07&08 F.X. Pichlers

I was out visiting the east coast and tooch gathered up a bunch of people to put together this tasting. All of the wines were sourced from Weygandt wines and presented a great cross section of FX Pichlers and a great opportunity to get familiar with the house style

• 1999 Ployez-Jacquemart Champagne Brut Millésimé 91 Points

  France, Champagne

  nose: nice crisp and balanced nose of bread, minerals, citrus tones, and bits of peach blossoms. Very well balanced with a real freshness to the nose as well as good depth
  
  taste: real tasty medium feel with medium+ acidity and refreshing tones of pears, lots of minerals, citrus tones, and bits of peach blossoms. The acidity is very noticeable, but it isn't too obtrusive at this time
  
  overall: A real fun bubbly. Well balanced with a real mineral streak on it and some very good and refreshing tones. On the young side, but like other 99s, it seems open for business and while it can age, its extremely good right now

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• 2007 F.X. Pichler Grüner Veltliner Federspiel Loibner Klostersatz 89 Points

  Austria, Niederösterreich, Wachau

  nose: a bit lean, but also a bit tight with tones of minerals, lemon peels, citrus tones, sea breeze and a touch of snow peas. Nice depth, but the peas are making it a bit too vegetal on the nose
  
  taste: Classy and lighter feel that is a bit on the lean side with medium/high acidity and bits of white fruits, mineral tones, citrus', snow peas and a touch of lemon peels. The snow peas aren't as pronounced on the palate, but there is an austerity though
  
  overall: This is much more of a food Gruner than anything else right now. Could use a bit of time to smooth out some of the rough edges, but this won't ever be a great wine, though it is an excellent one

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• 2008 F.X. Pichler Grüner Veltliner Federspiel Loibner Klostersatz 91 Points

  Austria, Niederösterreich, Wachau

  nose: much more open on the nose than the 07 with real good depth and fresh tones of crushed rocks, pears, bits of peaches and a heavy dose of mineral tones as well. There is a precision to the tones as well
  
  taste: excellent medium feel with medium+ acidity as well as tones of pears, citrus', peaches and all sorts of minerals. Well balanced and very smooth on the palate defying its youth a bit with a freshness to the tones
  
  overall: Much more open than the 07 was. This was a really good gruner with nice balance and aromatics as well as having a good freshness to it as well. While this could age a bit, one wouldn't be faulted for opening it up now and enjoying what it bring

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• 2007 F.X. Pichler Grüner Veltliner Smaragd Ried Kellerberg 93 Points

  Austria, Niederösterreich, Wachau

  nose: tight nose, but with lots of depth and tones of pears, white fruits, various asian spices, snow peas, tart citrus tones and bits of acacia flowers. Classy, and though its tight, its showing a lot to like with real good balance as well
  
  taste: real nice and fat medium/full feel with medium/high acidity that is making itself known as well as great tones of pears, asian spices, white fruits, acacia flowers, and some bits of tart citrus'. The youth of the wine is showing on the palate, but the depth is winning through right now
  
  taste: A great young wine that is in need of several years to really show itself. The acidity is a bit overbearing, but there is a lot to like with this wine on both the nose and palate. Great set of tones as well that are interesting and refreshing at the same time

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• 2008 F.X. Pichler Grüner Veltliner Smaragd Ried Kellerberg 91 Points

  Austria, Niederösterreich, Wachau

  nose: very toasty nose that doesn't really blow off all that much along with tones of citrus', minerals, spices, fresh herbs and a touch of lemon zest. Good depth, but the toasty and smokey tones interfere with the finer fruit tones
  
  taste: balanced and fattish medium feel and medium+ acidity with tones of minerals, asian spices, fresh herbs, lemon zest and a good bit of toasty/smokey tones as well. Very drinkable right now as the acidity isn't as noticeable as the 07
  
  overall: This is pretty open to drink right now. Comes off like the other 08 Pichlers where they can age, but they are also enjoyable right now. There is a real good fatness to the wine that is enjoyable and good tones as well on both the nose and palate

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• 2007 F.X. Pichler Riesling Smaragd Dürnsteiner Hollerin 93 Points

  Austria, Niederösterreich, Wachau

  nose: really great nose with a precision to it and tones of lemon peels, sweet citrus', bits of petrol, white fruits, peaches and a touch of apple cores. Very good depth and really expressive, but still a bit tight at first
  
  taste: medium/full feel with plump tones of lemon peels, sweet citrus, white fruits, peaches and some apple cores. Excellent medium+ acidity is showing the youth of the wine and the fatness on the palate is a bit rough edged
  
  overall: This is a beautiful riesling right now, but it can really develop. Extremely well balanced right now with great aromatics and flavors that just flow together beautifully. This got better with more air and added some more depth

