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| Drinking Windows and Values |
| Drinking window: Drink between 2014 and 2022 (based on 19 user opinions) |
| Community Tasting History |
| Community Tasting Notes (average 92 pts. and median of 92 pts. in 4 notes) - hiding notes with no text | | | Tasted by fozzibaer on 5/23/2020 & rated 93 points: This is just so good, perfect harmony of acidity, sweetness, depth. A joy. (239 views) | | | Tasted by fozzibaer on 7/23/2016 & rated 92 points: Excellent to drink now, very smooth and balanced. Alzinger is always great value for money and this is no exception. (537 views) | | | Tasted by kosinski on 12/6/2011: Honey and mineral aromas. Rich honey-coated stone leads to buttery apple tart flavors over a long finish. A bit of a yeasty note at the end. (1554 views) |
| By Terry Theise
Terry Theise Estate Selections, 2011 Austrian Catalog (5/1/2011)
(Alzinger Riesling Liebenberg Smaragd) ($58.00) And again, the best this wine has ever been! Just amazingly fine this vintage; radishy aromas, but wow, the fruit; pure apricot, and with air the fragrance is also steeped in it, but what’s brilliant is the orange-green interplay between apricot and wintergreen, and of course the dynamism and focus. At its relatively moderate price, this endlessly long masterpiece is not to be missed. My highest praise? I couldn’t spit it. |
NOTE: Scores and reviews are the property of Terry Theise Estate Selections. (manage subscription channels) |
| Alzinger Producer website
Leo Alzinger is located in Unterloiben, just across the street from Knoll. Leo owns parcels in two of the great vineyards in this part of the river valley: Loibenberg and Steinertal. Loibenberg is a towering, terraced hillside, while the diminutive (5.5 hectare) Steinertal is hidden and maintains a cooler micro-climate. On the terraced vineyards of both sites, riesling is cultivated on the higher, more primary rock rich parcels while grüner veltliner is cultivated on the lower, silty, loess based parcels.
Harvest at Alzinger happens later than some of Leo’s neighbors in Unterloiben, something he attributes to old vines and the specific exposition of his parcels. The extra time on the vine doesn’t increase sugar levels, Leo says, but rather pushes physiological ripeness to greater balance. Alzinger crushes whole cluster with a short maceration, then allows the must to settle for 24 hours, dropping any green tannins out. Tasting the wines next to some of the other Wachau greats, it becomes apparent that elegance and pristine fruit is what Leo looks for in winemaking, rather than opulence. Alzinger’s wines are never forceful or assertive; they are instead amazingly sanguine and calmly transparent. Terry says “You wouldn’t be surprised if the cellar master was the Dali Lama”.
Vineyard area: 11 hectares
Top sites: Loibenberg, Steinertal, Liebenberg
Soil types: Eroded primary rock, sandy soils with loam
Grape varieties: 55% Grüner Veltliner, 40% Riesling, 5% ChardonnayRiesling Varietal character (Appellation America) | A short history of Riesling (Uncork) | Riesling (wikipedia)Smaragd Wikipedia about Smaragd (german)
Google translation in English of the German Wikipedia about Smagard
From what I understand, these wines (very ripe, dry, late-harvest, etc.) were going to be designated Honivogl (after a kind of bird found in or near the vineyards, meaning 'honey bird'. However, the Honivogl family was involved in the wine trade in Austria and objected that this would cause confusion and weakening of their trademark. Another creature was therefore selected (the green lizard called Smaragd) to be the mascot (sort of ) for this kind of wine in the Wachau. Source: Dr. Peter Ruhrberg, Saarbrücken, personal communication, 9/2007. jhtAustria Wein aus Österreich (Österreichischen Weinmarketinggesellschaft) | Austrian Wine Classifications (Winemonger.com)Niederösterreich Weinstraße Niederösterreich
Lower Austria Wine Region
Lower Austria isn't "southern" Austria, but rather northeastern. It derives its name from its downriver location on the Danube River, which flows from west to east.Wachau Official tourism website
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