For 2006 Duennium, some Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon were also added to the cuvée.

Why we love this: It was our favorite wine during our three-day tasting trip in Villány. Exceptionally youthful for its age, this is a wine that shows a sense of place. We would love to share a bottle with our collector friends in the future.

SKIN CONTACT WINE

Dario Prinčič, Bianco Trebež 2012 – Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Italy

Charine spotted the Dario Prinčič Bianco Trebež 2012 at an inconspicuous wine bar in Belgrade, Serbia. It was tucked clumsily in a corner of the wine fridge. Every time we see Dario Prinčič’s wine, it would be a done deal. We requested to purchase the wine, but as it turned out, the wine was not for sale;  it belonged to the bar’s owner. When the owner heard about our request and saw our enthusiasm, he decided to open a bottle and shared it with us. Dario Prinčič Bianco Trebežis is a blend of Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, and Pinot Grigio.

Why we love it: It’s a poised and complete amber wine with an allure that keeps us coming back for more. We were introduced to Dario Prinčič by our friend, John Wurdeman of Pheasant’s Tears Winery (Georgia). Since our first bottle with John, we’ve shared many bottles of Bianco Trebež with various people. In a way, this wine is like a torque to us: centralizing and generalizing friendships through the vinous power.

Movia, Lunar 8 2008 – Brda, Slovenia

This wine was tied with Movia Puro 2010 in terms of sensory merits. We ended up choosing Movia Lunar 8 because of the context in which we drank it. On Matt’s 35th birthday, we shared a magnum of this wine with a group of winemakers, wine writers, and wine enthusiasts in Zagreb, Croatia. We tasted more than 10 wines that night, and this was the “Wine of the Night” with nearly full consensus. Movia Lunar 8 is made from 100% Rebula.

Why we love it: Charine said, “This wine is so good that it makes me feel like I’m drinking above my station.” It’s a wine that can arouse much pride, desire, delight, curiosity, and awareness.

Learn More | Kabaj and Movia: Slovenian Wines with Big Personalities

Radikon, Fuori dal Tempo 2001 -Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Italy

Radikon was on our “Do Not Miss” list when we traveled to Friuli-Venezia Giulia. Our visit came less than five months after Stanko Radikon’s passing in the fall of 2016, and the family was missing Stanko dearly. Fuori dal Tempo means “outside of time”. This is a blend of 60% Chardonnay and 40% Sauvignon Blanc. 

Why we love it: At the time of our visit in January 2017, this was the second vintage confirmed for this bottling. Charine teared up when she tasted this wine. Radikon Fuori dal Tempo 2001 hovers on the palate with exquisite grace. It’s a sublime masterpiece that was personally crafted by Stanko Radikon.

Learn More | Gravner and Radikon: Italian Wines Without Compromise

SWEET WINE

The Anama Concept, Anama Vintage 2012 – Commandaria, Cyprus

In February 2017, we were on a two-week press tour in Cyprus. The Anama Concept wasn’t included in our official itinerary. But thanks to our friend George Gkenos, we found our way to the home of Lefteris Mohianakis and Kristina Apostolou Mohianakis—the husband-and-wife team behind this designer-chic producer.

The Anama Concept’s Anama Vintage cannot be officially called “Commandaria” because it’s made outside of the 14 designated Commandaria villages. But it’s still that time-tested, familiar taste of Cyprus’s most famous sweet wine made from the raisined grapes of Mavro and Xinisteri—both indigenous to Cyprus. This is the only wine that The Anama Concept produces, and the production is around 2,000 bottles per year.

Why we love it: The Anama Concept has taken one of the oldest wine brands in the world, preserved the tenets of Commandaria’s story, revitalized its image, refined its taste, and given it a time-relevant makeover. This wasn’t the only Commandaria-style wine that we loved during our Cyprus trip, but it stood out the most because of its dried fruit and citrus qualities, meaning it was less oxidative-tasting than most Commandaria wines. We also respect the vision of The Anama Concept and cherish the intimate time spent with Lefteris and Kristina at their home.

Learn More | Cyprus Sweet Wines: Commandaria and More

Tokaj & Co., 5 Putñovy 1990 – Tokaj, Slovakia

Tokaj & Co. was a state-run winery during the communist era in Czechoslovakia. The winery is now privately owned. The Tokaj & Co., 5 Putñovy 1990 is part of a limited-edition, archive wine release, which means it is still readily available on the market. The 127g/l of residual sugar is supported by 11g of total acidity.

Why we love it: During our two-week trip through the wine regions of Slovakia, this was arguably the most compelling Slovak wine that we tasted. True to the sweet Tokaji of that era, this wine is oxidative in style and densely packed but without heaviness. The botanical bouquet draws us in and the sugar-acid balance gives it dominance and youth. The front load of dried sweet fruit flavors are contrasted by a tart and spicy finish. This is a living example that great sweet Tokaji can be found in Slovakia.