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• 2008 F.X. Pichler Riesling Smaragd Dürnsteiner Hollerin 91 Points

  Austria, Niederösterreich, Wachau

  nose: fresh and aromatic nose of pears, peaches, bits of fresh herbs, floral tones and a touch of snap peas. Very good depth and with a distinct herbal edge to the nose that is interesting
  
  taste: really great medium feel with medium+ acidity and plump tones of pears, citrus', peaches, fresh herbs and bits of florals. Very good depth and comes off as fairly open to drink right now on the palate as well
  
  overall: This could use some time, but one wouldn't be faulted for opening it now. Well balanced with good depth on both the nose and palate, it seems to lack a bit of layering that the 07 has and doesn't kick it into that next gear the way that the 07 does. But, its still a damn good riesling with its own distinct style and take

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• 2007 F.X. Pichler Riesling Smaragd Ried Steinertal 93 Points

  Austria, Niederösterreich, Wachau

  nose: very deep nose with tones of pears, lemon peels, all sorts of mineral tones, and bits of tropical citrus'. Very fresh and open on the nose as well
  
  taste: excellent medium/full body with medium+ acidity that is showing along with tones of asian spices, pears, lemon peels, tropical citrus', and a good bit of minerals
  
  overall: this could use some time, but isn't that inaccessible right now. Great body and tones with really good balance right now and should add even more depth with some more time

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• 2008 F.X. Pichler Riesling Smaragd Ried Steinertal 91 Points

  Austria, Niederösterreich, Wachau

  nose: leaner and mineral driven nose with fresh tones of crushed rocks, citrus', fresh picked herbs, lavender and a touch of lemon zest. Very exotic nose with very interesting complexity, but needs more depth to really make it sing
  
  taste: very good medium feel, but has a lean quality to the feel as well as medium/high acidity and tones of minerals, crushed rocks, citrus tones, lavender and some tones of lemon zest. It could use some more fatness on the palate
  
  overall: An extremely good riesling, but is just lacking a bit on the nose and palate. The leanness of it is a bit bothersome, but it is very young as well. Extremely interesting and complex tones, but just lacking that extra bit of depth that would make this into something else

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• 2007 F.X. Pichler Riesling Smaragd Loibner Berg 94 Points

  Austria, Niederösterreich, Wachau

  nose: there is a good bit of diesel immediately, but it tones back a bit and gives into great tones of peaches, figs, pears, green apples and a dash of fresh picked herbs. Very well balanced with great depth even though it does seem to be holding back a bit right now
  
  taste: great medium feel with high acidity that is a bit overpowering, but with great tones of figs, pears, sweet citrus, green apples, bits of fresh herbs and some diesel tones hiding a bit underneath. Extremely well balanced and definitely showing off it's youth
  
  overall: An extremely young, but extremely good riesling. Very well balanced with great aromatics already, this needs to catch up on the palate but everything is there including great depth

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• 2008 F.X. Pichler Riesling Smaragd Loibner Berg 91 Points

  Austria, Niederösterreich, Wachau

  nose: fresh and tangy nose of pears, tropical citrus, lemon curds, spice tones, and some bits of apples. Nice depth and very open on the nose right now
  
  taste: very good medium body with medium+ acidity and round tones of pears, spice tones, tropical citrus', and a good bit of apples. The acidity is noticeable but isn't too much at this time
  
  overall: This doesn't seem to bring that next level that the 07 did, but is extremely good on its own. A very attractive freshness is on both the nose and palate that makes it attractive and enjoyable

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• 2008 F.X. Pichler Riesling Unendlich 92 Points

  Austria, Niederösterreich, Wachau

  nose: nice and tart nose of sweet apricots, pears, green apples, minerals, white fruits, citrus tones and bits of florals. Very good depth, but the tones are holding back a bit and it took a bit of patience to really start to get much
  
  taste: excellent medium body with medium/high acidity and balanced tones of apricots, pears, crushed rocks, various mineral tones, white fruits, and some bits of citrus. Very good depth, but the acidity is showing itself a good amount right now
  
  overall: this was very young, but showed a lot of class. Very well balanced with great complexity on both the nose and palate. In need of time, but has the materials to develop into a real stunner

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• 2008 F.X. Pichler Riesling Federspiel Urgestein Terrassen 92 Points

