Older F.X. Pichler

So opened a couple more of these older F.X. Pichler wines. This was the 1989 Gruner Veltiner Ried Loibner Berg Smaragd. The nose started out very earthy and musty but soon started to blossom into something very beautiful. Mushrooms, earth, mineral, old tea bags, tangerine, ripe citrus fruits, some faint floral aromas and smoke. Great nose. Involved and a new nuance appears each time. Palate was elegant and lithe with nice richness and great acidity. There was a tremendous amount of fruit and the wine had sensational balance and purity. The finish was spicey and very earthy but the citrus really stayed with you. This was a brilliant old man of a Gruner.

Next up was the 1989 Riesling Durnsteiner Kellerberg Smaragd which was very special wine. This smelled like Hune. The nose was ethereal with white flowers, roses, caraway, honey, spice, apricot, lemon and dried herbs. Palate was light as a feather but very concentrated and ripe with power without weight. Rich but with such cut and beauty. Amazing complexity and wave after wave of honeyed fruit, spice and mineral. The minerality in this wine was immense and the interplay of minerality, fruit and spice that is left on your palate is amazing. This might be the finest Austrian Riesling I have ever had.