Video | Exotic Wine Travel in Slovak Tokaj

Vega Sicilia, Oremus, Tokaji Eszencia 2007 – Tokaj, Hungary

Tokaji Eszencia is the rarest and most expensive of all the wines made in Tokaj. Prior to our 2017 wine trip to Hungary, we didn’t care much for Tokaji Eszencia. The idea of an exceptionally viscous wine with at least 450g/l residual sugar and 1-5% ABV was odd-sounding. Would it still taste like wine? Do people really drink it from a spoon?

Our visit at Oremus was set up by our friends from Wine Elite. During the tasting, we had the chance to try some rare, aged Tokaji Aszú wines including a 1956 vintage and a 1972. 1956 is a significant year because of the Hungarian Revolution and 1972 is widely touted as “the best vintage of the last century in Tokaj”. Still, Tokaji Eszencia 2007 was the transcendent one.

Why we love it: When we visited Tokaj, Charine was searching for the ‘Chateau d’Yquem of Hungary’. She found it in this exquisite bottle. Like pure energy in a bottle, drinking this wine makes us feel… healed. Vega Sicilia Oremus Tokaji Eszencia 2007 has 515g/l residual sugar, 15g/l total acidity, and 3% ABV. Those are some enticing numbers tucked in an extraordinary wine.

Video | Exotic Wine Travel in Tokaj, Hungary

This list seems fundamentally incomplete without a rosé wine. So here’s the most exciting rosé we’ve tasted in 2017: Gut Oggau Brutal Rosé 2016

The finest selection of wines

available at:

Shipping is available EU-wide and to the UK.

Check out Croatian Wines Available in the USA.

************

    Do you want to try Croatian wines?    

If you’re looking to savor the exquisite flavor of Croatian wines, look no further than wineandmore.com. With an abundance of options from different winemakers, it’s easy to find exactly what your palate desires. Not sure which bottle is best for you? Try out one of their curated wine cases and discover the perfect vintage for any occasion!

************

Want to learn more about wine?

Are you ready to discover the wonderful world of wines? Come join us at wineandmore.com and let’s explore the incredible selection of delicious wines together! We can’t wait to share our passion for wine with you!

Please note that the opinions expressed in this article are unsolicited and have not been paid for in any way by governmental bodies, enterprises, or individuals. We do not sell editorial content as that would destroy the legitimacy of our reviews and the trust between Exotic Wine Travel and its readers. On occasion, we extend the option of purchasing the wines we review or/and the products we spotlight. Some of these product links are set up through affiliate programs, which means Exotic Wine Travel gets referral credits if you choose to purchase these items via the links we provide.

The post Exotic Wine Travel’s 17 Wines of 2017 appeared first on Wine Travel.

Orange Wine Festival 2017

The Orange Wine Festival 2017 included over 60 wineries from Austria, Croatia, Georgia, Moldova, Italy, Romania, Slovakia, and Slovenia. There were many exciting wines at the show (along with some disappointing ones). The Austrian, Croatian, Italian, and Slovenian wines had especially strong showings.

If you are more of a visual person, check out the show’s highlights in the video below:

Amber Revolution

One of our personal highlights of Orange Wine Festival 2017 was meeting Simon Woolf in person. Simon is authoring Amber Revolution, the first book dedicated to orange wine. We spent some time with him after the show and indulged in a bottle of  Radikon Ribolla Gialla 2001 as a nightcap.  

Amber Revolution has reached its targeted funding goal on Kickstarter and the book will be released next year. We can’t wait to take a look at it. Congrats to Simon on such an exciting project.

 

Hey, look who’s here! It’s Mister Orange Wine, @themorningclaret! Check out his new Instagram feed @amber_revolution.

A post shared by Exotic Wine Travel (@exoticwinetravel) on Nov 7, 2017 at 1:10pm PST

Our Favorite Producers from Orange Wine Festival 2017

• Claus Preisinger – Burgenland, Austria

Claus Preisinger creates macerated white wines with crystalline fruit flavors and distinctive flinty notes. These are clean and well-executed orange wines. These wines were perhaps our favorite discovery at the show. We got the chance to sample his excellent Pinot Blanc in addition to his Grüner Veltliner fermented in amphora.

• Gsellmann – Burgenland, Austria

Gsellmann had four orange wines available for tasting: Neuburger, Chardonnay, Traminer, and Pinot Blanc. I found the Neuburger to be the most pleasant surprise out of the bunch. However, all four wines showed well and we were returning to the Gsellmann table often.

• Gut Oberstockstall – Lower Austria, Austria

This producer had three vintages of his orange wine available for tasting: 2013, 2014, and 2015. The Gut Oberstockstall Oran is a blend of 50% Gruner Veltliner, 45% Riesling, and 5% Traminer. Even though it’s a small proportion of the blend, the Traminer adds a wonderful floral component to this highly textured wine.

