2011 Alzinger Riesling Hohereck

Terry Theise Estate Selections

• By Terry Theise
  2012 Austrian Catalog, 6/1/2012, (See more on Terry Theise Estate Selections...)

  (Alzinger Riesling Hohereck) ($59.00) Last year we got a few bottles, and this year we’ll get a few plus a few. The total production is around 70 cases — the total production. “Um, Leo,” I said, “Wouldn’t it make sense, since the production is so tiny, to sell it all to one customer? Someone, for example, such as, perhaps, me?” Ha haha; yes, that would be funny. Now don’t be mad if you can’t get any. Even if I were to beg pathetically I couldn’t eke more than 10 cases from them. I wish it were otherwise, because in some vintages I think this is the best Riesling of all. There’s authority here, solid power, and an astonishing conciliation of Hollerin’s fruit with Loibenberg’s exotics with Steinertal’sminerality. This 2011 is incomprehensible; all herbs and spices, some white flower notes, but really it’s an exegesis of terroir; incense, roasted peppers, Uva-smoke; it just could be too complex for the human mind. (Or at any rate, mine.)Endless spices and mineral finish. + +