  Austria, Niederösterreich, Wachau

  nose: very mineral laced nose with excellent tones of lemon zest, pears, green apples, and some bits of florals. Very good depth and very fragrant with a hi-toned quality to it
  
  taste: great medium body with medium/high acidity and silky tones of lemon zest, pears, florals and a good amount of minerals. Its showing its youth on the palate with the acidity being a bit much
  
  overall: This does need some time, but it shouldn't need too long. The nose is wide open right now and really lovely and balanced, but the acidity shows too much and is a bit overbearing. A real lovely riesling

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• 2008 F.X. Pichler Riesling Smaragd Loibner Oberhauser 91 Points

  Austria, Niederösterreich, Wachau

  nose: extremely mineral based nose with tones of fresh herbs, sea shells, citrus tones, and bits of white peaches. Very well balanced with nice depth
  
  taste: excellent medium feel with medium+ acidity and polished tones of sea shells, lots of minerals, citrus tones, and some white peaches. Fairly open on the palate as the acidity is noticeable, but not too much
  
  overall: a really nice riesling. Well balanced with a big mineral streak to it. Much lighter and aromatic in style then many of the other FX Pichlers there, it didn't have the amount of citrus on it as the other did. A very interesting and outstanding riesling

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• 2007 F.X. Pichler Sauvignon Blanc Smaragd 90 Points

  Austria, Niederösterreich, Wachau

  nose: lighter and fragrant nose of lemon zest, minerals, citrus tones, and some bits of wet rocks. Good balance, but lacking a bit of depth and definition
  
  taste: delicate and light feel with medium+ acidity and fresh tones of minerals, wet rocks, lemon zest and some bits of tart citrus'
  
  overall: This was an extremely good sauvignon blanc, but it didn't really get to that next level that dageneau or some bordeaux blancs can hit. It has good balance, but is lacking some depth and real verve to put it into the level of the rieslings and gruners

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• 2008 F.X. Pichler Grüner Veltliner Smaragd 'M' 93 Points

  Austria, Niederösterreich, Wachau

  nose: extremely interesting and deep nose of cinnamon spices, all sorts of floral tones, peaches, white fruits, and a touch of fresh picked citrus'. Very deep and a bit tightly wound right now, but showing off a very pretty and expressive side to it
  
  taste: great medium/full feel and medium/high acidity with great and balanced tones of cinnamon spices, white florals, bits of peaches, and a good bit of mineral tones as well showing through
  
  overall: Very young and an interesting contrast to the 07 "M". Both show off a level of gruner that I haven't really had and there is a lot of class to this. The aromatics are very complex as are the tones on the palate and both have great depth. This would be a great wine to revisit down the line

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• 2008 F.X. Pichler Grüner Veltliner Federspiel Ried Frauenweingärten 89 Points

  Austria, Niederösterreich, Wachau

  nose: nice and fragrant nose of sea shells, minerals, citrus tones and some bits of herbs. Nice, but lacking some depth on the nose
  
  taste: very good medium body with refreshing medium+ acidity and tones of sea shells, various spice tones, minerals, lemon zest and some bits of citrus'
  
  overall: an excellent gruner, but not in the same league as many of the previous ones. It probably would've been better served earlier in the tasting. Has nice depth and fresh tones on both the nose and palate, but doesn't kick it into that next gear

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• 2008 F.X. Pichler Grüner Veltliner Smaragd Urgestein Terrassen 90 Points

  Austria, Niederösterreich, Wachau

  nose: nice and fresh nose of lemon peels, asian spice tones, white fruits, minerals and some bits of fresh picked citrus. Good depth and has a juicy quality to the tones
  
  taste: well balanced medium feel with medium+ acidity and tones of lemon peels, asian spices, white fruits and a good bit of mineral tones. Fairly young, but the acidity isn't too much and there is a nice freshness to the tones
  
  overall: The nose on this is what really makes this wine. Well balanced with great aromatics but the palate doesn't bring as much depth as the nose. Could probably use a couple of years to round into form

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• 2008 F.X. Pichler Grüner Veltliner Smaragd Loibner Berg 91 Points

  Austria, Niederösterreich, Wachau

  nose: bright and fresh nose of grapefruits, minerals, lemon peels, and a good bit of white florals, and tropical citurs'. Good depth, but would a bit tight on the nose right now
  
  taste: very young on the palate with a real good medium feel and medium/high acidity with fresh tones of grapefruits, lemon peels, white florals, and a good bit of mineral tones. There is a bit of rough edges on the tones and the acidity is a bit much
  
  overall: This needs some time to smooth out and really show off what it can do. Excellent depth right now with great aromatics and great tones, but the acidity is a bit overbearing

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A great tasting. All of the wines were popped and poured, so we weren't able to get the full effect from some of them. That said, it was a great way of spending a brutally hot sunday afternoon and get a chance to meet a lot of great people