• Kaiser & Sacher – Styria, Austria

Kaiser & Sacher wines are fermented in Georgian qvevri (amphora) with low intervention. These wines have pure fruit flavors and remind us of our beloved Georgian wines. They produce two orange wines, one from Pinot Blanc (my choice) and one from Pinot Gris (Charine’s choice).

• Kristian Keber – Brda, Slovenia

Kristian Keber is the son of Edi Keber who has a well-known winery in Collio, Italy. Kristian Keber makes only one wine, a blend of Rebula, Jakot (Tocai Friulano), and Malvazija. The wine is macerated for 12 days. It’s a tame and delicious orange wine fermented with native yeasts. This wine has pure flavors and is great for newbies of the orange wine world.

• Paraschos – Collio, Italy

A tiny winery located near Radikon in Collio, Italy. These wines are pure and soft orange wines. We were especially fond of the Ribolla Gialla and the ‘Orange One’, which is a blend of Ribolla Gialla, Tocai Friulano, and Malvasia. Paraschos is a winery we will keep our eyes on.

Our Familiar Favorites:

• Clai – Istria, Croatia

Clai Winery is one of our favorite producers, not only in Croatia but in the world. The Clai Sv Jakov 2015 (Malvazija Istarska) was open for tasting. It was young but showed bright fruit flavors. This wine is consistently one of the best wines in Croatia and there’s no reason to believe that this vintage will be any different.

• Dario Prinčič – Collio, Italy

Depending on the vintage, Dario Prinčič Trebež blend can be one wine we always look forward to opening. It was on display and showed well. The Pinot Grigio also tasted great. We still haven’t visited Dario Prinčič but hope to change that in the near future.

• Movia – Brda, Slovenia

We visited Movia Winery about two months prior to attending the show. Winemaker and proprietor Aleš Kristančić stole the show when he showed up and started pouring different vintages of his Lunar wine. This wine continues to impress us every time we drink it.

• Piquentum – Istria, Croatia

Winemaker and owner Dimitri Brečević pumps out beautiful, minimal-intervention wines from Istria. His Malvazija is a lightly macerated and pure expression of the grape. His wines are also available at consumer-friendly prices, if you can track them down. It is one of the purest expressions of Malvazija Istarska on the market.

• Roxanich – Istria, Croatia

Another one of Istria’s big names, Roxanich makes several orange wines ranging from the compelling Antica (Malvazija Istarska) to the hedonistic Ines i Bijelom (field blend). The Roxanich Antica was one of our favorite wines in 2016. 

• Trapan – Istria, Croatia

Bruno Trapan farms organically on the southwestern tip of Istria. He showed a new wine called Istraditional made from Malvazija Istarska. It’s a big step up from his entry-level macerated wine, Uroboros. There are layers of complexity on the palate wrapped up by a ginger spice finish.

The finest selection of

organic wines available at:

Shipping is available EU-wide and to the UK.

Check out Croatian Wines Available in the USA.

************

    Do you want to try Croatian wines?    

If you’re looking to savor the exquisite flavor of Croatian wines, look no further than wineandmore.com. With an abundance of options from different winemakers, it’s easy to find exactly what your palate desires. Not sure which bottle is best for you? Try out one of their curated wine cases and discover the perfect vintage for any occasion!

************

Want to learn more about wine?

Are you ready to discover the wonderful world of wines? Come join us at wineandmore.com and let’s explore the incredible selection of delicious wines together! We can’t wait to share our passion for wine with you!

You May Also Enjoy
Cracking Croatian Wine: A Visitor-Friendly Guide
15 Amber Wines (Orange Wines) to Try in Croatia
A Crash Course 0n Austria’s Biodynamic Wine

Thanks to the Orange Wine Festival and Sašo Dravineć for the invitation. Check out the Festival’s website here. The ideas expressed in this article are personal opinions and are not associated with any sponsors or business promotions.

The post Highlights from Orange Wine Festival 2017 appeared first on Wine Travel.

Special thanks to Tom Leitner who set up the appointment with these wineries and also acted as our guide.

Rebenhof Hartmut Aubell

Rebenhof Hartmut Aubell is located in Südsteiermark, perhaps the most celebrated area among the southern Austrian wine regions. The green rolling hills of this area are steep and make for a scenic drive. The Austrian border with Slovenia is here. In fact, one of the roads is built on the border. A few producers in Südsteiermark have vineyards in both Austria and Slovenia.

The proprietor and winemaker is Hartmut Aubel. He farms his 9.5-hectare plot biodynamically. Hartmut only uses native yeasts in his annual production of 20,000 to 25,000 bottles. All wines are bottled without filtration. The white wines get at least 48 hours of skin contact, with the exception of his amber wines, which see even more maceration time. Hartmut puts an emphasis on picking earlier to get higher acidity and it really shows in the wines.

