8/28/2022 - Balthasar Likes this wine:

Intriguing nose, I smelled i. a. sweet herbs, mint, eucalyptus and licorice. It is like a warm tuscan evening. Not an in your face wine, more like chamber music but the underlying power and discreet persistence are obvious.

5/31/2020 - Balthasar Likes this wine:

Cellared since 2000. Served a bit too cold at cellar temperature and initially quite restrained. With increasing temperature and more air, notes of blue fruits, sweet violets, minerals and licorice emerged. Good weight and energy and still with grippy tannins despite its age.

5/31/2020 - Balthasar Likes this wine:

At plateau of maturity. Intense, evolved bouquet of ripe cherries, wet earth and tobacco. Pliant and harmonious, tannins are resolved. No reason to keep this longer.

12/29/2019 - Balthasar wrote:

Terrific showing; never underestimate a swisss Pinot Noir! Better than the ABC Isabelle 2010 tasted alongside. Captivating nose, much secondary flavours as undergrowth, licorice, mushrooms and red fruits. In the mouth pure silk, highly enjoyable!

12/28/2019 - Balthasar wrote:

Typical baroque style of Pichler; full bodied, concentrated yellow fruits, hints of boytritis and loaded with minerality. Luckily, it maintains freshness, energy and Riesling-power.

12/28/2019 - Balthasar wrote:

Mature with resolved tannins. Nose offers plums, roasted nuts and spices. Smooth with good acidity and nice lenght.

11/6/2019 - Balthasar wrote:

Elegant, weightless style. Strawberries, undergrowth and hints of tobacco. Fresh and well balanced, wonderfully flowing.

12/31/2018 - Balthasar wrote:

Very accessible already; clean red fruits, tree bark, milk chocolate and hints of menthol on the nose. Smooth and silky palate with good depth and resonance. Light on its feets, polished and well balanced this is quite easy to drink. Though a very good wine, I was missing the edges of a character. Maybe too perfect?

12/26/2018 - Balthasar wrote:

Classic Pauillac profile with blackcurrants, earth, lead pencil, gravel and tobacco. Solid structure und good freshness. Drink or hold.

12/25/2018 - Balthasar wrote:

Yellow fruits, herbs and wet stones. Racy and vibrant without hard edges. Very consistent high quality year for year.

12/25/2018 - Balthasar Likes this wine:

Developed and complex bouquet with animal fur, nutmegs, caramel, flowers and red berries. The wine combines opposites; it is sweet and tart, generous and slender, silky and fresh, rustic and elegant, old and young. Quite unique.

12/25/2018 - Balthasar wrote:

Looks, smells and tastes young. This is vibrant, with youthful tension and still electric freshness. The flavours range from orange, citrus and pineapples to herbs and crushed stones. Long finish. Drink now or over the next twenty years.

12/16/2018 - Balthasar wrote:

Nose offers ripe cherries, violets, earth and tobacco. On the palate well balanced with silky tannins, good concentration and power, right amount of acidity provides freshness and lenght. Everything in the right place. Not overdone and really well done for the year.

11/25/2018 - Balthasar wrote:

Dark fruits, leather, smoke, typical SM green herbs. Well balanced with resolved tannins and good acidity providing freshness and vivacity. Ready for drinking.

10/7/2018 - Balthasar wrote:

Fully mature. Fragant nose of sweet roses, sweet roses, roses and roses..... dark plums and forest floor. Harmonious and smooth palate. Despite its inherent power elegant and finessed. Lots of sediment, decanting recommended.

9/24/2018 - Balthasar wrote:

Decanted four hours before drinking. This is highly enjoyable with its fragrant nebbiolo flavours as roses, red cherries, blond tobacco, autumnal leaves and menthol. Impeccable balanced, so silky and delicate, moderate and succulent tannins. Impression of weightlessness combined with aromatic persistence; a pleasure and textbook example of a northern piedmont nebbiolo.

9/23/2018 - Balthasar wrote:

The smell of barnyard might be a bit disturbing for sensible noses, but it adds complexity and is nicely balanced by a classic and expressive bouquet of red fruits, black olives, florals, cured meat, dark chocolate and minerals. Rich and dense for a Crozes-Hermitage, but vibrant and beautifully lifted by ample acidity. Still primary and not yet round; should even be better in 2020.