We visited Weingut Rebenhof Hartmut Aubell on Hartmut’s birthday. He had a small celebration on his gorgeous tasting deck. It overlooks the border with Slovenia, which is only several hundred meters to the south of the winery. Several of his friends were there for the celebration including the family of Nikolaihof winery. Hartmut is best friends with Nikolaus Saahs who is the winemaker at Nikolaihof.

It was a fast and furious day. After a tour of the vineyards, it was time to celebrate Hartmut’s birthday. Over the course of eight hours, Hartmut brought out 16 of his wines and six from Nikolaihoff. Everybody else was drinking and celebrating so it was difficult to keep up with writing tasting notes. At one point, Hartmut took the spit bucket off the table. When I tried to replace it, he took it off the table again much to my dismay.

In the end, it worked out great. Hartmut brought out his entire portfolio including a few archive wines. Hartmut is a hardcore, natural winemaker and one observation is that there is no definitive house style. Rebenhof has dry and off-dry wines. They also have wines that are fresh and crisp while others are oxidative in style. Hartmut makes several barrel fermented wines and he also makes a few macerated whites.

Exotic Wine Travel’s Picks

(You can find out more about our scoring system on the START HERE page.)

• Rebenhof Hartmut Aubell Inox 500 2012

Hartmut likes to experiment and he makes several macerated white wines in different-size barrels. The Rebenhof Hartmut Aubell Inox 500 is a blend of Sauvignon Blanc, Morillon (Chardonnay), and Riesling macerated for 6 months and aged in 500-liter barrels. This is bigger bodied and stronger than the Inox 300. It also has more wood influence. Full of tangerine, sweet cedar, apricot, and autumn leaf flavors. The wine has dense fruit, high concentration, and a sweet tobacco finish.   4.3/5

• Rebenhof Hartmut Aubell Silt Sauvignon Blanc 2013

This is a barrel-fermented Sauvignon Blanc. The Rebenhof Hartmut Aubell Silt Sauvignon Blanc is loaded with minerals, chalk, herbs, white fruit, and citrus flavors. It’s medium-bodied on the palate. Nice weight without being too cumbersome. Squeaky clean and well made, this effort will make French wine geeks happy.  4.1/5

• Rebenhof  Hartmut Aubell Quercus 328 2012

This is a secret blend of white grapes matured in 328-liter cigar barrels. The famous winery Didier Dagueneau in the Loire Valley uses these same cigar barrels for its Silex line of wines. There is a small amount of residual sugar here and it works well. Full of fall leaves, pear, peach, and some tertiary notes. The Rebenhof  Hartmut Aubell Quercus 328 is medium bodied for a barrel fermented and aged white wine. It has mouth-cleansing acidity and a small level of tannins.   4.2/5

Herrenhof Lamprecht

The Herrenhof Lamprecht winery is just a 30-minute drive east of Graz. Fruit orchards, pumpkin patches, and cornfields dot the rolling hills of the area. It doesn’t look like a wine-growing region at all. However, that didn’t stop the proprietor/winemaker Gottfried Lamprecht.

In the past, the area was planted with vineyards for a monastery located 100 kilometers to the north. Gottfried’s grandfather bought the property and for many years the land was used for fruit orchards. Gottfried wanted to replant the land with vineyards and restore wine growing glory to the property.

His first vintage was 2008 and in a short amount of time, he has built up an impressive portfolio of wines. Gottfried’s vineyards are certified organic and he uses native yeasts for fermentation. He tries to bottle wines without filtration whenever possible and uses the low amount of sulfites.

The hard work pays off. Herrenhof Lamprecht wines consistently receive high scores from the Austrian wine magazine Falstaff. He also was the beneficiary of a few 90-point scores from Robert Parker in previous vintages.

All of the wines in the Herrenhof Lamprecht lineup are excellent. In fact, this was one of my favorite winery visits in 2017 so far. These wines all have bright, ripe fruit with some bite and balanced acidity. Gottfried plans to expand white wine production in the future, which he believes the area is best suited for. However, the reds here are nothing to scoff at. Both the Blaufränkisch and Pinot Noir wines display elegance and subtle power.

This is a highly recommended producer.

Exotic Wine Travel’s Picks

(You can find out more about our scoring system on the START HERE page.)

• Herrenhof Lamprecht Sand & Kalk 2016

Find or buy on Wine-Searcher.

The Herrenhof Lamprecht Sand & Kalk is 85% Pinot Blanc and the rest of the blend is Morillon (Chardonnay), Sauvignon Blanc, and Pinot Gris. Chalk, lime, peach, and smoke flavors are present in the glass. The wine has tart fruit flavors and juicy acidity with a long, mineral finish. Out of the winery’s portfolio, this is the wine made in the largest quantity. It’s a beautiful effort for an entry-level white wine.   4.2/5

• Herrenhof Lamprecht Sand & Kalk “r” 2015

A reserve wine made with 100% Pinot Blanc from old vines. The Herrenhof Lamprecht Sand & Kalk “r” is aged for 18 months in oak. Gottfried said that this vintage is the best Pinot Blanc he has ever made. The wine has explosive pineapple, yogurt, lime, and mineral flavors. There is a rich texture on the palate with a sandy feel from the barrel. The finish is long and mineral driven. This is serious juice that will taste beautiful with further bottle aging.   4.4/5

• Herrenhof Lamprecht Butchertberg Weiss 2015

Find or buy on Wine-Searcher.

The Herrenhof Lamprecht Butchertberg Weiss is a field blend of 65 grapes. Yogurt, dandelion, fresh cut grass, kiwi, starfruit are the main flavors. A big mid-palate punch with a wild finish. It is a wine with some bite. The wine has a lingering and tart end palate that has a touch of dandelion. Unique, bright, clean, and wild all at the same time.   4.3/5

Herrenhof Lamprecht also makes a macerated white wine with this field blend that is worth seeking out.

• Herrenhof Lamprecht Buchertberg Rot 2015

This is a field blend of mostly Blaufränkisch. Other grapes in the Herrenhof Lamprecht Buchertberg Rot include Pinot Noir, St. Laurent, Blauer Wildbacher, and Kadarka. The wine is aged for 18 months in oak. Flavors include red fruit pie, white pepper, violets and V8 juice. Juicy while being vegetal, nice balance of fruit and earth. This has the elegance and subtle power of a good Pinot Noir.  4.2/5

You  May Also Enjoy

• A Crash Course on Biodynamic Austrian Wine
• Gut Oggau Brutal Rosé 2016
• Austrian Wine from Rebenhof Hartmut Aubell and Herrenhof Lamprecht

The opinions expressed in this article are unsolicited and have not been paid for in any way by governmental bodies, enterprises, or individuals. We do not sell editorial content as that would destroy the legitimacy of our reviews and the trust between Exotic Wine Travel and its readers. 

The post Tasting at Rebenhof Hartmut Aubell and Herrenhof Lamprecht appeared first on Wine Travel.

Wine brings people together, both from near and far.

Charine met Tom Leitner on a natural wine Facebook group. After sharing a few messages, we realized that Tom shares a passion for Croatia and Croatian wine with us. He invited us to visit him in Austria and taste some of his favorite wines. We decided to make the three-hour bus trip up to Graz, Austria from Zagreb.

Austrian Wine

Today, Austria is known more for its high-quality wines than bulk wines. The country made headlines internationally in the wine world in 1985. That year, a few wineries were found to have added a component of antifreeze into their late harvest wines, making them taste sweeter. After news of this spread, Austrian exports collapsed. It resulted in tighter government controls as well as a need for producers to focus on making high-quality wines.

We are too young to have that old prejudice in our minds. When we think of Austrian wine, we think of high quality. We’ve been really interested in Austrian wine over the last year. The few examples that we have tasted were all outstanding. In fact, two of my all-time favorite white wines (Schloss Gobelsburg Tradition and Nikolaihof Vinothek) are Austrian Rieslings.

Austria has a sizeable organic and biodynamic wine-producing community. This should be no surprise as Rudolf Steiner, the man held largely responsible for the founding of biodynamic principles, is Austrian. There are minimal intervention producers peppered throughout the country. Many of these producers make waves at natural wine fairs around the world such as RAW Wine.

Austria’s Biodynamic Wines

When Tom invited us to visit, we jumped at the chance. It was a successful weekend as we got to taste nearly 50 wines, most of them biodynamic or organic. On the first evening we arrived, Tom organized a tasting of biodynamic Austrian wine (mostly Demeter certified) and invited a few of his close friends to join us. All of his friends were new to biodynamic and minimal intervention wines but were willing to give them a shot. Tom was nice enough to share some top wines from his cellar. Some of the wines are limited edition and/or extremely hard to find.

The first bottle was corked but that didn’t dampen anybody’s spirits. The rest of the wines showed well. The evening was a rousing success. In fact, Charine said that it may be her most exciting or eye-opening tasting…ever.

We tasted through 11 wines during the evening and many of them were stunning. A couple were a little crazy and not for everyone, while some were simply great. The entire group enjoyed the tasting overall. Here are our favorites from the evening.

Exotic Wine Travel’s Picks

 (You can find out more about our scoring system on the START HERE page.)

• Franz Reinhard Weninger, Grüner Veltliner Amphora 2013

From Mittelburgenland (Middle Burgenland), only 230 bottles of this wine were produced in 2013. Franz Reinhard Weninger is a certified biodynamic producer. Full of dried pineapple, apricot, and diesel fuel flavors. This is medium bodied and has great texture along with fine-grained tannins and a long finish. Tangy for a macerated white wine. It’s subtle and really needs contemplation to enjoy, which takes some work but rewards those who are patient.   4.4/5

• Gut Oggau, Timotheus 2015

Find or buy on Wine-Searcher.