9/17/2018 - Balthasar wrote:

According to the label made from sylvaner vines with an age of over fifty years, pressed with an old basket press, fermented spontaneously and not filtered. Not a fruit driven but instead a deep savoury nose, like an infusion of finest herbal teas with fresh verbeine and rounded by orange and citrus rind. Same impression on the harmonious, juicy palate. Long aromatic finish. A wine with a confident, unconventional personality, which might be odd initially but inspires questioning your own taste paradigms. I thoroughly enjoyed this.

9/17/2018 - Balthasar wrote:

Brief note from memory. Youthful colour with violet rim. Still primary with sweet black fruits, herbs and oak spice. Supple palate with generous fruit, gentle, sweet tannins and sufficient freshness. 14.5% ABV are well hidden. Very good QPR.

9/10/2018 - Balthasar wrote:

Expressive and complex nose of bright red berries, well integrated sweet oak spice, herbacious elements (whole cluster fermentation?) and hints of iron. Attacks the palate with sweet, pure and concentrated pinot fruit without being overly extracted. Elegant and supple, but with underlying power and energy. Very good persistence, finishes with lovely bitters.

9/3/2018 - Balthasar wrote:

Dark fruits, brown spices, graphite and damp earth on the nose. Liveley palate with pronounced acidity giving lift, not much fruit left and a bit watery and hollow on the midpalate, moderate lenght. Fully mature and will probably not improve anymore.

8/27/2018 - Balthasar wrote:

Deep purple colour. Though some secondary notes as juniper berries and pine needles are already noticeable beside the dark fruit aspects it has not yet developed the complexity, elegance and weightlessness which can make good Blaufränkisch so irresistible. Could be mistaken as thin and lean, but there is so much energy and concentration under the surface which makes me confident that this will develop into a real beauty. 94-95 potential.

8/27/2018 - Balthasar wrote:

Well stored since 1998. This has developed quite nicely and is now at peak. Nose is a nice melange of dark toned fruits and secondary/tertiary notes as liquorice, black truffles, leather, spices and mushrooms. Smooth, round and supple on the palate. Tannins are completely dissolved but structure is still alive. Not thick or heavy and with "only" 13.5% ABV it has rather gained an almost burgundian elegance and finesse.

8/27/2018 - Balthasar wrote:

Colour is a healthy shining red. Inviting nose with bright red cherries, tobacco, menthol and traces of tar and minerals. Despite 1997 no signs of overripeness. Racy on the palate with well integrated tannins and a good dose of acid. In a good drinking window now, but has the components for further development over the coming years.

8/24/2018 - Balthasar wrote:

Expressive and perfumed nose with flowers, pomegranate, red cherries, green tea and minerals. Elegant and harmonious palate. This has fruit, weight, intensity, structure, acidity ...., but nothing dominates, just very well balanced. Obviously skilful and sensible winemaking; lovely pinot.

8/13/2018 - Balthasar wrote:

Nose offers classic profile with red fruits, cloves, smoked meat and iron. For a Cornas quite refined on the palate with high acidity and creamy, already well integrated tannins. Good persistence and lenght. At this young stage solid and enjoyable rather than exciting. Patience required.

8/5/2018 - Balthasar wrote:

The nose is the more interesting part. Black cherries, herbs, liquorice, hints of menthol, but also some indications of overripeness. On the palate it has good concentration and a port like sweetness, but - at least for my taste - it lacks freshness, tension and vivacity. Simply too raisiny.

7/27/2018 - Balthasar wrote:

Brief note from memory. Freshly picked raspberries and secondary notes as undergrowth on the nose. Very elegant palate, pure silkiness. Another very good bottle from this small "under the radar" producer.

7/23/2018 - Balthasar wrote:

Decanted three hours before drinking. Captivating nose with red currants, grilled herbs, tobacco and warm earth. Powerful, concentrated and with a certain rusticity it retains charme, elegance and freshness. The overall impression is that of an unmanipulated, unforced wine, an authentic expression of the grape varietal and terroir.

7/12/2018 - Balthasar wrote:

Brief note from memory. More spicy than fruit driven. Good weight. Silky mouthfeel and well balanced. Very enjoyable; still a bit closed so decanting recommended.

7/12/2018 - Balthasar wrote:

Not much to add to previous note. A bit more evolved with hints of mushrooms/forest floor. Lovely pinot, so weightless and elegant yet complex and persistent.

6/24/2018 - Balthasar wrote:

Youthful appearance, nearly black with violet rim and a viscous structure. Classic profile with perfectly ripe plums, black cherries, hints of liquorice, spices and florals. Well balanced with sweet tannins, well integrated alcohol, good depth and a lingering finish. Very good LBV.