A blend of Grüner Veltliner and Pinot Blanc from Burgenland, Gut Oggau is a certified biodynamic winery. It’s a lightly macerated white wine matured in oak. This wine needs a lot of air to reach its best. The nose is full of brett, meat, apricot, and dandelion It smells like true wild macerated wine. The palate is a little different, it tastes like a raw white wine with some slight frizzante action. This is juice for hardcore natural wine geeks.   4.2/5

• Weingut Krispel, B1 2015

From the Südoststeiermark (Southeast Styria) region, this was the only wine during the evening that was not from either certified organic or biodynamic vineyards. The Weingut Krispel B1 is made from Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Gris that grow in vineyards with volcanic, basalt soils. It is macerated for three weeks, aged for 12 months in barrel, and 12 months in basalt rock containers. This has crazy mineral, ash, crush rock, flint, and matchstick flavors. The fruit flavor is white pear but this is mineral driven with an acidic core. A fascinating wine and one that almost everyone was amazed by.   4.4/5

• Sepp & Maria Muster, Graf Sauvignon 2012

Find or buy on Wine-Searcher.

From a certified biodynamic winery in the Südsteiermark (South Styria) region. Sepp & Maria Muster have a cult-like following. This is a lightly macerated Sauvignon Blanc aged for two years in barrel. Apricot, earth, white peach, and white flower flavors. The mid-palate is herbal and even has some juicy red fruit notes. Taste this wine blind and one might think it’s a light red wine.   4.3/5

• Werlitsch, Ex Vero II 2009

Find or Buy on Wine-Searcher.

From the Südsteiermark region, Werlitsch is a certified biodynamic producer and the Ex Vero II is their mid-range offering. It’s a blend of Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay. This is full of mineral, white peach, autumn leaf, and green veggie flavors with a beautiful golden color. This is tangy with a medium body and an oily mouthfeel. The wine has high drinkability and is very enjoyable, especially for newbies to this style of wine.  4.1/5

You May Also Enjoy
Highlights from The Orange Wine Festival 2017
Gut Oggau Brutal Rosé 2016
A Night of Natural Wines in Tbilisi, Georgia

Cover photo by Tom Leitner.

The opinions expressed in this article are unsolicited and have not been paid for in any way by governmental bodies, enterprises, or individuals. We do not sell editorial content as that would destroy the legitimacy of our reviews and the trust between Exotic Wine Travel and its readers. 

The post A Crash Course On Biodynamic Austrian Wine appeared first on Wine Travel.

Hello! Welcome to As Drunk By Exotic Wine Travel, a weekly column where we feature wines that are worth noting. The reviews featured in this series may be written by either one or the both of us. The featured wines can be from obscure or well-known wine regions. We hope that these wine recommendations will keep you gastronomically curious and your palate invigorated!

Gut Oggau Winery (Neusiedlersee, Burgenland, Austria)

Established in 2007, Gut Oggau is a 13-hectares estate located in Austria’s Burgenland wine region. Husband and wife Eduard Tscheppe and Stephanie Tscheppe-Eselböck are farming according to biodynamic principles in the Demeter-certified estate vineyards.  The annual production is around 18,000 bottles.

Photo from Gut Oggau’s website.

Together with German artist Jung von Matt, they’ve created a family of fictional characters for the bottle labels. By using anthropomorphism, each character represents a different expression of the wine’s style and vineyard age. The children represent younger wines that are easy to drink. The parents represent wines with bolder flavors, and the grandparents represent wines from the oldest vineyards. The artist redraws the labels for every new vintage, adding ‘a year of age’ to the characters that the wines are named after.

Each wine is made from grapes harvested from a single plot. Most of the plots contain field blends, and the primary grapes are Blaufränkisch, Gewürztraminer, Grüner Veltliner, Weissburgunder (Pinot Blanc), Welchriesling, and Zweigelt. The fruit is vinified with a minimal-intervention approach in the winery.

Photo credit: Thomas Leitner

The Gut Oggau Brutal Rosé is made from a grape called Roesler. When it was first poured into the glass, we noticed the light ruby color, which looked more like a light red wine than a rosé. 

Roesler, the Austrian Hybrid Grape

Named after Leonhard Roesler, the former director of Austria’s oldest viticultural college, Roesler is an Austrian hybrid with around 140 hectares (relatively little amount) planted in the country. Registered as a quality grape in the year 2000,  it was developed in 1970 by crossing Zweigelt and another hybrid called Klosterneuburg 1189-9-77 (with Blaufränkisch parentage). Roesler is categorized as a PIWI (Pilzwiderstandsfähigen Reben), which means it is resistant to fungal disease. It is also resistant to winter frost, making it an ideal grape that thrives in Austria’s harsh continental winter.

Commonly used as a blending grape for red wine, Roesler imparts deep color, rich extract, good structure, and moderate tannins to a wine.

Gut Oggau Brutal Rosé 2016

Ah! Now it makes sense: the Gut Oggau Brutal Rosé has an unusually intense color due to the grape.

With a sniff and a sip, on the first impression, this wine is redolent of the Georgian ancient grape Chitistvala.

Notes of wild strawberry, raspberry, and cranberry are accompanied by characteristics of hay, flint, and white pepper. The flavor attack in the mouth is bright and intense with a mid-palate spike. Juicy acidity leads the wine into a notably long finish with persistent spiciness and a gentle tug from the tannins. What’s particularly memorable about this rosé is how silky smooth and light it is on the palate and how it harmoniously transforms into a powerful finish.

To simplify its merits: it’s like an imaginary blend of Pinot Noir, Grenache, and Etna Rosso.

This is arguably the most exciting rosé we’ve tasted in 2017.

4.4/5  (You can find out more about our scoring system on the START HERE page.)

Technical notes: Vines are planted in limestone soil. A few hours of maceration. Spontaneous fermentation in 500-liter barrels. Eight-month aging in 500-liter barrels. Bottled without additional sulfur.

Find or buy Gut Oggau wine on Wine Searcher.

PS: Thanks a lot to our friend Thomas Leitner for introducing us to this wine.

The opinions expressed in this article are unsolicited and have not been paid for in any way. We do not sell editorial content as that would destroy the legitimacy of our reviews and the trust between Exotic Wine Travel and its readers.

The post Gut Oggau Brutal Rosé 2016 appeared first on Wine Travel.

Graševina is a Central/Eastern European white grape with unclear origins. It has many names around the region. In Austria, it’s known as Welschriesling, in Hungary as Olaszrizling, and in Slovenia as Laški Rizling. In Serbia, it has two names Grašac and Italian Riesling. While there is no agreeable name for the grape, Jancis Robinson decided to place all the synonyms under “Graševina” in her book Wine Grapes.

In the past, Graševina had the reputation of producing ‘poor man’s wine’. One out of every four bottles of wine sold in Croatia is made from Graševina. Most of these are inexpensive examples commonly mixed with sparkling water to make Gemišt.

It’s time to throw those old preconceptions of Graševina to the side. Producers are just beginning to unlock the grape’s potential. When ripe, Graševina is high in sugar and acidity. It is capable of making food-friendly wines in an array of styles including dry, off-dry, late-harvest, sweet, and sparkling.

 

Spent the weekend at the inaugural conference for Graševina (Welschriesling), which included several winery visits. Here’s Charine digging and smelling soil at Vinarija Belje. She’s finding no manure.

A post shared by Exotic Wine Travel (@exoticwinetravel) on Jul 3, 2017 at 2:45pm PDT

Debating Graševina

On 1 July 2017, the first annual “Graševina Without Borders” conference was held in Zagreb, Croatia. There were representatives from all over the region including Austria, Croatia, Hungary, Serbia, and Slovenia. The conference consisted of one day of workshops and two days of field trips through Slavonia, Baranja, and Ilok in Croatia. The conference was put on by Vina Croatia Mosiac and Saša Špiranec of Vinart.

Three days were dedicated to tasting wines made from one grape. As tedious as that sounds, the conference was a big success. It was interesting to see the different styles of Graševina each country is producing. At the end of the first day, it was evident that the grape is already producing stunning wines.

 

Lovely setting and perfect lighting for wine tasting.

A post shared by Exotic Wine Travel (@exoticwinetravel) on Jul 4, 2017 at 2:17pm PDT

What the group did not agree on was the name of the grape. Every country has a different name, which can be a struggle for positioning this variety on the international market. There was a lively discussion initiated by Jo Ahearne about agreeing on one name for the grape; none of the representatives from different countries was willing to budge.

 

The Serbian representatives at the inaugural Graševina conference held in Croatia. We spent two days traveling with this crew, plus other wine professionals from Hungary, Slovenia, Austria, and Croatia. Good times!

A post shared by Exotic Wine Travel (@exoticwinetravel) on Jul 5, 2017 at 1:51am PDT

Graševina may never have a singular name, but the future remains bright. Here are some of our favorites from the conference.

Exotic Wine Travel’s Favorite Graševina Wines

(You can find out more about our scoring system on the START HERE page.)