6/13/2018 - Balthasar wrote:

At "La Ricotta" in Porto. Already inviting nose with fresh berries, herbs, schisty minerality and lovely florals. Juicy, well rounded and harmonious. Slender and elegant (only 12% ABV) but with substance.

6/11/2018 - Balthasar wrote:

First of a case of six. Despite its age of nine years, this is still very primary and shows blue fruits, dusty minerals and violet florals. Supple, well structured and balanced and with considerable depth, I am curious how this will develop and taste in five years.

6/5/2018 - Balthasar wrote:

Dark fruits and oak spice, with more air notes of eucalyptus emerged. Good weight and concentration. Decent, but needs more time to integrate wood and resolve tannins.

5/29/2018 - Balthasar wrote:

A basket of red and black fruits with hints of flowers and warm earth is immediately wafting from the glas. Though broadshouldered and fullbodied (14.5 % ABV) it maintains focus, precision and freshness. Juicy with good lenght and a lingering finish.

5/28/2018 - Balthasar wrote:

Beautiful expression of nebbiolo, especially at this price point. Textbook nose with dark cherries, menthol, liquorice and hints of roses and mushrooms. Palate is harmonious and wonderfully flowing, with high acidity and mild tannins. Good intensity and lenght without being heavy. Skillfully made wine in the sense that the grape character is not masked but quite purely expressed.

5/21/2018 - Balthasar wrote:

Quite dark in colour for a nebbiolo. Plums, menthol and licorice on the nose, new oak also present in form of traces of coconut. Still fairly primary and tannic, medium to full bodied (14.5% ABV) palate. Surely a well made wine, but it did not move me at this stage. Should gain complexity with more bottle aging, 89+.

5/11/2018 - Balthasar wrote:

Fully mature. Nose offers old leather, earth and spices. Tannnins are completely resolved, structure is slightly fragile and hence we missed a bit tension and grip. Still enjoyable but it is time to drink up.

5/11/2018 - Balthasar wrote:

Powerful nose of red/black fruits, licorice and spices. 15% ABV barely detectable, no disturbing heat or burning on the palate. Lively with good concentration and freshness. Not jammy, more spicy, salty and mineralic. Though still beeing a bit angular I would drink this in the nearer future when it still shows its youthful exuberance.

5/8/2018 - Balthasar wrote:

Lovely nose of fresh bread dough, roasted hazelnuts, orange peel, green apples etc. Oily and creamy texture yet energetic and with citric freshness. A wine with character.

5/8/2018 - Balthasar wrote:

Nose offers dark cherries, cola and earthy notes. Round and balanced palate with good structure, length and persistence. Mature.

4/30/2018 - Balthasar wrote:

Expressive nose with dark cherries and secondary notes as tobacco, sage and wet earth. Supple and fleshy on the palate with pronounced acidity providing freshness. Less primary and much more complex than some years ago.

4/28/2018 - Balthasar wrote:

Anonymous and uninspiring. A boring nose and thin on the palate. Could be from anywhere in the world, no sense of place. A mass product with a bad QPR.

4/23/2018 - Balthasar wrote:

A fine, somehow mysterious nose with wild strawberries, blood orange, cloves, green herbs and earthy notes. Well balanced, fresh, focused and precise. Salty, mineral finish. Comparable to a good Volnay Premier Cru.

4/21/2018 - Balthasar wrote:

Appealing nose with pineapples, wet stones, warm spices, petrol notes and smoke. On the palate vibrant, spicy and mineral, tropical fruits emerged with more time in the glass. Good tension and persistence, slightly bitter, very good length.

4/14/2018 - Balthasar wrote:

As other notes expressed, a fine nose but a thin palate. Drink up.

4/9/2018 - Balthasar wrote:

Ethereal nose, sweet rose oil, flowers, dark fruits and hint of wood spice. Harmonious, silky palate, no hard edges. Nicely balanced, a tad sweet for my palate, nonetheless quite lovely. Should be a fine companion with oriental food.

4/8/2018 - Balthasar wrote:

Biodynamic chardonnay from Maconnais in south Burgundy. The nose was constantly changing, initially offering citrus aromas, orange peel and hints of pineapple. With more air and becoming warmer, the smell of roasted nuts and buttery notes emerged. Due to low yields the wine has good concentration and an oily, creamy texture. On the palate it's lively, showing tension, freshness and chalky minerality. Good QPR.

4/1/2018 - Balthasar wrote:

The complex nose offers an intriguing array of dark fruits and botanicals as sweet roses, juniper berries and pine needles. On the palate fairly powerful and concentrated yet maintaining balance and freshness. At peak.