Austria’s Welschriesling

• Gross Welschriesling (Štajerksa Slovenija) 2016 – Südsteiermark, Austria

This is an Austrian winery but the fruit is from vineyards in Slovenia. Green is the name of the game here. Flavors of lime, grass, and green pear dominate the wine. The palate is tart and tangy with crunchy acidity. This would be excellent with spicy Asian food. The wine is sharp and full of tension, almost like a tightly wound spring ready to pop.   4.2/5

Hungary’s Olaszrizling

• Somlói Vándor Olaszrizling 2014 – Somló, Hungary

Somló vineyards are located on a small volcanic tuft. Somló wines are known for their distinctiveness and are some of the most sought-after whites in Hungary. The flavors of this wine include smoke, dried apricot, mineral, and white flower. Full on the mouth with high acidity with a beautiful smoky, petrol finish. This is a gorgeous and unique style of wine that won’t be to everyone’s liking. It was our favorite wine of the conference.   4.3/5

Serbia’s Grašac / Italian Riesling

• Kovačević Rizling Amphora 2015 – Srem, Serbia 

This is a blend of Grašac and Riesling. We tasted this wine while it was in the barrel in March of 2017. This wine was fermented and macerated in Georgian qvevri (amphora) for six months and then aged in barrel. The wine is in the bottle now but won’t go onto the market for a few more months. This was outstanding when we tasted out of the barrel but during the workshop, it didn’t show well. This was so phenomenal out of the barrel that we decided to give it the benefit of the doubt, it’s worth checking out again in a few months.   Not Scored

 

A post shared by Exotic Wine Travel (@exoticwinetravel) on Jul 11, 2017 at 3:25am PDT

Slovenia’s Laški Rizling

• Frešer Laški Rizling ECO 2016 – Štajerska, Slovenia 

This example from Frešer is a crisp, balanced, and delicious wine with no frills. Creamy yogurt nose, lemon, and melon. Round on the palate with a long finish. A fresh white wine with a little bit of body behind it.   3.8/5

Croatia’s Graševina

(There are more Croatian examples listed because there were more tasting examples present at the event.)

Find or Buy Croatian Graševina wines at wineandmore.com

• Buhač Graševina Liska 2016 – Ilok, Croatia 

Domagoj Buhač makes an inexpensive Graševina and this effort that comes from the Liska mico-locality. It’s more explosive than his basic bottling with tropical fruit, yellow flower, apple, and citrus. A wine that is bright, delicious, and easy to drink.   3.8/5

• Graševina (Clock Label) 2016 – Baranja, Croatia

Kalazić is Eco-Certified (Organic) and makes high-quality wines near the Danube River in Baranja. This is their least expensive, entry-level white wine. The flavors are intense and include pear, yogurt, and green apple. Bright citrus finish with a touch of residual sugar. This has high viscosity and is delightful on the palate. It’s widely available on supermarket shelves in Croatia and is a steal at under 5 Euros.   3.8/5

This wine is also featured in Croatian Wine: 10 Refreshing White Wines to Try.

 

A post shared by Exotic Wine Travel (@exoticwinetravel) on Jul 4, 2017 at 1:47pm PDT

• Iločki Podrumi Graševina Velika Berba 2011 – Ilok, Croatia 

This is a special edition, late harvest wine from well-known Iločki Podrumi. Full of honey, autumn leaves, chestnut, and green apple flavors. High acidity that balances the residual sugar. Round on the palate and could be served as an aperitif or with dessert. An example that shows how gracefully this grape ages when done right.   4.1/5

• Krauthaker Kuvlakhe Graševina 2013 – Slavonia, Croatia

We prefer the 2011 vintage of this wine but the 2013 is no slouch. This wine was macerated for 60 days on the skins. It pays homage to Georgian amber wine, which Vlado Krauthaker likes very much. This is made with organic grapes and natural yeasts. Pure orange in color with leather, mushroom, apricot, and orange peel flavors. The tannins are very firm here and the wine has a savory quality. The wine finishes with a perfume note. Proof that Graševina can do it all folks.   4.3/5

Check out the other Krauthaker’s amber wines: Krauthaker Kuvlakhe: Amber Wine from Slavonia.

The finest selection of

Croatian wines

available at:

Shipping is available EU-wide and to the UK.

Check out Croatian Wines Available in the USA.

************

    Do you want to try Croatian wines?    

If you’re looking to savor the exquisite flavor of Croatian wines, look no further than wineandmore.com. With an abundance of options from different winemakers, it’s easy to find exactly what your palate desires. Not sure which bottle is best for you? Try out one of their curated wine cases and discover the perfect vintage for any occasion!

************

Want to learn more about wine?

Are you ready to discover the wonderful world of wines? Come join us at wineandmore.com and let’s explore the incredible selection of delicious wines together! We can’t wait to share our passion for wine with you!

Disclosure: Please note that the opinions expressed in this article are unsolicited and have not been paid for in any way by governmental bodies, enterprises, or individuals. Some of these product links are set up through affiliate programs, which means Exotic Wine Travel gets referral credits if you choose to purchase these items via the links we provide. 

The post Graševina Without Borders: Eight Wines To Try appeared first on Wine Travel.